NTC launches National Women in Transport initiative as NSW business gears up for all-women trucking training program
Refrigerated logistics company Chill has been given the green light to run a female-only training program for budding truck drivers – one of the first in New South Wales.
The business’ Sydney-based headquarters has been given an exemption to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, allowing them to advertise and run a female-only trucking training and education program.
Chill lodged the exemption application last year, in a bid to lead the charge for women in the transport industry, particularly in light of growing staffing shortages across both the transport and warehouse sectors.
The move comes as the National Transport Commission (NTC) welcomed a new national initiative to showcase women in transport and tackle some of the negative perceptions of a career in this fast-growing industry.
The National Women in Transport initiative also aims to improve the gender balance within the transport sector.
The NTC is progressing a series a national-level actions as part of this initiative to increase the number of women working in transport and create a more inclusive modern transport industry.
This includes bringing together a network of senior women transport leaders to showcase the work of women in transport in both the public and private sectors.
Australia’s transport workforce is ageing and predominantly male.
Combined with historic levels of investment in transport, more women are urgently needed to work in the industry across a broad range of skills and in leadership roles.
Currently, while women make up 50 per cent of the labour pool, they make up only 27.4 per cent of workers in the transport, postal and warehousing sector according to ABS data.
That figure is reduced to around 20 per cent for land transport alone.
Only 4.5 per cent of transport CEOs are women and the pay gap of more than 16 per cent is above the average gap of 14 per cent.
As well as the dedicated website and speaker bureau profiling women leaders launched this week (www.womenintransport.gov.au), over the next year the National Women in Transport program will also publish key transport workforce data and deliver a series of events to connect industry leaders.
“Australia’s infrastructure and transport ministers have asked officials to increase participation by women across the transport sector,” Department of Infrastructure & Transport deputy secretary Diane Brown says.
“The National Women in Transport Initiative is designed to drive productivity and profitability benefits that will come with increased gender balance within the transport sector.
“Increased participation by women in the transport sector will have flow-on benefits for business, industry, and the whole economy.”
“Australia is experiencing an infrastructure and transport investment boom and needs people with the skills to deliver it,” National Transport Commission CEO Gillian Miles.
“If we’re not ensuring women are part of the transport industry, and comfortable in it, we have an economic problem as well as a social one.”
Infrastructure Australia CEO Romilly Madew AO says diverse and inclusive workplaces consistently report higher people engagement, resilience, productivity and performance.
“By taking deliberate and meaningful steps to address the working needs of women and other underrepresented groups in the transport sector, we can unlock additional capacity to deliver the record infrastructure pipeline and support Australia’s long-term prosperity.”
The launch was hosted by Roads Australia on the eve of International Women’s Day last night.
The keynote address was given by Victorian transport infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan, followed by a panel discussion featuring senior transport leaders sharing their views on overcoming the barriers to women choosing to work in transport.
Roads Australia CEO Michael Kilgariff says the organisation champions a diverse, inclusive, sustainable and values-led organisation and industry.
“By working with our members to deliver industry programs promoting greater participation by women, we are helping ensure our workforce becomes more representative of the community it serves.”
Chill factor
Chill co-director Lauren Wade is keen to tackle the underrepresentation of women in the transport sector.
“The days of the stereotypical male ‘truckie’ sitting behind the wheel of a big rig are gone,” Wade says.
“We’ve seen a significant shift in the transport and warehouse industries, particularly in the last few years, courtesy of the ageing workforce and a severe staff shortage.
“It comes at a time when ecommerce and the demand for door-to-door delivery is on the rise, so businesses need to start thinking about a succession plan, with career progression, more family-friendly rosters, and new equipment and procedures.
“Companies across the nation are looking for good-quality, professional truck drivers and warehouse staff and women are critical to filling these positions.
“Being able to run a trucking training program that is solely designed for women means we can attract and retain them into employment and gain some momentum for females in the industry.”
Chill senior planner Liesel Croukamp, who started her career as a driver and returned to the road during COVID-19, believes truck driving is a fantastic career for women.
“I absolutely love being out on the open road and spending time behind the wheel,” Croukamp says.
“It gives me time to think and reflect and I get to meet so many interesting people along the way.
“It’s a great career option for people who don’t want to be confined to an office, are deadline and outcome driven, and want something that works in with their lifestyle.
“As a woman, I love the idea that I’m shifting the gender balance within the industry and empowering other women to sign up and give it a go.”
Chill is now working with industry bodies to get the program up and running.
The business will also help support the cost of truck licences for successful candidates.
“These programs have the potential to be rolled-out state-wide, providing a longevity plan for attracting and skilling women in the sector.
“We’d love to see similar businesses follow suit and apply for their own exemption.
“An industry-wide shift would make significant in-roads in addressing the gender gap in the transport sector, while training drivers at a time when we really need them.”
Women in Trucking Australia CEO Lyndal Denny welcomes the announcement.
“We congratulate Chill for setting the standard, for embracing change and for actively developing and implementing strategies to recruit and retain female heavy vehicle drivers,” Denny says.
“Their commitment to strengthening the pipeline of female talent into this traditionally male-dominated vocation gives aspiring female truckies hope that the tide is starting to turn.”