Australia’s trucking industry is facing a growing driver shortage, but new voices are stepping forward to shape its future. A recent multicultural drivers’ roundtable hosted by the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) highlighted that all truck drivers – regardless of background – should meet the same licensing standards to ensure safety and fairness on the road.
ATA CEO Mathew Munro said the drivers’ feedback was clear: overseas driving credentials higher than a car licence should not be recognised. Instead, all drivers should complete the same training and licensing pathways, including South Australia’s Multicombination (MC) Licence Program, which requires 50–60 logged hours of supervised driving before an assessment.
For young people considering a career, truck driving offers strong earning potential compared to other professions. According to ATA career factsheets:
- A police officer earns $81,500 as a probationary constable after extensive training.
- A business graduate earns $58,000–$88,000 after a three-year degree costing about $51,000.
- A qualified car mechanic earns around $53,700 after a four-year apprenticeship.
- A gym instructor earns $40,300 at 18 and $53,700 at 20.
By contrast, a truck driver can start quickly with licensing and training courses and earn $88,000, with overtime available for long-distance work.
Munro said the roundtable also tackled challenges multicultural drivers face, including racial abuse on UHF radio and social media. The ATA is working on initiatives to help drivers understand sham contracting, stand up to racist abuse, and build fairer workplaces.
“By strengthening training and licensing pathways, we can help address the driver shortage while also creating a fairer, more accessible industry – one where all drivers have the opportunity to succeed and build long-term careers,” Munro said.
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