Logistics industry lacks girl power
Date: 18 October 2007
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The question of women in the freight haulage industry was discussed at the recent 'Women in Transport 2007 - Better Balance, Better Business' event in London, RoadTransport.com reports.
There is a predominance of white males over the age of 45 in the sector, which some believe signifies a staff shortage to come.
Lucinda Ward of Skills for Logistics thinks that encouraging diversity in the recruitment process could head off this problem.
"A large number of small and medium-sized operators do not have professional HR functions and employers have inflexible working processes," she said.
"If our industry is to achieve a more diverse workforce we need to consider job design, shift patterns, the comfort and cleanliness of working conditions and cultural issues."
Research has also found that women are under-represented at a senior management level within the logistics industry, and that this is a self-perpetuating problem.
Dr Kim Peters of the University of Exeter said that many women who get to top positions then quit because the lack of other women there may make it particularly difficult and stressful.
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