Sorcha Halpin is a commercial driving apprentice with DPD Ireland. She has almost finished her training to become a truck driver.
Ms Halpin was working in the hotel sector when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Worried that the industry may never reopen, she decided to apply for a job at logistics company DPD Ireland.
“There’s a variety of areas of work, there’s a variety of vehicles so there’s no boring job, you’re always moving around,” Ms Halpin said.
While more women are starting to work in the logistics sector, Ms Halpin said it remains a male-dominated industry.
“The men are very helpful and supportive but even they say we need more women drivers – and even a few have admitted that women are better drivers,” she said.
“I think many women view it as a male-dominated industry and maybe that puts them off.”
“It can be physical, hard work and I didn’t think I would be cut out for it but here I am, in a job that I love,” Ms Halpin added.
This week is ‘Logistics and Supply Chain Skills Week’ with events taking place across the country aimed at attracting more women and younger people into the logistics and supply chain sector.
The industry involves the movement of goods around the world by road, rail, sea, and air as well as the management of supply, demand, distribution, and procurement operations.
Amid warnings of a severe labour shortage in the sector, the skills week aims to encourage students, new entrants, and career changers to consider education and careers in logistics and supply chain.
A free event for Transition Year students will be held at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin today offering information on future career and educational opportunities within the supply chain and logistics sector.
The expo will include demonstrations of sustainable technology vehicles, drones and driving simulators.
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