A special 6-part series of short articles from WA Transport Magazine:

Researchers have identified the transportation industry as one of the sectors likely to be most affected by the coming implementation of new technologies: such as self-driving vehicles, artificial intelligence, and automated logistics systems. How will transportation workers fare as these technologies are rolled out, and what measures can be taken – by employers, governments, unions, educational institutions, and other stakeholders – to ease the transitions?

Earlier this year the Centre for Future Work completed a comprehensive review of factors influencing the future of work in transportation industries, commissioned by TWUSUPER (the main industry super fund serving the transportation sector). The report (co-authored by Jim Stanford and Matt Grudnoff) concluded that technology is not the only factor transforming work in transportation; in fact, if anything, accelerating changes in the nature of employment relationships (including the spread of independent contractor roles, “gigs”, and other forms of insecure work) are having a bigger immediate impact. Moreover, with appropriate planning, consultation, negotiation, and investments in training and adjustment, the employment impacts of new technology could clearly be managed without undue harm or displacement – but only if all stakeholders commit to an inclusive, collaborative process of planning and adjustment.

In the wake of our report, the industry journal WA Transport has published a very readable compendium of short articles, each exploring a different aspect of our report.

With the kind permission of WA Transport, we reprint those articles here. Together they are a useful resource for leaders and educators in the transportation industry.

Part I: The Economic Importance of Transportation

Part II: Transportation Work Today

Part III: Twin Drivers of Change

Part IV: Applications of New Technology in Transportation

Part V: Work Organisation and Employment Relationships

Part VI: Change Scenarios and Policy Implications

We thank TWUSUPER for the opportunity to undertake this research, and WA Transport for publishing this series of articles.