The big short: women in transport

A critical shortage of professional drivers has been a long-time issue faced by Australia’s transport and trucking industry, having an impact on both the freight and logistic sector and the broader national economy.

A recent NatRoad survey has recorded telling figures on the driver shortage as it stands, including…

• More than 26,000 drivers are needed to fill gaps in the sector across all business sizes and types
• Around 180,000 drivers are needed for an effective sector (current and near future), representing a 14.4 per cent shortfall
• Almost 50 per cent of drivers are aged over 55, with an average age of 49
• Only 6.5 per cent of the workforce is comprised of women
• Only 5.2 per cent of the workforce is comprised of workers under 25

The numbers don’t lie, indicating an urgent need for a younger, more diverse workforce and simply ‘more of it’ to support Australia’s ever-expanding freight task.

On the positive side of things, if you’re a half-glass-full kind of person (as surely half of us are), then within this yawning driver gap, there is opportunity… regardless of your age or gender.

To keep the discussion moving, we’ve invited women working across Australia’s transport industries to tell us what’s happening in their world and to offer some words of wisdom that might encourage others as they pursue a new career.

Piper Williams: farmer, truck driver, business owner

Piper Williams is the definition of a ‘go-getter’ and is tackling just about all preconceived notions of what it means to be an Aussie truck driver, being a young woman of just 19 years of age and hailing from regional New South Wales.

Piper has been building a name for herself as a shearer, farmer, and livestock ultrasonographer, which involves scanning animals for pregnancy and working with the farmers to plan for births.

At driving age, she obtained a medium-rigid truck licence, which she thought was a vital step to securing her future career and the smooth running of the family farm. This allowed her to assist with farm duties with their crew cab truck.

Armed with her truck licence, Piper now has the independence to move livestock in crates and sell them at markets in nearby Yass and Queanbeyan.

She can also shear a sheep in two minutes flat—so there’s no doubt this young woman has her foot on the pedal when it comes to learning new and necessary skills.

Piper’s advice to young women looking at a career with trucks or livestock?

“Do what you believe in, stick at it and don’t let anyone boss you around too much.

“You make great friends as a shearer, it's a physical job, you get to travel throughout Australia and once you get your name out there, you can start to make some good money.

“I hope more young people enter the industry so I have peers alongside me while I build up my business!”

Lisa Murphy: Director of a traffic management company

Once working in the world of beautician services, Lisa Murphy knows what shifting gears to a career in transport looks like.

She is now the business owner and managing director of Stop Slow Traffic Control, a busy traffic management company in the Illawarra region of New South Wales.

Her company’s dynamics—mirroring a broader trend in other transport-related fields—has been undergoing a gender and generational shift, which Lisa has been more than willing to embrace.

As Lisa explains, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, many Australians were left unemployed, with casual staff taking the brunt of redundancies. Stop Slow, which had become an essential service during this period, welcomed a new workforce to the ranks, many of whom were female hairdressers from salons that were facing indefinite closure.

Lisa’s advice to women thinking about a career in a transport-related field?

“I think a lot of women have doubt or feel guilty about missing out on time with their kids because they are working, but we've got to stop with that—you're allowed to have the best of both worlds.

“My advice is don't take shortcuts, always do the hard yards. That's how you learn and grow.

“Being able to do the same job that your team does helps build respect—no matter if it’s loading signs in the back of a truck or getting roadside gear set up.”

Emma Newell-Courtney: driver, franchisee owner

Working with vehicles was always on the cards for Emma Newell-Courtney, who is a proud Kamilaroi and Bigambul woman, a young parent of three kids, and a qualified heavy diesel mechanic with multiple certifications.

Emma was a heavy diesel fitter for 10 years, working on everything from small engines to heavy earthmoving equipment with a focus on hydraulics. She made the move to become a Snap-on Tools franchisee after close to a decade in her trade, purchasing a medium-duty truck and obtaining the necessary licence.

Being her own boss now, Emma has more agency over her day and more time for her kids, who attend school in her franchisee catchment.

Emma’s advice to people looking at a career in transport or business?

“Getting out and talking to people goes hand-in-hand with really wanting to begin those apprenticeships because you need the pros, the cons, the ups and downs of the industry before going into it.

“It's not just women who need that equity because there's plenty of people of difference in the industry: that goes for gender, how you identify, your skin colour and your culture.”

What’s your take?

Keeping transport and trucking alive in Australia has reached a critical juncture in history, with the country’s rising freight task forecast by the Federal Government’s (BITRE) research to increase by 77 per cent between the years 2020 to 2050.

This includes 63 per cent of national fleet operators who expect their freight volume to increase over the coming 24 months and list driver availability as one of their chief concerns.

So, what’s your take on attracting workers to our essential transport industry? Let us know in the comments.

What’s available as a new driver or if you’re upgrading your licence? We unpack industry updates and state-by-state options in this blog.