The Australian Trucking Association has today launched its InRoads Diversity and Inclusion program, with a further offering of 2,000 free diversity and inclusion education licences for members of state and sector trucking associations.
Supported by long-time partner Teletrac Navman, the launch builds on the announcement of the program’s evolution at Trucking Australia 2024 in April. Shortly after the ATA’s panel session announcement, 1,100 licence requests from 45 companies were claimed in just 24 hours.
Previously known as the Driving Change Diversity program, the initiative has been relaunched and refreshed as the ATA InRoads Diversity and Inclusion program and is a key pillar within the ATA’s workforce agenda of attracting and retaining industry talent.
The trucking industry currently faces a shortfall of 26K positions annually, a number that is expected to accelerate with increasing demand for online and direct to consumer purchases. This increasing freight task has been stretching trucking operators’ human resources and budgets for some time now.
ATA Director of Marketing & Corporate Partnerships Bianca D’Rosario said, “Opening up the industry to under-represented groups (women, older workers, multicultural groups) is a key part of addressing the current trucking workforce shortage and a recurring theme from the ATA’s 2024 Driver Training and Workforce Summit.
“Our program is based on courses from the SBS Inclusion Program, which provide a short, sharp and general understanding of inclusion, suitable for employees at any level, enabling workplaces to embed a culture of openness and acceptance of diverse employees.
“We are grateful to Teletrac Navman, who has funded the program since 2020 and is generously sponsoring 5,000 free SBS Inclusion Program licences.
“During the next 18 months, the program will provide access to important workplace safety courses: Appropriate Workplace Behaviour (including the Respect@Work and Psychosocial Hazards), Core Inclusion, Cultural Diversity and Gender Equity.
“In an industry of small businesses and high travel, the 24x7 accessibility of the courses is especially valuable,” she said.
Teletrac Navman ANZ Marketing Manager Sarah James said, “The workplace safety and productivity benefits from inclusive workplaces will be a game changer in terms of responding to the industry’s growing workforce pressures.
“Inclusive policies need to become standard in all industries. They’re just good business practice and good WH&S practice, which is what we’re in the business of delivering, and we’re keen to support the transport industry to succeed in this space too.”
Road Freight NSW Chief Executive Officer Simon O’Hara said, “This is a really important program, which will help and support our members in better educating themselves about appropriate behaviour, inclusion, diversity and gender equality, in what has been a traditionally male-dominated industry.
“And at a time of labour shortages across the transport industry, demonstrating best-practice diversity, inclusion and gender equity standards will help recruit and retain people into our industry,” he said.
Get more information on the program and register for free licences.