The topic of workplace diversity and inclusion has received a lot of attention this week, with the candidate for the US Presidency, Kamala Harris, being described by her opponents in the Trump camp as a ‘diversity hire’.
The use of this term and the way it has been weaponised tell us about some of the issues around this topic, which industries like the trucking industry, while struggling to get young people to become engaged and part of our industry, need to think about and tackle properly.
Throughout its history the trucking industry has been the domain of straightforward white blokes who say what they think and function without much of a social filter. This has seen the industry go quite well throughout its history, but now, times are changing and we are not getting the inflow of bright young people into the industry that is required to take us forward into the rest of this century.
For those of us already in the trucking industry who have learnt to live with its culture, it may be quite difficult to make that step change, which turns the industry image into something which is more inclusive for many and varied types of people in the potential labour pool for trucking.
This is not something that we can ignore, the issue is not going to go away and there are not enough people in the potential labour pool, who are interested in the trucking industry to meet its needs going forward. Therefore, the only option is for the trucking industry, as a whole, to look at itself and make some difficult decisions on developing a culture which has inclusion at its core.
Some of the larger operators have set processes in place to improve the culture within their businesses and have improved the inclusivity over time, but more needs to be done and there are plenty of other sectors of the industry where people from diverse backgrounds do not feel comfortable.
One of the points which is often overlooked when talking about this kind of process as a necessary improvement for the trucking industry is the fact that thinking about improving the diversity and inclusivity in the trucking industry is going to improve the culture with in the industry for everybody, including those who are already in it.
This is a point which is often missed. It will not only improve the industry for those from diverse backgrounds who want to move into the industry, but it will also improve the industry for those who are already working in it.
Talking to operators around the country, it is clear that they are working on understanding more about this topic and trying to devise working arrangements where women who have children at school can also handle shifts behind the wheel of a truck.
So the introduction this week of the in InRoads Diversity and Inclusion program by the Australian Trucking Association should be welcomed by those in the industry who are struggling to attract smart young people to work in their businesses. This is their opportunity to make the changes required and to develop the workforce that will take them through into the future.
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