Truckies call for industry overhaul to attract more young drivers By Kristy Reading, Lara Webster and Lily PlassABC New EnglandTopic:Road Transport Industry2h ago2 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:00amWade Lewis says the trucking industry needs young people. (ABC New England: Lara Webster)In short:A report from the International Road Transport Union shows about 28,000 Australian heavy-vehicle driving jobs were unfilled last year.The report also found 5 per cent of drivers were under 25.What's next?Heavy vehicle advocates want to see traineeships or cadetships considered to encourage more school leavers to think about jobs in the road freight industry.abc.net.au/news/declining-young-truckie-rates-prompt-calls-for-intervention/105262334Link copiedShareShare articleThere have been countless songs written about life behind the wheel, but Australia's trucking industry may have to change its tune to attract a new generation of drivers.Road freight is a vital link in the Australian supply chain, but there are growing concerns about its future.A report from the International Road Transport Union shows about 28,000 heavy-vehicle driving jobs were unfilled across Australia last year.It also shows nearly half of all drivers in Australia are over 55, with only 5 per cent under 25.Advocates want heavy vehicle operation recognised as a trade. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)That rings alarm bells for Tamworth's Wade Lewis, who is the vice president of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association."The supply chain pressures are going to increase exponentially in the next five to 10 years as these over 55s retire," he said."State and federal governments are going to have to step up and say we are going to start putting a lot more focus on this because it's really important we have young people coming through."The saying is, 'The only thing not delivered by a truck is a baby', and it's very true."Passion for workAt West Wyalong in the Riverina region, 33-year-old hay and wool carter Tim Mitton has embraced life behind the wheel and was recently crowned the New South Wales Young Driver of the Year for 2025.Tim Mitton (centre) is celebrated as a young truck driver. (Supplied: Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association)"It's a passion … you sit at home for a couple of days and you can't wait to get back to work [because] you might miss something," Mr Mitton said."You're going different places, the weather's different, the destination's different … you get some good stories out of everyone you go and see."Mr Lewis told the ABC a long-distance truck driver could "comfortably earn anywhere from $120–150,000 a year".National heavy-vehicle laws mean a driver cannot legally spend more than 12 hours on the road in any 24-hour period, and must take regular rest breaks.But there is widespread recognition that more needs to be done to make the industry safer and more attractive.Not a recognised occupationIn January 2024, the NSW government announced a Freight Policy Reform Program.It identified several issues including an ageing workforce, a challenging work environment, a lack of female drivers, and low awareness of career pathways.Heavy vehicle advocates want to see truck driving classed as an occupation. (ABC New England: Lara Webster)But Mr Lewis said there was another glaring problem that had to be addressed."Because it's not recognised as an occupation, [we] as an industry cannot offer any type of apprenticeship or traineeship or formal qualification," he said."We can't get an answer of why it won't be recognised as a profession … so it is a huge barrier to us progressing."Better conditions for driversLast year, the federal government introduced Closing Loopholes reform and gave the Fair Work Commission the power to set enforceable minimum standards for road transport workers.Those standards related to rates of pay, cost recovery and consultation.Transport Workers' Union of Australia national secretary, Michael Kaine, said it was now up to the re-elected Albanese government to make that a reality.Michael Kaine, centre, wants to make sure reforms are enforced. (Supplied: TWU)"Laws are just literally words on a piece of paper so we have got to make sure that those laws now have substance," he said."One of the things is to ensure everyone is paid in a timely fashion, so no longer than 30 days after the work has been done. There are reports of trucking companies waiting up to six months, 12 months or 18 months to be paid."These are some of the basics that we need to get right if we are going to ensure work is done safely, the industry is sustainable, and that the quality starts coming through in some of these jobs."Posted 2h ago2 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:00am, updated 1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 5:06amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonPhoto shows Anika Wells Amanda Rishworth Katie Gallagher Anne AlyAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus dumped from frontbench in factional carve-upLIVEPhoto shows Mark Dreyfus standing at the dispatch box in the federal parliament.Two men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyTopic:HomicidePhoto shows Cassius Turvey Forever 15Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trialLIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtRelated storiesThis road transport hall of famer has been setting truckies straight for more than 50 years Topic:Human InterestPhoto shows Sue wears a bright red shirt and matching red rimmed glasses, she smiles widely at the camera from behind her desk.Truckie anger sparks WA government backflip on mandatory safety signageTopic:Road Transport IndustryPhoto shows A road train in the outback in northern WA at sunset.Pioneering trucker clocks up a lifetime of memories on the open roadTopic:Feel GoodPhoto shows an elderly man with grey trousers and blue shirt stands at the door of a red road train truckRelated topicsAgricultureDubboGovernment PolicyRoad Transport IndustrySelf EmploymentTamworthTransport IndustryWest WyalongWorkTop StoriesGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus dumped from frontbench in factional carve-upTopic:Government and PoliticsTwo men found guilty of murdering Indigenous schoolboy Cassius TurveyTopic:HomicideErin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trialTopic:Law, Crime and JusticeJust InGovernment shouldn't tell parents how to discipline kids, Crisafulli saysTopic:Parenting8m ago8 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:24amJail term doubled for 'muppets' involved in 100kg cocaine import attemptTopic:Cocaine20m ago20 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:12amMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett Worthington21m ago21 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:11amSoviet spacecraft will crash back to Earth within 48 hours, data suggestsTopic:Explainer22m ago22 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 6:10amMore Just InBack to top