Transport, Distribution and Logistics Transport is defined as the movement of goods or persons from an origin to a destination. The Transport, Distribution and Logistics industry provides the service of moving freight and passengers locally, regionally, nationally and internationally across a variety of modes – rail, road, marine and aviation. The industry also covers warehousing. Key features of the industry are: It employs over 415,000 people, making it the seventh largest Australian industry It contributes more than 4.5 per cent of Australian GDP It is dominated by small business, which accounts for more than 98 per cent of firms, with 89 per cent of these employing four people or less Small business employs around 37 per cent of the industry workforce, with large businesses (more than 200 employees) accounting for around 35 per cent It has a predominantly male workforce (almost three quarters of employees) It has an older workforce compared to most other industries Its workforce has a relatively low level of educational qualifications Full-time employees make up around 80% of the workforce Approximately 70% of the workforce is aged over 35 years. Stevedoring and warehousing are the largest contributors to transport and distribution GDP (around $11 billion in 2002). Road was next with a $9.5 billion GDP contribution, rail with $5 billion, aviation with 4.8 billion and the maritime industry with not quite $1 billion. Employment Opportunities and requirements The industry includes seven sub-sectors, each with varying types of employment opportunities. The following table describes each of these sectors and the types of jobs that are available in them. For a clear description of management or technical career paths in the industry, see the Transport, Distribution & Logistics Careers Guide at www.careersintransport.org. Traineeships and new apprenticeships in the transport, distribution and logistics industry are increasing and are particularly strong in road transport and warehousing. Employers are keen to bring in younger workers, as the average age of their current workforce is quite high. Road Freight Drivers Waste, tip truck, concrete agitator, dangerous goods tanker, courier, taxi truck operator, livestock, furniture, armoured vehicle, truck mounted crane, log hauler, forklift, general freight. Administration and clerical officer.  Driving positions require specialised licences.  Licence regulations are the responsibility of State and Territory governments and so information can be found at the relevant authorities’ web sites. Certificate qualifications in transport and distribution will assist entry and career progression. Traineeships and new apprenticeships in the industry are increasing. Road Passenger  Bus driver, coach captain, driving instructor, chauffer driver, taxi driver, clerical officer. Driving positions require specialised licences.  Licence regulations are the responsibility of State and Territory governments and so information can be found at the relevant authorities’ web sites. Certificate qualifications in transport and distribution will assist entry and career progression. Traineeships and new apprenticeships in the industry are increasing. Rail: Civil, Freight, Passenger  Civil – road construction labourer, railway fettler (lays and repairs tracks), clerical.  Freight – shunters, train driver, locomotive driver, loaders.   Again, driving positions require specific licences and train drivers must meet licence requirements set by the relevant State or Territory authorities. Most jobs are with government or major transport business and interested applicants should look at major employer web sites. Warehousing Store person  General storage, cold store, bond store, grain storage, furniture storage, forklift driver, dangerous goods storage.   There are jobs that don’t require specific qualifications although, increasingly, knowledge of IT systems is important.  As the logistics management industry becomes more sophisticated it is increasingly necessary to gain Certificate level qualifications.  Maritime  Deckhand, coxwain, marine engine driver.  It is possible in various parts of the industry to obtain a job as a deckhand without qualifications although Certificate level qualifications are essential to progress to driving positions. Aviation  Air transport support worker:  loaders, cleaners, refuellers, catering, travel steward, flight attendant, aircraft pilot, aircraft maintenance engineer.   Most jobs in this industry require trade qualifications. Pilots must meet the requirements set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority – see www.casa.gov.au. Flight attendants must be selected on criteria set by the employing airline.  Services to Transport  Stevedore, wharf operator, car park operator, shipping agent, freight forwarding, container repairer, freight forward brokerage service, customs agency services, export documentation.    Traineeships in stevedoring will equip job seekers to work on the wharves, unloading or loading containers or bulk commodities. Part-time and casual employment may be available in regional ports. Studies in logistics will provide the greatest opportunities for employment. Most employment in the industry (55%) is in road transport, storage (22%) and services (15%).  Industry projections anticipate the major growth in the industry to be in the sub-sectors of water transport, air transport, services to transport and storage.  Overall, an annual growth rate in employment of 1.8 percent between 2002 and 2008 is anticipated.  What an employer might be looking for There are a wide variety of jobs in this sector requiring different skills and attributes. For many jobs that include driving, loading and deliveries, core attributes will include such qualities as being: Trustworthy and reliable Able to learn transport routes and streets A good communicator with some mathematical ability A current driver’s licence Able to demonstrate a safe driving record and adherence to OHS procedures; Specific technical skills or licence relevant to the job.  In warehousing for example, good IT skills are becoming increasingly important. Almost all jobs in this sector require good organisational skills and the ability to monitor and record movements of goods or passengers. Physical fitness is often a requirement. Employers will be concerned with the ability to carry out duties within timelines, efficiently and with due care. Candidates wishing to work in transport or warehousing would benefit from being funded to obtain their forklift licence.  Many transport companies will need to undertake security and police checks for potential employees, due to the nature of goods being transported and, in some cases, customs and security requirements. It should be noted that many transport and warehousing companies are often located in areas not adequately serviced by public transport. Employers generally are very reluctant to encourage cycling as an alternative means of transportation, due to the typical state of roads in these areas and the high incidence of heavy vehicle usage. Employment wages and conditions The industry offers excellent opportunities for career progression and the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment that is central to the whole economy. There is opportunity for progression and the opportunity to earn higher than average incomes. A common career path for many is to establish small businesses as sub-contractors to the industry as drivers, couriers or service operators.  The transport industry has been greatly affected by economic deregulation and new technology. The industry operates in a highly competitive environment that has created a number of trends. This means that in some fields, there is often intense pressure to complete work within rigid timelines. Like other industries, there is an increasing share of employment that is casual but there has been some movement away from part-time to full-time employment. Earnings in the transport industry are generally higher than most industries for non-managerial positions.  Full time adult wages are comparable to other occupations with minimum hourly rates ranging from $11.50 - $17 per hour however the industry offers good opportunities to work at penalty rates on evenings, weekends and public holidays. In some occupations such as stevedoring, significant penalty rates and generous award conditions mean that earnings can be very high.  Training opportunities The Australian Qualifications Framework sets out qualifications in seven streams within the transport and distribution training package. Certificates I – IV can be undertaken in Administration, Rail Infrastructure, Rail Operations, Road Transport, Cash in transit, Mobile Cranes Operations, Road Transport, Stevedoring and Warehousing and Storage. There is a Diploma and an Advanced Diploma in Logistics Management.  Details of these can be found at www.ntis.gov.au. The Salvation Army Employment Plus placements The Salvation Army Employment Plus has placed many people into transport, distribution and logistics positions. The majority of these have been delivery drivers, store persons and truck drivers. Top   Back