Lack of skilled drivers and employees causing damage to company vehicles forces Darwin operator to sell business
By Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | May 15, 2013
Obtaining skilled truck drivers in the Northern Territory is becoming more difficult, according to an operator.
A Darwin transport company owner, who did not wish to be named, has recently sold his business of six years due to the lack of skilled drivers.
The general freight carrier says he had no option but to sell the 26 trucks and work as a subcontractor for another company.
“Finding work is not an issue. There is work out there. It’s finding quality drivers,” he says.
“It’s got nothing to do with the resources boom either because I’ve been in the Northern Territory since 2004 and it’s always been difficult to find truck drivers up here since the early 2000s because of the cost of living and price of houses going up.”
He also cited a lack of respect for company equipment among former employees for forcing his hand.
“When they’re causing damage to your vehicles or causing damage to your name because they’re not doing the right thing by their customers, then there’s no option.”
