It's hard to get good help – especially heavy vehicle and plant mechanics.

The short-sightedness of our 'leaders' over the past 10-15 years to become the 'smart country' has focused on discouraging our young to take up a career as a tradesperson, which was once held as a well-respected profession and Australian tradition. Instead, they encourage everyone to complete Year 12, then off to university to rack up a hex debt. Some of these young people will never complete their degree or realise a career in their chosen field.

What happened to offering diversity in the education system? This classic case of putting all your eggs in the one basket is now obviously coming home to roost, creating one big black hole, hurting the countries bottom line and failing those who are meant to be our future hands-on tradespeople.

From a fleet manager's perspective this situation is being felt on so many levels: the inability to attract or retain apprentices and heavy vehicle mechanics, managing safety risks by ensuring work is performed by only those competent to do so, justifying and managing rising labour costs, outsourcing large bodies of work and the inability to meet service level demands.

So, what to do? Do we do what was previously considered unthinkable and turn to overseas labour markets as those in the private sector have done to maintain solvency? Is this right or wrong?

So, as with most things, your executive will expect contingencies, yep – but there are only so many rabbits in the hat. This means a huge shift in the way we think and respond – which also has a considerable cost attached.

There has been a recent announcement of free TAFE fees in NSW for new apprentices with additional incentive to be forthcoming to encourage a greater take up. GOOD – but it is likely to take more than 10 years to have any real affect. Should we as employers consider providing greater career development/training opportunities for those lesser skilled workers already in the workforce. I suppose all options need to be on table to address this problem.

One thing is for sure, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better! You better get your thinking caps on and work out a solution for your individual fleet business needs.

To stop our Anonymous Fleet Manager (AFM) blowing a gasket, we created Internal Combustion, a monthly column for fleet-related rants that lets him blow off some steam. Got a fleet gripe you'd like to get his opinion on? Email emily.ditchburn@ipwea.org and she'll pass it on to AFM – when he's in a good enough mood, that is.