Driving Change: Transport Industry's Gender Equality Gap Revealed

A new report from Teletrac Navman takes a closer look at women in transport, one of Australia’s largest industries, to see what can be done to boost gender equality in the sector’s workforce.

Sydney, Australia, 7 August, 2019: Teletrac Navman, Australia and New Zealand’s largest fleet management company, today released a new whitepaper that investigates the role of women in the transport industry. The report, Driving Change: A Closer Look at Women in Transport, reveals the transport industry rates as one of the lowest in Australia for gender diversity, with just 26.4 per cent of the workforce women, far lower than the all industry average of 46.9 per cent¹.

Within specific sections of the transport industry the figures are even lower, with women making up just 16.9 per cent of the workforce in road transport. Of all Australian industries tracked by the Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency, only the mining sector rates lower, at 16.7 per cent.

The Driving Change report also reveals a significant pay gap in the transport sector, with men paid on average 19.5 per cent more than women, making the average difference in renumeration $21,923. This represents one of the largest pay gaps in any industry. For comparison, in the mining sector the gender pay gap currently stands at 16.7 per cent.

While the pay gap in transport has decreased over the last five years, the report reveals that there is more work to be done. Despite the growing numbers of women entering the industry, they are still subject to frequent discrimination: 72.1 per cent have faced it personally or believed it was a significant barrier to be overcome. However, 67.3 per cent of women in the industry believe that there are plenty of opportunities in the sector.

“Women are underrepresented in the transport industry and this needs to be addressed,” said Andrew Rossington, Vice President – Transport Solutions, Teletrac Navman. “The industry is on the cusp of monumental change and a more diverse and inclusive workforce will only strengthen and futureproof it. The evidence across the board is clear – it’s not just the right thing to do, increasing female representation has significant economic and business benefits.”

“Gender diversity is an issue that impacts several sectors but the combination in the transport industry of low-representation and a large pay gap is unique. Now is the time for change. We hope this report, by recognising the barriers women face and showcasing some of the ways that they can be addressed, will help kick-start the process,” Mr Rossington continued. 

“It’s so important for us to celebrate the important role of women in our industry,” said Melissa Taylor, Managing Director of Taylor’s Removals, past winner of the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) ‘Trucking Industry Woman of the Year’ award. “The industry provides amazing career prospects and is essential to Australia’s economic success, but it’s still overlooked by many. In the last few years, other industries from finance to professional services have made great strides in promoting a more diverse workforce. Now, transport needs to step up a gear and accelerate change,” Ms Taylor continued.  

The report reveals that the average wage for a woman in transport is $68,000, higher than sectors including retail ($36,400), agriculture ($46,800), and construction ($67,600).

“I believe that diversity is crucial for success in transport. As the industry changes, we need to bring in new perspectives that will help us navigate the evolving climate more effectively,” said Melissa Strong, People and Culture Manager, Lindsay Australia, and 2018 winner of the Queensland Trucking Association’s (QTA) ‘Trucking Women of the Year’ award. “That’s why I’m so thrilled to see organisations like Teletrac Navman championing change and encouraging people to take steps towards inclusion and diversity,” Ms Strong continued.

According to Australian Industry Standards, the Transport and Logistics Industry has an estimated annual revenue $96.65 billion, adding $39.95 billion to the Australian economy. It employs nearly half a million people across its major subsectors including road transport, logistics, and warehousing.

The industry is projected to grow significantly in the next few years, with Australia’s domestic freight task expected to increase by 80 per cent by 2031, in part driven by the rise of ecommerce. This has seen a driver shortage impact the road transport industry, with nearly half of the workforce reaching 65 years old by 2026.

“Diversity is a core value at Teletrac Navman, and we’re proud to share the successes of women across our business and the wider industry,” said Nicole McRory, HR Director, APAC, Teletrac Navman. “We hope that this report will raise awareness of the issues that women face every day and go some way towards changing our industry for the better. The report highlights lots of positive signs, both in transport and from other industries which transport can learn from.”

“So far, we’ve seen a tremendous response from our industry partners and customers. Organisations including the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Road Freight NSW, Transport Women Australia, and the Queensland Transport Association (QTA), along with companies like Lindsay Australia, Daryl Dickenson Transport, Russell Transport and Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls, have all signed up to our pledge to support the campaign and help promote women in transport. We hope many more will do the same,” Ms McRory continued.

The Driving Change report can be download here: https://www.teletracnavman.com.au/driving-change-women-in-transport

Case studies can be found in the report.

Join the conversation online with the hashtag #DrivingChange.

About Teletrac Navman

Teletrac Navman is a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider leveraging location-based technology and services for managing mobile assets. With specialised solutions that deliver greater visibility into real-time insights and analytics, Teletrac Navman helps companies make better business decisions that enhance productivity and profitability. Its fleet and asset management technology uncovers information that would otherwise go unseen, helping customers reduce risk and confidently move their business forward with certainty. It tracks and manages more than 500,000 vehicles and assets for more than 40,000 companies around the world. The company is headquartered in Glenview, IL, with additional offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. For more information visit teletracnavman.com.au.

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Fred Azis-Laranjo
Spectrum Group
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