a ceo's call for diversity.
But with a drivers shortage already impacting the sector, for business owners like Mark Mazza, CEO of South West Express (WA), finding drivers has become a major business challenge, exacerbated by the state’s border closures. His company already employs female drivers and will take any who apply for available jobs.
There has been a massive requirement in supermarket trade for transport as people start to panic buy and stock up. However, there is a massive shortage of drivers in Western Australia as a significant number of drivers fly in and out, and some can’t get into the state without going into quarantine for 14 days.
- Mark Mazza
overcoming a shortage.
With an existing shortage already creating problems before lockdown, long term Mark feels that driver education is key to training new talented truckies who can go on to have careers in the industry. However, with limited to no learning facilities in Western Australia, Mark says things need to change.
Those drivers that Mark trains up are in high demand and often poached by the mining industry because of the attractive salaries, which his company can’t compete on.
The government needs to implement an efficient and supportive solution in schools to promote and encourage male and female students to see transport as a potential career opportunity.
- Mark Mazza
removing the stigma.
According to Mark, the media has always been negative towards the transport industry and there is a need to lift the self-esteem in the eye of the general public. There is also a lack of recognition for the work done by transport workers, and he hopes that by taking on proactive approaches in schools, perceptions will change, in turn attracting more women to the sector.
With the good pay rates and being able to work with reputable transport companies, Mark says that the transport industry can be a very rewarding job.
21st century trucks have been advanced especially technologically wise. He believes that the industry can also do more in attracting female truck drivers especially with the talents they can bring.
No parents want their children to enter the industry that’s considered less than safe. We in the industry need to do school tours with trucks and get young prospective truck drivers to go through the trucks and see what our industry has to offer.
- Mark Mazza