Women take the wheel
• Hanson’s Scottsdale concrete plant manager Wayne Clark, trainee agitator driver Bridie Moore, batcher Cayla Bowerman and agitator driver Taylor Marshall.
February 08, 2023
By Daisy Baker
Truck driving has historically been a male dominated role, but thanks to an initiative of Hanson Australia to increase female participation, local women have been taking the wheel at their Scottsdale plant.
Female trainees with a motor car licence can access a free intensive driver training program followed by full-time employment as a trainee agitator driver.
The national program was introduced around two and a half years ago and when faced with a driver shortage, Hanson’s Scottsdale concrete plant manager Wayne Clark said it was a win-win solution for his team.
“To date Hanson have employed seven trainee drivers in Tasmania, five of those in the North-East, with further opportunities for females in the near future,” Mr Clark said.
“As of late, since Covid, it’s been difficult to find truck drivers so we had to think outside of the box. I thought ‘well if the mainland can do it, so can I’ so here we are.
“It’s great seeing the females coming along. They don’t very often get the opportunity in this industry and you see them come out the end with a licence. It’s fantastic.”
Training varies from three to six months, depending on the individual.
Starting out as learner drivers in the passenger seat, trainees then move to the driver’s seat and when they and their instructor are ready, they undertake an accredited course to gain their full licence.
With a background in cooking, Taylor Marshall saw the job advertised and decided it was time for a change.
“It’s not something that I ever thought I’d be able to do, to get a heavy rigid licence and be in control of an extremely heavy vehicle but I seem to be going alright,” she laughed.
“I’ve impressed myself. It’s been really good.”
There is no such thing as an average day as a driver, travelling across the state depending on orders, to locations including Launceston, Bell Bay, Bridport and Hobart.
Bridie Moore is another of Hanson’s trainee drivers in Scottsdale, learning the role along with the batching and administration aspects of the business.
“I’ve really enjoyed the freedom of driving a truck. I was in retail before so I was stuck in a shop but now I get to go out and see things,” she said.
“I see myself staying within this role for a very long time, it’s very enjoyable.”
Ms Moore is in the final stages of her training and will obtain her Heavy Rigid licence later this month.
Cayla Bowerman entered the Hanson team as a batcher last year, mixing concrete and has since shown interest in doing further training as a truck driver down the track.
Within Hanson there are also jobs in testing and various quarry roles as loader operators and dump trucks.
Mr Clark said there has been a big push within Hanson for diversity and inclusion in recent years and he hopes more branches will follow their lead.
“Since we introduced it in the North-East, Hobart has taken the ball and run with it too,” he said.
“The more managers who put their hand up to give this a go, it’s only going to get bigger over time.”