ATA Scania 2010 Young Australian Truck Driver of the Year award winner Rick Lockwood.
Students exploring potential careers can find detailed information on road transport jobs in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' 2013 Job Guide, following extensive input by the Australian Trucking Association.
The job guide provides students or those looking for a career change with information on the duties, requirements and opportunities of jobs in different employment areas.
Young workers interested in the road transport industry can use the guide to find up to date information on becoming a truck driver, furniture removalist, delivery driver or truck offsider. Specialisations such as heavy haulage driver, pilot driver and concrete agitator operator are also listed.
The Job Guide recommends that potential truck drivers should enjoy practical work and drive safely. Driver duties such as filling out a work diary, checking loads and coupling/decoupling trailers are listed, as well as the unusual hours many drivers work.
Licensing bodies and relevant courses are shown for each state and territory, making it easy for students to work out how to get the qualifications they need.
ATA chief executive Stuart St Clair said it was important that young people were aware of the great careers available in the trucking industry.
"Many parents, teachers and school career counsellors remember the trucking industry as it was in the past, and don't recommend it to students," Mr St Clair said.
"Today's trucks are fitted with technology that can only be found in high end cars, and a truck driver these days can be in sole charge of a vehicle and cargo worth more than a million dollars.
"A student who starts out by getting a nationally recognised certificate in driving operations can build on that qualification to progress into supervisory roles and into management with a Diploma of Logistics."
The Job Guide is available in hard copy or online at www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au.
