Livestock transport concerns for operators

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February 21, 2024

by Rachel Williams

A lack of willing and capable truck drivers is putting livestock delivery services at risk, according to operators.

A number of business owners have expressed concern at the worsening situation.

Southfork Transport’s Tom Brown said it had been getting progressively worse for the last five to six years.

“It is what it is but in years to come I don’t know how farmers will shift their stock,” Mr Brown said.

“I would hate to say how many we need across the board. 

“The owner operators are left doing it and we are all old fellas. If I lose any more drivers I’ll have to fade out of livestock and sell my gear and concentrate on doing something else.”

Leigh Jones from Jones Transport said he lost a full-time driver earlier this month and was struggling to find a replacement.

“I have to turn down a fait bit of work on a regular basis,” Mr Jones said.

“Everyone is in the same boat. You just can’t find workers even though we pay above award wages.”

Mr Jones said the issue could be addressed by a reduction in fees for young drivers to obtain their heavy vehicle drivers licence and also a relaxation of age rules.

Drivers need to be 20 and have 12 months’ experience with large vehicles. Exemptions are available for those aged 19 and over with 18 months of a car licence but Mr Jones said more needed to be done to address the issue.

“There is just not much incentive for young people to do it because they have to wait so long to get a licence – they leave school and go to other jobs instead,” he said.

Tas Farmers’ CEO Ian Sauer said the situation was challenging at this time of the year in particular.

“A lot of people are offloading livestock because it’s getting very dry and that’s compounding the issue,” Mr Sauer.

“Farmers have to hope for the best that they can get transport when they go to book and it is getting worse.

“The ones left in the industry are working very hard to keep demand up for farmers.”