Road Freight Industry Human Capital in Demand

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According to a report by a top recruitment agency, fleet controllers, supply chain managers and custom brokers are in high demand in the country.

Fleet controllers, supply chain superintendents and customs brokers are in demand in Australia’s logistics jobs markets according to Hays.

In Australia’s logistics sector, these  workers are in high demand according to the latest Hays Quarterly Hotspots list of in-demand skills. Hays are one of Oz’s leading recruitment firms and according to them fleet controllers in particular are in high demand.

The reason why Fleet Controllers are in such high demand is because they are critical to the nature of a business. Despite the long hours they have to work, it is a fulfilling industry.

According to Hays there are a lot of permanent placements available for supply chain superintendents but because of a lack of good quality, qualified candidates, these vacancies are difficult to fill. Experienced candidates are in short supply and new employees are necessary for the future of the industry.

Hays also says that in Western Australia in particular custom brokers are in high demand. There is also an apparent shortage of experience employees to fill positions in transport and warehousing supervising. Fly-in/fly-out supply officers, side-loader operators, heavy rigid drivers, crane operators and order pickers are also in high demand.

Hays also believes that the increase in the mining sector has resulted in Western Australia seeing more project specific contracts being offered to inventory controllers on a temporary basis.
Whereas in the Northern Territory employers are hoping that the “dry season” will help secure new candidates who are moving into Darwin.

Employers are basically focusing on temporary assignments rather than permanent positions at entry level but at higher supervisory levels they are offering jobs on a more permanent basis. In this industry it is important to remember that vacancies are reactive and dependent upon the company’s contract wins and state of the business. Despite this, there is still a demand for workers in the industry, and with a decline in other previously “in demand” sectors such as mining, young people considering a career need to take this into account.

While entry-level jobs in this industry are usually offered on a temporary basis, with experience comes more lucrative, permanent contracts for employees particularly once they reach supervisor status.

Training for Fleet Controllers, Supply Chain Superintendents and Customs Brokers:

In addition to providing potential employees with opportunities in an expanding industry and a future with a lot of growth potential, these positions also present challenges and responsibilities.

Anyone entering this industry must undergo the necessary training beginning with Chain of Responsibility (COR) training.

According to national regulation, anyone who joins the road transport sector must undergo COR training to understand that general liability for logistics, supply chain and freight offences lie with them.

In the past, drivers unfairly had to take the blame for all breaches in road safety but now operators as well as others involved in the supply chain must be held liable for their parts in safety breaches.

COR training is designed to familiarise workers in the road freight industry with the Road Transport Reform (Compliance and Enforcement) Bill, in order to improve compliance with and enforcement of the heavy vehicle laws relating to registration, licensing, mass and loading, speeding and driving hours and will help the States and Territories give legislative effect to the chain of responsibility principle.

Some of the topics that are covered by the COR course include general liability provisions that distribute responsibility to all members in the chain not just drivers and operators, improved enforcement to ensure greater accountability right along the transport chain and the extension of chain of responsibility to duties and offences for heavy vehicle mass, dimension and load restraint.

Completing Chain of Responsibility Training

If a career in the road freight industry sounds compelling to you, you must complete the necessary Chain of Responsibility training.

With the skills shortage in this sector, across various fields from drivers to fleet controllers, and the opportunity for progress and promotion being as high as it is, it is a good idea for young people looking for a long term career prospect to enter this industry. However these young workers must understand that they will hold a duty of care relating to safety. The COR training teaches them these duties and responsibilities and how to comply.

As long as potential students have access to a computer, printer and internet connection, they can conveniently and easily complete an entry level course which allows them to begin working in this industry.

We also offer more in depth, accredited training for firms looking to educate their employees and avoid COR breaches in their organisations, many of which can prove crippling to a business.

For more information about the COR courses available visit our homepage today!

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