A new initiative to address a shortage of truck drivers by attracting more to the industry has been welcomed by a freight logistics strategy group.
The Bay of Connections Freight Logistics Action Group has welcomed a new government and industry initiative to help attract and train new freight truck drivers.
The group said 32 per cent of the nation's freight travelled on roads in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato and they hoped the new Government-led Sector Workforce Engagement Programme would help in attracting 1000 more drivers into the road freight transport industry nationwide.
Group chairman John Galbraith said the scheme was positive as many businesses were struggling to find skilled drivers as the existing workforce in that field was ageing.
"The problem won't go away and it's something we must address quickly as an industry," he said.