Women in trucking: shifting gears to a transport career

As a former beautician to being a business owner of a busy traffic management company, Lisa Murphy is no stranger to shifting gears in her choice of career.

Lisa is currently the director of Stop Slow Traffic Control, which operates traffic management services throughout the Illawarra region in New South Wales. The company has a loyal staff team of 80 employees and a fleet of 45 vehicles.

The Stop Slow Traffic Control fleet are head turners, grabbing drivers' attention and providing work vehicles for staff to be proud of

Applying her organisational skills and her fine eye for detail from her previous career in the beauty industry, Lisa started off at Stop Slow Traffic Control in 2007.

Four years later in 2011, she took the impressive leap to purchase the business and signed on as director, wrangling what was a mostly male cohort at the time.

The company dynamics—mirroring a broader trend in other transport-related fields in Australia—has been undergoing a gender and generational shift.

As Lisa explains, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, many Australians were left unemployed, with casual staff taking the brunt of redundancies.

Stop Slow Traffic Control, who had become an essential service during this period, welcomed a new workforce to the ranks: female hairdressers from salons that were facing indefinite closure.

“Hairdressers are such hard workers; they are used to being on their feet 10 hours a day,” said Lisa.

“Suddenly, I had 15 brand new female employees enjoying the sunshine and fresh air of traffic control... I couldn't have asked for more capable additions to the Stop Slow team.

“My team now is a big mix of age groups and genders, and everyone has something to bring to the table.”

Director of Stop Slow Traffic Control Lisa Murphy (centre) with her staff at their head office

Determination and drive

With the majority of the new workforce staying on well after New South Wales lockdowns had ended, it’s evident that Lisa's approach to staff employment has made Stop Slow Traffic Control somewhere that people want to work; and a company that people want to work with.

Lisa says they’ve been able to achieve their level of success due to a solid work ethic and the interconnected support the team provides for one another.

For Lisa, bringing out the best in staff, from helping them find their voices and their feet in the industry, to lending an ear through life’s everyday challenges forges a sense of connection.

“I have a rapport with each and every one of my staff members, I get to know their strengths and their personalities,” said Lisa.

“I think this is important because staff deserve to be valued, I wouldn’t have what I have without my team.

“At the same time, I think people want to come to work at Stop Slow Traffic Control because they see that I am driven and have ambition.”

From the ground up

With Stop Slow Traffic Control currently in high demand, Lisa is keeping a lot of plates spinning.

Her sharply honed organisational skills and can-do attitude make her well-equipped to be across the myriad of tasks occurring each day at the business.

Sitting down with a coffee, Lisa likes to start the day with her engines fully revved and ready to look after the team who provide a first-rate service for clients.

Having the right staff rostered to the right jobs, and the correct gear, equipment and vehicles available for the work are all critical elements to the smooth running of operations.

She also isn’t shy about stepping in to her old role in traffic management on site when it’s needed.

“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 gear set up, it’s important to do my part.”

“Last night, I went and did the evening shift, so it was nice to be part of the crew rather than being in the office.”

A changing industry

Staying ahead of the game has been vital to the company’s success and an indicator of Lisa's effective directorship of it.

There have been significant changes in recent years, with the use of technology an increasingly important factor in how the business represents itself to the industry and its clients.

“When I began, we would place advertisements in the newspaper and the phone directory. Over the years that has evolved into social media accounts, posting photos of your vehicles, posting your jobs, posting what you do, everything has just evolved and changed,” explained Lisa.

“It’s vital to keep up with that, even though you are getting hit with jobs at the same time.”

Their transport fleet, which features a colourful array of light and medium-duty Isuzu trucks, each with its own unique and vibrant ‘personality’ also helps the business stand out from the crowd.

The highly visible trucks not only come in handy on the road in traffic control situations but provide the team with transportation they can be proud to work with, adding to the business’ positive work culture and atmosphere.

Building a future

Business director isn't the only hat that Lisa wears—she is also the proud mum of two teenagers and two younger children, who mean the world to her.

“I consider myself a mum, first and foremost. But to run a business I sometimes have to put the business first.

“That's where my parents come in and I am so lucky to get the support from them that I have.”

Lisa says her parents set a strong example growing up, working hard to support the family and providing a stable home environment while instilling an attitude to reach high in her career.

“Everything I do is for the future of my children. There's no question about that,” Lisa said.

“I want to leave behind a legacy where it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from or what area you grew up. If you work hard, the hard work will pay off.

“But I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for my parents, my partner, and most of all my staff—they are part of my family and the support and reliability I get from them is second to none.”

Lisa is also keen to pass on lessons learnt to the next generation of workers, particularly women who are considering entering an industry such as transport or tackling the challenge of running their own business.

“As a woman in this industry, I think you just have to be on top of your game all the time. My advice is don't take shortcuts, always go the hard yards. That's how you learn and grow.

“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 guilt and that doubt. 

“You're allowed to have the best of both worlds. You're allowed to have a family. You're allowed to be successful in your work.”

Read more stories about Australian women in trucking, like 18-year-old Piper Williams, a sheep farmer and shearer with her own livestock scanning business and a truck licence to boot.