Class 5 Machinery Transport Driver

Experienced Class 5 Machinery Transport Drivers are required for full-time positions transporting heavy machinery, construction plant and earthmoving equipment throughout New Zealand.

This role is suited to experienced heavy vehicle drivers who have proven experience operating Class 5 truck and trailer combinations and transporting heavy machinery. Applicants must be confident loading, securing, transporting and unloading equipment such as excavators, loaders, bulldozers, rollers and other civil construction machinery.

This is a specialist driving position, and applicants should have practical experience with low loaders, transporters or similar heavy haulage combinations.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate Class 5 heavy vehicle and trailer combinations safely and efficiently.
• Transport heavy machinery and construction equipment between worksites, yards and other locations.
• Operate low loaders, machinery transporters and associated trailers.
• Load and unload machinery safely.
• Position machinery correctly on transport equipment.
• Secure machinery using appropriate chains, binders, restraints and securing methods.
• Carry out pre-start inspections of trucks, trailers and transport equipment.
• Check load dimensions, weight distribution and load security before travelling.
• Couple and uncouple trailers safely.
• Plan and follow appropriate transport routes.
• Monitor vehicle and trailer condition and report maintenance or safety issues.
• Complete required transport, delivery and driving documentation.
• Comply with applicable driving hours, logbook and fatigue management requirements.
• Communicate effectively with machine operators, site personnel, dispatch and customers.
• Follow all workplace, road transport and site health and safety requirements.

Minimum Requirements

• At least 3 years of proven and verifiable heavy truck driving experience.
• Proven experience transporting heavy machinery, construction plant or earthmoving equipment.
• Significant experience operating heavy combination vehicles equivalent to New Zealand Class 5.
• Experience operating low loaders, machinery transporters or similar heavy haulage trailers.
• A current heavy vehicle driver's licence appropriate to the vehicles operated in the applicant's home country.
• Applicants must be able to obtain or convert to the appropriate New Zealand driver licence where required before undertaking driving duties.
• Strong knowledge of load restraint and machinery securing procedures.
• Experience safely loading and unloading heavy machinery.
• Good understanding of weight distribution, vehicle dimensions and heavy transport safety.
• Ability to complete vehicle and trailer safety inspections.
• Strong commitment to workplace and road safety.
• Good communication skills and ability to work independently.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing where required.

Machinery Transport Experience

Experience transporting a range of the following equipment will be highly regarded:

• Excavators
• Bulldozers
• Wheel loaders
• Motor graders
• Rollers and compactors
• Skid steer loaders
• Telehandlers
• Dump trucks
• Agricultural machinery
• Civil construction plant
• Other oversized or heavy equipment

Applicants with experience operating the machinery they transport will also be highly regarded.

Work Experience Evidence

Applicants must provide verifiable evidence of their heavy vehicle and machinery transport experience.

Evidence may include:

• Employment reference or experience letters.
• Certificates of employment.
• Employment contracts.
• Payslips or payroll records.
• Tax or social security records where available.
• Copies of current and previous heavy vehicle licences.
• Other reliable documentation confirming employment, duties and length of experience.

References should ideally confirm experience operating heavy combination vehicles and transporting machinery, rather than simply stating that the applicant worked as a truck driver.

Applicants unable to provide sufficient evidence of their claimed experience may not be considered.

Immigration Requirements

Applicants requiring visa support must:

• Meet the applicable Immigration New Zealand requirements for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
• Meet any applicable Immigration New Zealand English language requirements, with acceptable evidence provided where required.
• Meet Immigration New Zealand's health and character requirements.
• Provide satisfactory evidence supporting their employment history, driving experience and relevant licences.
• Meet the New Zealand driver licensing requirements applicable to the position.

Preferred Attributes

• Extensive low-loader or heavy machinery transport experience.
• Civil construction or earthmoving industry experience.
• Experience loading and unloading machinery independently.
• Knowledge of heavy and oversized load requirements.
• Experience with truck and trailer combinations.
• Practical understanding of excavators and other earthmoving equipment.
• Basic mechanical knowledge.
• Strong safety record.
• Reliable, punctual and able to manage transport schedules.
• Comfortable working around active construction and civil worksites.
• Willingness to work early starts, extended hours or rostered shifts where required.

What's on Offer

• Full-time permanent employment.
• Minimum 30 hours per week.
• Competitive hourly rates based on skills and experience.
• Specialist machinery transport work.
• Opportunity to work with a range of civil construction and earthmoving equipment.
• Stable employment for suitably experienced Class 5 Machinery Transport Drivers.

Experienced machinery transport drivers with at least 3 years of verifiable heavy vehicle experience and proven experience transporting heavy construction equipment are encouraged to apply.