How to Get Your Foot in the (Truck) Door: Training Opportunities in Transport and Agriculture

As a telematics company, we are invested in seeing our customer industries thrive. This blog post highlights how people interested in getting into the transport and agricultural industries can get their foot in the door. Whether you’re 20 or 40, if you want to make a career change, read what these industries have to offer. Both agriculture and transport industries are broad in job roles and the skills they require. Not a fan of working in an office? According to our GPS software , over half of New Zealand land is being farm land and there are 94,301 kilometres of roads around the country, meaning you don’t have to earn your money at a desk behind a computer. Both agriculture and transport industries are integral to the New Zealand economy, with a variety of study options, there is bound to be something right for you. Agriculture and transport industries are integral to the New Zealand economy and support a number of smaller surrounding industries; from agri-tech and vehicle services such as GPS fleet software , to artisan foods and agri-tourism. These industries have a lot to offer and a variety of study options.

Transport

MITO is the Industry Training Organisation that represents the trucking and logistics sector. Through MITO, you could be eligible for up to two years of free training, as a part of the Government’s free-fees scheme. MITO offers training courses for qualifications such as a National Certificate in Heavy Haulage (Level 3 and 4 on the NZQA scale and 9-12 months to complete) and a National Certificate of Logs by Road (Level 3 on the NZQA scale and 15 months to complete).

While completing a National Certificate in Heavy Haulage, a student will learn how to carry out pre-trip vehicle checks on light motor vehicles, how to understand consents and permits, as well as many other important skills required to operate heavy haulage competently.

For the National Certificate in Logs by Road, students learn specific workplace skills such as correctly and safely loading a log truck or trailer, transporting logs in an off-highway environment and how to operate the vehicles and machines used in forestry.

Turn your love of driving into a career. Do you want to get paid to see New Zealand’s stunning landscapes? Working in an office not your scene? Enjoy the challenge of backing a loaded trailer? With the sector experiencing worker shortages, there is bound to be an opportunity that’s right fit for you in transport and logistics. What’s more, with a broad industry like transport, there’s plenty of opportunities to progress your career and move upwards or sideways into new roles.

Agriculture

Agriculture is an important sector in New Zealand. As the world’s largest exporter of dairy, our country produces 21 billion litres of milk annually. There are plenty of opportunities to train and enter into the agricultural industry. From NorthTec in Northland to Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill, there are a range of different qualifications on offer. You can also look at taster courses or short term certificates, such as those on offer at Taratahi in the Hawkes Bay, to longer postgraduate degrees Massey University and Lincoln University .

Completing a New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) gives graduates a diverse range of skill areas including: animal welfare, soil management, livestock reproduction, land sustainability management, livestock handling/feeding/health, anatomy and physiology, as well as rural health and safety.

If you’re interested in studying a Bachelor of Agriculture Science, the degree typically takes three years to complete, along with practical full-time work experience so that when you graduate, you’ll be work-ready. Some universities like Lincoln University require you to complete work experience on both a sheep/beef farm and a dairy farm for 10-14 weeks each.

To narrow down what opportunities are right for you visit Primary ITO’s website . First, decide whether you’re interested in animals, growing crops, working with raw materials, or tech and machinery. Second, think about your personality traits, are you innovative and creative? Are you a people person? For example, if you’re interested in animals and are a people person, you might enjoy working in dairy farming, sheep shearing, breeding or racing industries.

Both agriculture and transport industries are broad in the job roles they offer and the skills they require. Whether you’re leaving school or changing careers, there is bound to be something right for you.