Overview of Transport and Logistics

So, what is Transport and Logistics?

Logistics: is the cost effective process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient movement and storage of goods from the point of origin to the end-user.

For example: the path that apples would take from the orchard to the super-market. You wouldn’t think it, but it is a complex and involved process. If the apples are not transported, sorted and stored correctly, well, they would not arrive at the super-market in the great condition they do!

Transport: is the movement of products and people from one point to another via AIR, SEA, ROAD and RAIL.

The great thing about the Transport and Logistics Industry is that:

• Opportunities exist for you to learn on the job and even while you are still at school!
• You can gain a nationally recognized and accredited qualification that can set you on a rewarding career path, which will help you secure your future.
• These days you can also study your way from Certificate I,II,III,IV, Diploma and all the way through to an Advanced Diploma of Logistics Management.

Further information about the Transport Industry and it's importance is available in the "About the Transport Industry" page.

Transport and Logistic Industry Facts and Figures

Transport and Logistic Industry (T&L) is comprised of 6 industry sectors:

• Road Transport
• Rail
• Aviation
• Maritime
• Warehousing and Storage
• Services

The Workforce

• 29,400 people employed for the year ended February 2008, accounting for 3.8% of employment in South Australia
• Road Transport employed 17,400 people accounting for 59.2% of the total amount of workers employed in the Transport and Storage Industry in SA.
• Workforce can be characterised as being predominantly male. Males account for 76.9% of industry employment.
• The work is mainly full-time with77.8% of the workforce working full-time
• Workers are relatively unqualified with 47% of the industry’s

Despite the difficult economic climate Transport & Logistic remains strong and confident. It is expected that the Freight task in Australia will double by 2020. The T&L industry has an older than average workforce and predominately male demographic with a significant proportion of the industry workforce set to retire in the next five years. This means opportunities for young people!

The Transport & Logistics industry has many job opportunities in regional areas and good prospects exist for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Forklift Drivers, Supply and Distribution Managers, Travel Agents, Tour Guides, Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs, Truck Drivers and Seafarers.

Employment Across the Industry

Top 5 Occupations

1. Truck Drivers
2. Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs
3. Bus and Tram Drivers
4. Travel Agents and Tour Guides
5. Store Persons

Age Profile

Transport and Storage Education Profile

• Over half of the workers currently working do not have any post school qualifications
• The culture of the industry allows workers to enter employment and offers good opportunities, or re-entry into the workforce.
• Nevertheless, vocational education is an important contributor to industry skills with more than one in every four workers holding a Certificate level qualification.

Health and Safety

SafeWork SA is South Australia's new Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) agency. SafeWork SA is able to offer guidance and recommended safe work practices and legal responsibilities to prevent injuries in the work place and how to help eliminate hazards in the workplace.

The hazards in the Transport and Logistics Industry include:

• Shift work
• Manual Handling
• Noise and vibration
• Vehicle accidents
• Exposure to chemicals
• Handling dangerous goods
• Working at heights