Logistics Giant Mainfreight Criticizes Public Agencies Over Fuel Crisis Response

Mainfreight CEO Don Braid criticizes KiwiRail and AT for failing to provide fuel-efficient freight solutions as New Zealand grapples with soaring diesel prices.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 9:20 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Rail Efficiency and the Capacity Gap

At the core of Mainfreight's grievances is the perceived failure of KiwiRail to scale up its services to accommodate a shift from road to rail. Don Braid argued that rail transport is fundamentally more fuel-efficient than trucking, yet the industry has not seen the necessary surge in available rail slots to offset road costs. While KiwiRail CEO Peter Reidy countered that the agency is working "around the clock" and has made hundreds of containers available for customer volumes, Mainfreight contends that these efforts have been insufficient to meet the scale of the current diesel emergency.

The Battle for Auckland’s Bus Lanes

The logistics giant is also clashing with Auckland Transport over the use of the city’s transit infrastructure. Mainfreight has proposed allowing freight vehicles to use bus lanes to reduce "diesel idling" in heavy traffic, a move Braid argues would significantly improve fuel efficiency for the metropolitan supply chain. However, this proposal has met stiff resistance from Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, who characterized the idea as a recipe for further congestion. Brown countered that trucks should instead shift to nighttime operations, suggesting that the primary bottleneck is not road access, but the refusal of warehouse companies to open during off-peak hours.

Strategic Shifts in Transport Management

This impasse between Braid and Brown underscores a broader strategic debate regarding urban freight. While the Mayor insists that trucks idling behind stopping buses would negate any efficiency gains, the logistics industry maintains that current daytime congestion is driving up the cost of living for all New Zealanders. This friction comes just as Mainfreight reported an 18.5% drop in net profit for the previous half-year, attributed to tighter margins and a more difficult sales environment, making the current fuel price surge a critical threat to the company’s bottom-line recovery.