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The amount of money that a long-haul truck driver can gross in one month can seem pretty impressive but the expenses quickly cut into that, says Cory Duggan, an owner-driver.
"Monthly, they calculated that I was going to make between $22,000 and $24,000 a month, but I'm making
more than that," Duggan says.
But drivers are now having to take it on the chin when it comes to rising costs.
"Now, because fuel has gone up, you'd consider a third of that is fuel. A third of that is tax, and then you've got running costs on top of that. You've got road users' fee, payments on the truck and maintenance."
But despite the costs and the nights spent away from home, a career on the road still appeals.
Duggan drove lorries around England on an OE and decided that he would become a truck driver when he came back to New Zealand.
"It's a single man's life, but there's a lot of guys out there with partners and families, and their wives and girlfriends are very understanding," Duggan says.
The trucks most people see out on the roads are only a small part of the industry. Goods and materials are travelling around the country throughout the night with drivers expected to work all hours.
"Sometimes you've got no choice but to drive at night. You'll get loaded down in Wellington and you could be the last truck to leave at 11:30pm or midnight."
But driving at night does have its advantages.
"It's good in a way 'cause there's less idiots on the road as well. People in cars just have got no idea. They're terrible - absolutely shocking," Duggan says.
If you're prone to road rage, a career in trucking is probably not the best option for you. The elevated vantage point in the cab of a truck means drivers see the good, the bad and the downright crazy.
"People start passing in places where they shouldn't be and they're near committing suicide. I've seen some shocking driving by people in cars. They don't care."
But Duggan takes it in his stride.
"That's just one part of the job, basically."
Driving throughout the night does not mean driving straight through the night. There are strict laws as to how many hours a trucker can put in.
"At the end of the day, you've got to stay within the guidelines that the Government's set for you, which is your logbook. You have a 14-hour day. You're allowed to work 13 hours and you've got to have two half-hour breaks in that," Duggan says.
Life on the road means a lot of time alone, but truckers pass some of the time chatting on the radio.
"We've all got CBs in our trucks so we're all talking with each other."
CBs are still widely used in the trucking industry. Even on the main trunk-line of SH1 there are places with no cellphone coverage, Duggan says. Direct radio contact remains the best way to keep in touch with dispatch.
The owner-drivers generally contract out to the large trucking companies, which pay them a per-kilometre fee. They also purchase fuel in bulk for sale to their drivers. But drivers can be compensated extra for short runs across town which use up a large amount of diesel.
"If you're doing a short run which might be only 20-50km and you've got 24 tonnes of goods, they'll pay you a tonne rate," Duggan says.
But drivers can really make some money on the long-haul runs. Duggan's longest trip was from Auckland to the Bluff. Drivers try to carry what they call a back-load on their return trips to maximise efficiency but, many times, they're just returning empty. Often drivers will have to unload their trucks themselves, especially when they're not going into a depot.
"It's just the way it works. I don't mind. It keeps your skills up on the forklift."
Duggan carries everything from lumber to silage in his truck and trailer rig.
"I've had both units stacked to the roof. You name it, I cart it."
But in order to drive such a rig, drivers must pass written and practical tests for classes two through five of the driving licence. A regular driver's licence is a class one.
It's not cheap to get started as a truck driver. Companies which train drivers charge for hiring out the trucks and for study fees. But Duggan says the tests are not that hard.
After studying, Duggan had no problem finding a job.
"Basically, I had a job lined up as soon as I got my full Class-5 licence."
All drivers undergo medical, drug and alcohol tests as pre-employment criteria. But if you want to be an owner-driver, you'll also need a truck - which isn't cheap.
"To go out and buy a new truck, you're basically looking at $500,000. So, I haven't gone out and bought brand new gear."
Duggan drives a 28-wheeled truck and trailer combination and has a certain amount of autonomy as to how much he works.
"The harder I work, the more I benefit, really."
But he admits it's a different kind of lifestyle.
"At the end of the day, it's not an easy industry. Be prepared to work hard because it's getting harder out there," Duggan says. Rising petrol prices and threats of additional taxes make drivers nervous.
"The world is screaming out for truck drivers and the Government doesn't make it any easier. As far as I know, it's just trying to get the trucks off the road but, if it wasn't for trucks, New Zealand would stop."
Duggan says he plans on keeping New Zealand moving for some time to come.
"As long as the wheels are turning, I'm making money."
