3 September 2015
Big wheels of change keep on turning
New Zealand’s $6 billion road transport sector is undergoing significant change driven by new technology and increasing
compliance requirements, new research by ANZ and UDC Finance has found.
The annual ANZ Privately Owned Business Barometer survey of 106 road transport businesses found an industry that was
upbeat about the future, which led the way in use of new technology, and recognised the need for participants to
continually their business skills and sharpen their focus on profit.
“The road transport sector plays a vital role in the New Zealand economy, moving around 50 tonnes of freight for every
person in New Zealand each year,” said Wayne Percival, CEO of UDC Finance.
Key findings
Just 29% of road transport respondents in the Barometer said they were planning to invest in training and development,
compared with 51% of all respondents.
Almost 20% of road transport respondents felt that being proactive about environmental considerations was good for their
business.
26% had a turnover under $250,000, 41% had turnover between $250,000 and $2 million, and 33% had turnover of more than
$2 million.
“Continuing growth in Auckland and Christchurch, the growth of key sectors such as supermarkets and positive economic
indicators, such as New Zealand’s exposure to Asian growth, are keeping levels of confidence high.
“While the level of long-term optimism is heartening, the sector is not without its issues. Chief among these is the
need to bring a new generation of young people into the industry, and the need for more support for the many smaller
operators and owner drivers to improve business management skills.
"In an industry where customers are keenly focused on price it’s important to demonstrate the value that they deliver to
ensure pricing across the sector is sustainable"
ends