Some feel there is a stigma in showing off in front of their peers. A shyness or a lack of confidence, a feeling that they are not good enough. These can all be valid reasons not to compete. It’s time to put those feelings and thoughts aside. If you have the skills, you are good enough. If you work in the industry, you are good enough. You might make a mistake on the day due to the pressure of the competition, but that doesn’t matter. You will gain a huge amount of respect and confidence by giving it a go.
TR Group has put huge resources and time into organising the New Zealand TR Group Truck Driving Championships. The competition courses, designed with the New Zealand Trucking Association team, are challenging but are not too hard for drivers to complete. Lots of discussions were had around the theory part of the competition to ensure that everyone can achieve a good result. The questions will be basic rules you should know if you are a truck driver.
The Class 2 award is sponsored by EROAD, and the team from EROAD will be on hand throughout the show. Class 2 is a special category, as this is the entry-level into the trucking industry.
The Spartan Finance Tractor-Semi Class 5 is always a popular category as this usually involves manoeuvring a tractorsemi into some tight spaces for deliveries. The team at Spartan Finance are experts in finance for trucks and equipment, so they are looking forward to catching up with all their customers.
The Truck and Trailer Class; this will be the biggest course, as these big rigs take up a lot of room. You will be able to watch the Spartan Tractor-Semi and the Truck and Trailer competitions from the same grandstand.
Heats will take place in Auckland on 30 October, and the winners from heats will have automatic entry into the finals, held in Christchurch on Saturday, 12 March 2022. Heats in Christchurch will take place on Friday, 11 March 2022.
This will be a well-run competition series that will become part of the culture of New Zealand truck drivers. It is something positive for the industry to feel proud of. Companies are being encouraged to enter their best drivers to compete. Imagine being able to boast your driver is the New Zealand Champion Truck Driver of 2022. We are hoping for a bit of friendly company rivalry.
Special awards will also be awarded. The TR Group Young Driver will be selected from all categories, and the EROAD Woman Driver will also be selected from all categories of the championships.
Palfinger has now also developed an industry competition and is sponsoring the Palfinger Crane Championships 2022. This has not been done before in New Zealand on this scale. Competitors will compete through a course that has been designed to replicate world-class courses.
Operators will complete a short course and will be judged on accuracy and time. It will be fun watching and supporting the competitors from the grandstand. We hope that showcasing the skill and talent needed to operate truck-mounted cranes will inspire the next generation to consider it a career choice.
The awards will be presented at the evening function on the Teletrac Navman lawn after the show on Saturday. Bands will play and bars will be open to 11pm to round off the day’s activities. This is a ticketed event, and tickets are limited. You can pre-purchase your entry to the show and function tickets online through Eventfinda.
The TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show, organised by the New Zealand Trucking Association, is fast becoming the ultimate truck fest. A record number of exhibitors and tickets have been sold already. With only six months to go, it will be a sell-out event.
