Leading freight organisation National Road Carriers Association (NRC) is calling on political parties to appoint a Minister of Supply Chain to co-ordinate and streamline the $59 billion a year freight sector that is projected to grow by 55 per cent over the next 20 years.

The call for a Supply Chain Minister is one of six election calls in NRC’s The Freight System New Zealand Needs election manifesto that also include:

• Smarter spending on transport infrastructure to accelerate freight productivity
• Faster rule changes to take advantage of bigger, safer, more efficient trucks
• Securing onshore fuel supplies and backing the shift to low emission heavy vehicles
• Raising the bar for the Transport Service Licence and pinning responsibility on freight users
• Recognising truck driving as skilled work with a migration path to residency for drivers

NRC CEO Justin Tighe-Umbers says the cost of living and economic growth will dominate the 2026 election. He says freight costs account for about 12 per cent of supermarket prices and every Kiwi family will be better off if the incoming Government implements the changes NRC is calling for.

“Everyone from businesses through to everyday New Zealanders have felt the pinch in their pockets. The freight sector has an indispensable role to play. From fruit and vegetables, to appliances, and construction materials, every sector of New Zealand’s economy depends on the freight system.”

Minister of Supply Chain

Tighe-Umbers says there is currently no person or group with end-to-end responsibility for New Zealand's freight system performance. “Roads sit with one minister, rail with KiwiRail, ports with councils, workforce with Immigration, and energy with another portfolio.

“Australia, the United Kingdom, and Singapore each line up the three things that make freight work: one minister responsible for the end-to-end supply chain, a government department that can span this system, and a co-ordinating body with a mandate to bring government and industry together. New Zealand aligns none of them.

“We appreciate the recent decisions from this Government to launch the Action Plan for Freight and establish the Freight Advisory Council. We call on the next Government to build on this momentum.”

Smarter spending on transport infrastructure

NRC’s manifesto says New Zealand spends in the top 10 percent of the OECD per person on infrastructure yet sits in the bottom 10 percent for what it delivers. Ending the cycle of projects that start, stop and change with each government would shift spending from consultants to construction.

The manifesto calls on the next Government to task the Freight Advisory Council (FAC) and the Infrastructure Commission to identify the investments, across road, rail, sea and air, that move the most freight for each dollar spent, drawing on the National Infrastructure Plan.

Faster rule changes

New Zealand writes custom vehicle rules instead of adopting proven international vehicle standards.

“Changing these rules can take years,” says Tighe-Umbers. “In the meantime, our freight operators can only watch as the world adopts bigger, safer, and more efficient trucks. Finland cut national transport costs by 4.4% over four years from a single mass limit change – in New Zealand that would equate to a $2.6 billion saving on our $59 billion annual freight cost.

“We also risk being left behind by international supply chains. International shipping lines are rapidly adopting 38-tonne containers which would be too heavy for most permitted trucks on our roads.

Securing fuel and shifting to low emission vehicles

“Any significant shock to our fuel supply chain – whether that is a geopolitical event, future pandemic, or natural disaster – could stall our freight supply chain in weeks. The total cost to New Zealand in increased diesel cost since the Iran war started in February is more than $1.5 billion.

“We need to firm up our onshore fuel supplies by increasing onshore storage capacity and grow our energy independence by backing the shift to low and zero-emission heavy vehicles.”

NRC is collaborating with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority to transition away from fossil fuels and NRC members NZ Post, WM New Zealand (formerly Waste Management) and truck rental company TR Group are leading the way in introducing electric and hydrogen powered trucks.

Raising the bar for Transport Service Licence (TSL)

NRC says a TSL is too easy for a transport operator to get and too hard to lose. “The system needs to identify and attach consequences to operators who create risks,” says Tighe-Umbers. “Roadworker Johnathan Walters was killed when he was run over in May 2024 by the unroadworthy truck of an operator who continued to work despite many breaches and a system that failed to stop him.

“A procurer can take the cheapest quote for freight transport without fear of consequence, creating a race to the bottom where the operator that skips on compliance and charges less wins the business. We need freight owners, freight forwarders, transport operators and end customers to all hold a level of responsibility for safety compliance. Australian Chain of Responsibility legislation is an example of a system that ensures purchasing decisions take compliance and the cost of it into account. ”

Recognising truck driving as skilled work

NRC’s manifesto says the average New Zealand truck driver is 57 years old, and the proportion of young New Zealanders seeking to join this sector is rapidly shrinking.

“The truck driving labour pool is international and mobile, and we are struggling to attract qualified skills to our shores. We need to recognise truck driving as skilled work, with a migration pathway to residency, so New Zealand can compete for the people it needs,” says Tighe-Umbers.