Driver shortage hits Waipā recycling

• Published date: 26 January 2023
• Publication title: Te Awamutu Courier

Council’s contractor Metallic Sweeping is one of hundreds of Kiwi companies struggling to find trained Class 4 drivers. The driver shortage, combined with illness, is hitting hard nationwide and Waipā is not immune, said Waipā District Council transportation manager Bryan Hudson

“Those in big cities are seeing it impacting bus services; there’s literally no one to drive the buses. In July last year, between sickness and the driver shortage, Auckland Transport was dealing with 1500 bus service cancellations each day,” he said.

“Here in Waipā, it’s our recycling service which has been hit and we’re continuing to see slower-than-normal pick-ups. It means our normal collection schedules simply can’t be maintained at the moment, or in the foreseeable future. We’ve seen the same issue in Hamilton and other parts of the country with recycling and rubbish services. No one likes it, least of all us.”

Metallic Sweeping managing director Clive Peter said the company was doing all it could to get more trained drivers, as fast as possible. Metallic was working with specialist consultants to fast-track skilled drivers from overseas and had offered their staff incentives to find new workmates.

“If our staff can introduce us to a friend or family member who will commit to driving for six months, they will get a finder’s fee in return.

“We are also working directly with government agencies, trying to find suitable people, sending them out on a test run and seeing if they like it. We’ve had one driver sign-up that way and we’re hopeful of others.”

Metallic had pulled an experienced driver up from the South Island and temporarily based him in Waipā and was actively seeking out retired Class 4...