Shortage of truck drivers in Australia?

[Franco Cozzo]

Part One:

Has the view of “without truck drivers, Australia stops” lost its impact on everyday Australians? Apparently so, according to Volvo Group Australia. The manufacturer of heavy vehicles in Australia, along with many of manufacturers and businesses, are noticing a looming problem with professional truck drivers. There simply isn’t enough of them.

Volvo Group Australia, along with advertising agency Clemenger BBDO, has conducted qualitative and quantitative research into the availability of professional truck drivers, surveying nearly 600 industry representatives, who collectively employ 34,000 truck drivers across Australia. The data from the report: Professional Truck Driver Shortage: How driver availability impacts the transport industry & Australian society is enlightening and highlights the very real problem of society’s negative perception of the trucking industry, along with the urgency to engage young people to take up the trade.

Increasing demand + fewer drivers = Australia stops moving forward

Those of us in the trucking and heavy transport trailer industry understand the increasing demands of road freight transport and its relation to the growth, prosperity and welfare of Australia. As a large country with a dispersed population, it’s only natural that we would heavily rely on our road systems for non-bulk domestic freight. In fact, around 75% of freight is transported throughout major hubs, growing regional areas, rural and remote communities.

The demand for freight services is only set to increase as societies attitude to the instantaneous, flexible and straightforward delivery of local and international products increases. Despite the demand reliance on road freight transport, the industry is suffering from severe driver shortages, as well as a diversity and image problem.

The industry sample of Australian truck drivers

The report states that the industry will need to increase by 150% to keep up with pressures and the loss of retiring drivers. Currently, the average age of a truck driver is 47, only 15% are under 30 and only 24% of the companies surveyed employed a female truck driver.
Where are all the drivers?

46% of all business owners surveyed are experiencing a driver shortage right now. It was quickly identified that not only is it difficult to get more drivers, but also find quality drivers. In fact, 82% of them are experiencing issues in attracting the quality of drivers expected.

Given that there is no set course typically travelled to gain employment in truck driving, attracting young school leavers has proven a challenging task, especially as many of them cannot start driving trucks until they are 25. Many respondents agreed with this issue, with one saying, “it is hard to bring young drivers into a business now and bring them up through the ranks because most trucking companies no longer have small trucks which are where young drivers normally start their career.”

On this, it was suggested that transitional jobs, particularly in mechanics, involve training to help bridge the gap between truck driving and easing restrictions on insurance and excess limits could increase hiring opportunities.

Other issues raised by respondents commented on the lack of diversity as a wide-spread systemic issue as well as the long working hours, physicality or the job, and outdated perceptions of truck drivers in Australia.

In our second part, we’ll look at the issue of driver image and solutions for the future including initiatives the Volvo Group is hoping to implement.

The Drake Group fully support Australian truck drivers and operators of heavy equipment trailers in their plight to encourage more drivers into the industry. As manufacturers of heavy transport trailers, we understand the importance of education and training of a diverse work group and have on-site apprenticeships in place to empower innovative workers of the future. To learn more about our heavy haulage trailers, check out our range or get in contact with us today.

Part Two:

Welcome to part two in our series on Volvo Group Australia’s report on the availability of professional truck drivers and how driver availability impacts the transport industry and Australian society.

As manufacturers of heavy equipment trailers, we understand first-hand that without trucks, Australia stops. It’s now more important than ever to address the shortage of professional truck drivers and create initiatives to engage a diverse driver workforce wishing to enter the progressive and dynamic trucking industry.

In case you missed it, part one in this series looked at how increasing demand and less drivers will stop Australia moving forward and looked at the current sample of Australian truck drivers.

In this article, we’ll be diving into the research report conducted by Volvo Group Australia and Clemenger BBDO on the reasons why driver image is such an issue in Australia and the initiatives to encourage new drivers into the industry.

Driver image

Even though blue singlets are no longer the norm and transport operators and drivers are amongst the hardest working, professionals in Australia, the public’s perception remains outdated, basing their opinion on old behaviours. The negative stigmas of old are not reflective of the trucking industry today.

Approximately 88% of respondents believe there is a negative image of truck drivers in Australia, with 72% of them experiencing frustration with those outside the transportation industry. The overall feeling from those in the trucking industry is that mainstream media contributes to the negative image of truck drivers through cherry-picked and sensationalised stories.

“Everyone thinks truck drivers are cowboys and are unsafe on the roads” and “most Drivers have changed into professionals embracing new modern trucks” are just two of the hundreds of sentiments conveyed by industry professionals.

It’s a troubling image for all those who work in the industry as it contributes to an environment where employees feel a sense of shame about their type of work. Some of the accounts from workers supported this theory saying things such as “I am ridiculed or told that ‘you are better than that, re-educate” or “I have felt that you are looked at in a different way once you tell people what you do.”

Many believe that a thorough large-scale public campaign could educate the Australian public. It should highlight the key areas:

• How drivers of passenger vehicles can drive around trucks – be safe but not afraid
• How heavily we rely on trucks for our consumer and survival goods – from food to clothes
• The role trucking plays in the Australian economy
• A look into the statistics and a realistic view of the industry

Industry initiatives

The industry is keen to be recognised for its importance to the Australian economy, attract new drivers, better the safety and shift perceptions of the industry. Their solutions are focused at the government, industry and media.
Industry

• In-depth driver training, both through external learning programs and on-the-job training which is consistent with industry standard
• Driver empowerment and accountability
• Apprenticeship programs for school leavers
• Raise the profile of driving as a long-term career
• Prioritise pride in image through uniforms, aesthetic of trucks and recognising workers with public recognition
• Improving the work/life balance to attract a diverse workforce and offer hourly rates

The Government

• Reflection of current policies to identify better ways to support positive driver image and young entrants to the industry
• Consideration of reduction in red tape to allow for career flexibility for all drivers

The Media

• Encourage good news stories
• Discourage lazy journalism by engaging with the media on current statistics and industry insight

Investment in this arena will ensure Australia keeps moving forward. If your heavy transport trailers have seen better days, perhaps it’s time for an upgrade. Get in contact with The Drake Group today to learn about how our heavy equipment trailers can keep your business moving in the right direction.

https://thedrakegroup.com.au/drake-t...iety-part-one/

https://thedrakegroup.com.au/drake-t...iety-part-two/

Interesting dilemma, something I've noticed is that there is no real entry path into the industry as a newcomer, its not like you do a 'professional driving' apprenticeship where you can be mentored into a company from the start and work your way upwards.

Another thing about the skills shortage is there upwards pressure on the wages? I see a lot of sub continental drivers behind the wheel on a daily basis driving all the smaller stuff around metro, I doubt they're on decent coin.

I'm on the skills shortage list as an auto electrician and had my customers try coax me back to the tools as they're struggling to get guys to do the work but they're offering me less or the same as what I get now in an air conditioned office driving a desk, there's a shortage but the wages aren't going up to match and the apprenticeship dropout rate is over 50%

Would you be a truck driver if there was an easier path in? Could be a good career for a young person sans relationship and university degree if the wages were there.

Seems like LOTS of responsibility but without the wages to match, I'm not surprised no one aside from the league of extraordinary sub continentals sans personal hygiene are taking up the challenge.

Those of you who are truck drivers (or former truck drivers - Rogosaurus, looking at you ya old bastard), whats your thoughts?

The NY Times also did an interesting article a few years ago about truck drivers in the USA being disenfranchised:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/u...king-jobs.html