TruckSafe sets a new benchmark for transport safety in New Zealand

A major step toward lifting safety, well-being, and compliance standards across New Zealand’s road freight industry has been launched with the rollout of TruckSafe New Zealand, an independently audited, industry-led Safety Management Accreditation System.

Developed by the New Zealand Trucking Association (NTA), the initiative is now live and accepting operator registrations.

TruckSafe’s release marks a coordinated response to persistent challenges in the transport and logistics sector, chiefly, the high rate of workplace injury and road fatalities, especially among heavy vehicle operators.

But it also reflects a growing appetite among operators to professionalise and future-proof their operations.

“This is about more than compliance,” says David Boyce, CEO of the NZ Trucking Association and Director of TruckSafe New Zealand.

“TruckSafe certification is a way to show customers, contractors, and the public that you’re committed to professionalism, safety, and continuous improvement.”

At its core, TruckSafe is a comprehensive risk management system. Members are independently audited against a set of standards covering critical safety and operational areas such as driver competency, fatigue management, mass and load restraint, medical checks, training, vehicle safety, and systems for well-being and assurance.

Auditing is carried out through the digital platform Audit Compliance Solutions, delivered by Avid Plus. The use of digital onboarding and GAP analysis tools aims to make participation efficient and scalable, especially important for small operators who may lack internal safety infrastructure.

“We believe that TruckSafe will have a profound impact on road safety and operational standards,” says Robyn Bennett of Avid Plus.

“Avid Plus is proud to be part of this transformative initiative, working together to achieve safer roads and healthier workplaces.”

 

TruckSafe is designed to be accessible to all operators, from large transport companies to individual owner-drivers. This inclusivity sets it apart from many other schemes. Small operators, often the backbone of rural and regional logistics, will now have access to formalised guidance and support to help them meet the same level of compliance as their larger counterparts.

The programme’s architecture is built not only around what’s required by regulation but also around what’s practical and effective for real-world operations. Key benefits for operators include:

• Improved safety and reduced exposure to harm or enforcement actions
• Greater competitiveness in tenders and commercial relationships
• Streamlined compliance and operational management tools
• Reduced insurance claims and vehicle incidents
• Recognition of commitment to worker well-being and ethical practice

“Unless we take a collaborative, industry-led approach to compliance, the injuries, fatalities, and costs will continue to rise. TruckSafe is our opportunity to change that trajectory, together,” Mr Boyce says.

Participating operators join a national network of accredited businesses, each committed to lifting the standard for New Zealand’s heavy transport sector. The TruckSafe team provides support throughout the accreditation process to ensure operators understand and meet the required benchmarks.

TruckSafe operates under the umbrella of the Transport Well New Zealand | Kawe Pai Aotearoa Charitable Trust, a newly established body with a systems-thinking approach to improving industry outcomes.

The Trust seeks to create better safety, mental health, and well-being outcomes by connecting workforce, regulatory, and operational systems in ways that enable long-term change.

This whole-of-sector lens is particularly relevant given the industry’s staffing challenges, ageing driver workforce, and rising pressure on operators to do more with less. TruckSafe is one part of a broader commitment to respond to these issues with practical, scalable tools.

While TruckSafe is distinctively tailored for the New Zealand market, the move aligns with wider international efforts to improve safety outcomes in transport. In March 2025, the Australian Institute of Health and Safety welcomed a federal government funding boost to strengthen driver safety through the Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds initiative.

That programme, aimed at building psychological safety and workforce resilience, represents the kind of public–private partnership that could inspire complementary action in New Zealand.

What sets TruckSafe apart, however, is its industry origin and operational focus. Rather than waiting for regulation or funding, the New Zealand trucking industry has taken the lead in designing a solution that reflects both their operational realities and their collective aspirations.

The TruckSafe platform is now live. Operators can visit www.trucksafe.net.nz to learn more about the standards, register their interest, and begin the process toward accreditation.

As part of its launch, the NTA is actively encouraging collaboration with government agencies, insurers, regulators, and commercial clients. Their support is seen as key to helping TruckSafe become a recognised, trusted badge of safety and professionalism across the industry.

“TruckSafe is built by the industry, for the industry,” Mr Boyce says.

“It’s our opportunity to lead from the front and set the standard for a safer, stronger transport sector.”