Who we are

From courier companies and owner/drivers to large fleet operators and the companies that work alongside the freight transport industry, our representation is wide-ranging and responsive to the needs of our members.

We take a lot of pride in the service and benefits we provide to our members – you can find additional details about how we operate in the Transporting New Zealand Constitution and Privacy Notice.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Dom Kalasih and our Board, we are passionate about providing support and development for the vital transport lifeblood of New Zealand industry.

Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4,700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.

Having a strong, unified industry voice means the people who move the country’s freight are represented when decisions are made about infrastructure, regulation, safety, and the future of transport.

Without effective representation, policies risk being developed without the practical insight of those working on the road every day.

Through advocacy, leadership, and collaboration, we work to ensure New Zealand’s road transport industry can continue to operate safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

We’re proud to trace our origins back to the 1920s where it all started with the Master Alliance Carriers Association and the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, New Zealand’s two original industry organisations.

The Road Transport Forum New Zealand was established in 1997. In 2021, we changed our name to Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand to better reflect our brand and our voice, and the important contribution road transport makes to our country’s economy.