[oz.]

Greetings all,
Myself and the other half and our little one (soon to be another little as well) are thinking very hard about moving over to NZ. I'm in a job where I can take a career break of up to 5 years and be taken back on when (if) I should return.
With this option we are thinking of trying NZ for a year or so, though not to work in the industry I'm in now.
My questions are:
1-How are the prospects for finding employment as a Heavy goods driver ( a past trade of mine ) in NZ. I hold a Articulated licence in the UK, and also am a CPC holder having been a transport manager, though I know the CPC is not valid or recognised in NZ.
2-Which regions are HGV drivers sought in, we like the sound of Christchurch or New Plymouth.
3-Does anyone know what the employment conditions in the trade are like, ie anything like the haulage industry was like in the UK 15 years ago. Excessivly long hours and 'bending' the tacho rules each and every day.
Any advice would be very appeciated, positive or negative, as its a big move to think about and our reasons are to have a better future for the little ones.
Also my other half is an enviromental scientist with a recognised degree, though she now is a full time mum.
Anyone know as to the employment options in NZ for enviromental jobs.
Sorry for all the questions but I'm sure someone will have the answers :)
Thanks,
Oz.

[mylesdw]

Hi Oz,
Your class 1 HGV will convert to a group 6 (I think) here which means you can drive any truck. There is a written test to sit but it is not difficult. When I moved to Christchurch in 2002 I had been working for a year or so in the UK as an HGV agency driver; there was a great demand and as soon as the agency found you reliable you got any amount of work. Not so in Christchurch, no interest in a UK HGV whatsoever. That was my experience but not one agency or employer that I contacted ever got back to me. The attitude was (I think) that driving conditions are very different here; I'm not sure that that is true. Certainly there are fewer artics in this part of the world but many rigids with full trailer, B-trains (an artic with a second artic trailer attached to the first) and A-trains (an artic with a full trailer attached).

I'm not sure what conditions are like. The trucks I have driven here seemed 'rather rough' compared with those I had been driving.

Hope this doen't dampen your enthusiasm, it is only one man's experience and it was a few years ago...

[Kim39]

Oz, your UK Class 1 will convert to NZ Class 5. I am a UK trucker out here along with Stevie C. He is based down around the Christchurch area so can fill you in with SI details, whereas i am on NI.

The industry is a bit of an eye opener for us UK truckers, as the rules are slightly different than home. The game is more for the employer than the driver. Protection for that driver is limited. What i mean is there are many companies that will push you to the limit on hours, and those hours are anything up to 65-70 for a paltry hourly rate. Don't get me wrong there are companies that are decent payers, but those job's are deadman's shoes. You run on the logbook, and recently the rules have been changed to allow a better work/home life, however it's a logbook and they were abused before the rule change and they are abused still. I feel you have to stick to your guns and don't be allowed to be pushed around.

You will need an offer to get the WP, and it is very hard to secure a position from back home.

Configurations are what Myles said. A lot of the units are American, such as Western Star, Mack, etc, but there is a big euro presence and it is getting bigger. You also have a Jap market to with Mitzi, Isuzu, and Fuso prevelent.

Just as a footnote, you will be required to prove a least 3 years experience to secure a WP.

Kim

[GreenMeansGo]

Hi Oz,

No info on the driving, but my OH is in the environmental science field as well... "environmental research scientist" is on the absolute skills shortage list, however to claim the bonus points for that your OH would need to be the primary applicant, I believe (and I am under the impression that for bonus points to be awarded for skills shortages that qualifications and work experience need to be assessed by NZQA regardless of whether or not quals are already on the LORQ).

As for the job opportunities in her field... we'll let you know as soon as we figure that out :)

Good luck with your new babe on the way!

[cathgates]

Hi Kim, just exactly how do you 'prove' 3 years experience/ Is it with a reference form your curent employer and how long you've held your hgv, or is it more complicated?

Thanks

Cath X

[Kim39]

Licence proves it Cath.


Kim

[cathgates]

Thanks Kim, one thing less to worry about:)

Cath X

[Flutterby]

i'm jumping into this thread, My partner was a HGV driver in NZ before he came to england and intends to take up this sort of work on arrival back in NZ, his licenses wouldn't transfer over for use over here :( which seems a little unfair if they will go the other way, but hey!
So how is the job market in the north island? and as a partner of a trucker what can i expect of his working hours and tiredness? is he gonna have time to see his family or will he be working dawn til dusk? (or visa versa)
Are there any issues surrounding licenses that haven't been used in a while that he may need to be aware of?

[Kim39]

So how is the job market in the north island? and as a partner of a trucker what can i expect of his working hours and tiredness? is he gonna have time to see his family or will he be working dawn til dusk? (or visa versa)
Are there any issues surrounding licenses that haven't been used in a while that he may need to be aware of?


Job market is active as NZ is currently suffering the same predicament as the UK and Europe in there is a shortage of drivers, and the percentage is rising.

Hours....well that is dependent of the company you work for, but don't expect the average 48 hr working week like they do back home, as you will be hitting anything up to 70 hours. Recently they cut the working day to a 13hr shift, but as they use the logbook out here that can be abused quite easily.

No issues on licences, so long as OH has 3 years experience on a NZ Class 4/5...UK Class 2/1.

Hope it helps

Kim

[Redbone]

Hi,

Not meaning to be a hijacker here but I've got a few questions, too, please!

My OH is a tractor trailer driver here in the US. He's been doing this driving along with working in various warehouses for over 10 years. My questions:

*What would be our chances in getting PR with this this?
*What would be the best area to settle or look for a job prospect (read: very willing to be flexible here!)?
*Would anyone even be willing to hire him given that he's learned all his skills and experience with driving on the 'wrong' side of the road? :)

TIA

[YouMeAndThree]

*Would anyone even be willing to hire him given that he's learned all his skills and experience with driving on the 'wrong' side of the road? :)

TIA

OH applied for several HGV vacancies whilst we were in the UK (via Seek.co.nz). 2 out of the 4 companies he contacted wanted someone who had a minimum of 5 years experience of driving on NZ road - OH pointed out that he'd been a driver in the RAF for 22 years driving all sorts of vehicles in many (often war-torn) countries, surely this would be greater experience than NZ roads, but sadly no, they wanted NZ experience only.

OH has now taken a job using his DG licence (dangerous goods), but we were only able to come out via the WTR Talent Visa route.

Hope someone can help with the other questions you have posed.

Lx

[Redbone]

OH has now taken a job using his DG licence (dangerous goods), but we were only able to come out via the WTR Talent Visa route.

x

Thank you for replying!
Do you know if this is this the same thing as a US hazardous materials endorsement? He has one.