Tech‘s role in closing the transport gender gap
“The only thing not delivered by truck is a baby,” jokes Meryn Morrison, chairwoman of Women in Road Transport www.rtfnz.co.nz/women-inroad-transport/. Each year, 236 million tonnes of freight are moved within New Zealand, some 50 tonnes per person, according to research by Deloitte.
New Zealand‘s transport and trucking industry has long been dominated by men. In 2014, the Ministry for Women reported that women accounted for about 16 percent, or 6,000, of the 34,000-strong road transport workforce. Of our 23,000 heavy truck drivers only about 3 percent were women. But women in the industry say that the status quo is being challenged. Across the industry, women are vocally sharing positive work stories and progressing their careers.
Perception is key Women in Road Transport is one organisation working to create opportunities. The not-for-profit association supports and encourages women in the transport industry through celebrating and promoting their accomplishments, as well as addressing the obstacles and issues they face. Morrison says there‘s a way to go when it comes to changing public opinion. “ The perception is not our reality. Driving is a skilled profession, and the industry cares about nutrition, diet and safety.”
Drawcards for the role today include better technology and safety standards, improved pay rates, and additional health packages, but the ultimate drawcard is the freedom of the road, notes Morrison. “ W here else can you get paid to see the country? A lot of Kiwis these days don‘t really get out of their region and trucking is an awesome opportunity – you are getting paid to see New Zealand‘s scenery.”
Paula Rogers, executive officer at National Road Carriers (NRC) agrees, adding, “Many women get into it because they love driving. Back when I drove, I felt like the Queen of the motorway.”
Photo: Meryn Morrison says technology has made road transport an easy, safer place for women to work in.
Offering a career trajectory Aside from driving roles, there is a range of other positions within the industry. The ability to move from roles on the road to the warehouse and to the office makes for attractive and interesting career prospects. Rogers notes that the larger businesses she visits have plenty of women in customer service and dispatch roles. She often speaks to college students about the industry. “ There‘s a myth that it‘s a male-only industry, and the students aren‘t aware there are so many different roles that are available within the industry – it ‘s not just about driving. It‘s a great industry because you can really grow and diversify your skills.”
Allowing for more flexibility One of the major hurdles to getting more women into the driver‘s seat is the pressure of balancing the job with family and personal life. “Some businesses are introducing job sharing, making it easier for many women such as mums who are keen to work during school hours, but there needs to be more,” says Rogers. Businesses are also hiring women in the warehouse and office, while training them to get their licences for commercial vehicles. “ We are seeing a lot more companies purchase smaller class vehicles to encourage women into the industry, but again, there needs to be more,” says Rogers. Helping people understand the different job functions in trucking and freight makes it a more approachable sector for women, dispelling the myth that long-haul trucking is the only path. Technology and road safety go hand in hand In industries typically dominated by men, technology and design advances have opened the industry up to make it a more viable and accessible option for women and new drivers. “ Technology is definitely part of the solution,” says Morrison. “Modern seats, engine diagnostics, air operated covers, and forklifts for loading trucks – it just makes it so much easier. We‘re seeing trucks that drive like cars.” These innovations allow new drivers to pick up the skills more easily. Morrison points out that GPS technology provides peace of mind and a safety back up for drivers if they run into any problems at night, such as engine issues or a flat tyre. Safety is a major concern says Morrison, “Health and safety on the job is important to women in our industry – especially because of that working alone aspect.”
The 2018 New Zealand Telematics Benchmark Report www. teletracnavman.co.nz/benchmark/general conducted by Teletrac Navman, a global leader in GPS tracking technology and ser vices, found that telematics has become a key technology in the transport sector with almost nine out of 10 (89 percent) currently using or planning to implement telematics in the next 12 months. Safety is a key driver for installing technology – over a third of survey respondents (34 percent) who had telematics tracking systems had seen fewer accidents as a result of telematics.
“Unfortunately,” Rogers says, “media are fuelling this idea that driving a truck is unsafe and the stories can be really off-putting for those looking at getting into the industry.” Technology advancements have raised the bar for the safety conscious industry. “ Technologies like fatigue monitoring are really helpful and making the job a lot safer. We‘re also getting more enquiries for dashboard cameras, to help businesses assess how an accident or incident has occurred, and which party is at fault. And it ‘s helpful for drivers experiencing an emotional rollercoaster to see what actually happened.” The NRC will contact media to clarify articles if necessary. “It‘s actually often the other motorists on the road who are dangerous. The transport industry places a huge focus on driver safety.” Women in the industry are taking big leaps and both Rogers and Morrison encourage more women to join them. “Seek out Women in Transport on Facebook and follow us there. We post many of our events there first,” says Morrison, who sees social media as a useful tool for women in the industry to stay in touch. Rogers adds, “from hopping in that cab one day, my career just took off. I‘ve met so many great people – it ‘s just an amazing industry. I could never leave it.”
