Trailer Magazine spoke with Truckline VIC/TAS Territory Business Manager, Casey Stewart, about her experiences in the commercial road transport industry.

Q. What first drew you to the commercial road transport industry?

A. I grew up in and around trucks. My father and grandfather were both drivers, moving into a role in this industry was natural progression for me. I had “diesel in my blood” from a young age and started as a Parts Interpreter at a family friend’s truck and trailer parts business when I was 15. I have moved through the ranks from there and am now Territory Business Manager across Victoria and Tasmania for leading aftermarket truck and trailer parts retailer, Truckline.

Q. What does a standard day for you look like?

A. Crazy busy! Up at 5.45am, making sure my husband & eldest son are ready for work and my youngest son is set to catch the school bus. I then head in to the office - either Truckline Hallam or Truckline Brooklyn. I help out the branches when my schedule permits, visit customers, develop new business and co-ordinate with the Truckline Sales Reps to arrange joint visitations when required. I travel a lot both intra- and interstate, but I try to be home by 6pm to cook dinner, spend time with my family and prepare to do it all again.

Q. What has been a highlight of your career so far?

A. Being nominated for the ATA Transport Woman of the Year in 2017 and making the top three. It was an absolute honour for me to be recognised for my small contribution to the industry I love, and a privilege to be thought of in the same category as the other two very deserving finalists.

Q. What is the best thing about the transport industry?

A. The salt of the earth, hardworking people. You have the ability to be yourself in this industry, there’s no pretence. I’ve been blessed to grow up around some of the finest old-school truckers this industry had to offer and I was even more blessed to be able to call them my friends.

Q. What do you think could be improved?

A. Rates need to come up. Owners are operating on a shoestring these days. Fuel goes up, cost of living goes up, trucks and spare parts, registrations, insurances, everything goes up but rates stay the same. It’s not sustainable.

Q. What do initiatives like the Women in Industry Award/Conference mean to you?

A. Exposure and positive reinforcement in the media are crucial. We have a great team at Truckline with so much knowledge about the business and about truck and trailer spare parts across our branches, warehouses and distribution centres, and in that team there’s a small but fantastic group of women doing excellent work. There’s so much negativity in the media regarding the transport industry that it’s nice to see positive success stories painting it in a good light.

Q. What impact can events like these have on the industry?

A. Drawing more women into the industry is paramount for me and events like these are a wonderful way of displaying what the transport industry has to offer, regardless of whether you’re male or female. You can forge great, rewarding careers in all facets of this industry. It’s nice to be able to put people’s stories out there to highlight the opportunities.

Q. How can people and companies in the transport industry better promote it as a career of choice for women?

A. The Truckline Human Resources department is investigating the possibility of speaking in local Secondary Schools as part of Careers Week. I think this is a wonderful opportunity to put our stories out there and encourage girls to think outside the square when it comes to their career. Give them examples and success stories in industries that they probably have never considered.