Class 1 licence holders can now permanently drive zero-emission heavy vehicles up to 7,500 kg, the Government confirmed on 25 June 2026. This removes a temporary limit that had forced operators of heavier electric trucks to hold a Class 2 licence instead.

Until now, there was a rule that only allowed Class 1 licence holders to drive electric vehicles up to 4,500 kg. Class 1 is the standard truck licence in New Zealand. When battery-powered trucks were heavier — which they often are because of the weight of their batteries — drivers had to get a more expensive Class 2 licence. The new rule lets Class 1 drivers handle electric trucks up to 7,500 kg.

The 7,500 kg ceiling covers most of the electric delivery trucks now on New Zealand roads. These smaller trucks are used for urban deliveries and logistics, and their weight often goes over 4,500 kg once you add in the batteries needed to power them. By removing the licensing barrier, the Government is making it easier for freight companies to switch to electric vehicles without paying extra for driver licences or struggling to find qualified drivers.

This is the latest in a series of freight reforms since early 2025. In June last year the Government simplified heavy vehicle driver licensing and weight limits across the board. February 2026 brought an early version of the zero-emission concession. April 2026 brought changes to vehicle dimension and weight rules after the freight industry flagged ongoing problems. The June announcement makes the February version permanent.

The freight sector has long argued that vehicle dimension and weight regulations, along with driver licensing rules, create unnecessary red tape. The costs of compliance don't match any real safety benefit, they say. The April and June changes suggest the Government agreed with that case. Making the zero-emission rule permanent removes a renewal cycle that operators would have had to manage, and gives fleet managers a stable base to work from when deciding whether to buy electric trucks.

The broader picture matters here. In December 2016, the Government lifted weight limits for the heaviest trucks on state highways — letting them carry more cargo. The current reforms work differently. They target the everyday friction of driver licensing and permitting that affects smaller trucks and urban delivery operations, rather than maximum payloads on motorways. The sequencing across 2025 and 2026 looks deliberate rather than piecemeal, though the Government hasn't signalled whether further changes to vehicle rules are coming.