Women in Trucking for Improved Transportation

It should not be surprising that males predominate in the transportation business. In point of fact, women only make up 7.8 percent of professional Truck Drivers in the United States. Paper Transport acknowledges that there is a significant need for development for women in the trucking industry in order to guarantee that the economy of our nation continues to thrive and expand.

Perspectives on the Current Trucking Job Market:

The recent epidemic has heightened the need for truck drivers and made clear the extent to which the American population and economy depend on the transportation sector.

The demand for truck drivers and other crucial professions has only grown in a sector where competent workers were already in limited supply. Foresight experts say this tendency will likely persist for some years. If present industry trends persist, the American Trucking Association predicts that the shortfall of truck drivers will reach 160,000 by 2028.

The American Trucking Association estimates that the trucking sector will need around 1.1 million additional drivers during the next decade. The greater median age of trucker drivers (46 for over-the-road drivers and 57 for private fleet drivers) means replacing retired drivers will be a major concern. Additionally, industry expansion will account for some additional staff members’ requirements.

Trucking businesses must actively seek out and hire women for these positions to be filled. In 2019, women made up 57.4 percent of the U.S. workforce but just 10 percent of the 3.6 million truck drivers. This underutilized group may be able to assist with the current labor deficit.

The Case for Hiring Women Truck Drivers:

For various reasons, it’s smart to think about filling your truck driving team with women.

It has been reported that there is a severe scarcity of drivers and that just 10% of drivers are women. To meet the present demand, we must have enough drivers, and increasing the proportion of women in the workforce is crucial.

Data reveals that women are an excellent match for this profession, and it’s not just because there’s a shortage of applicants. Compared to males, women tend to be less willing to take chances, making them a great fit for the truck driver job. Male truck drivers are more likely to be killed in an accident, although female drivers average more annual kilometers driven.

The turnover rate for female truck drivers is lower than that of male drivers, another perk of employing them. These statistics on women in trucking should be enough to convince any employer to hire more women.

Advice on Employing Female Truck Drivers:

Do you question whether or not your organization is doing enough to encourage the hiring of female truck drivers? Seven suggestions are included for recruiting and maintaining qualified female truck drivers to aid your search.

1. Demonstration of your Desire to Hire Women Truckers:

Look at your advertising and hiring materials to ensure women are included. Ads for trucks and transportation businesses almost always feature male drivers. Show that you’re interested in hiring women in the trucking industry by focusing your recruitment ads on women.

2. Significance of Hiring Female Drivers:

Are you considering hiring female truck drivers due to their superior driving skills and safety track records? It is important to recruit for the right reasons and not just to meet a quota; therefore, be careful how you communicate this to candidates.

3. Gender Equality:

Third, foster an atmosphere where all team members are treated with respect regardless of gender. It is especially crucial if you are actively trying to recruit female truck drivers. Employees, especially men, should be taught to see women as valuable team members deserving of equal treatment. Make it a point that your organization rejects sexism and treats its employees equally.

4. Make Women-Friendly Trucking Equipment a Priority:

Because of differences in height and weight, women may find it harder to reach controls and settle into a comfortable posture in the cab of a truck. Manufacturers of trucks increasingly provide cabins that are more comfortable for female drivers. Investing in these trucks will guarantee that female driver will feel safe and secure while operating the vehicles.

5. Spend Money on Health and Safety Tools and Technology:

Adopt and invest in cutting-edge technological solutions to make truck driving safer and more comfortable for drivers of all ages and fitness levels. Because of technological developments, the trucking sector has flourished. You may make hiring and keeping truck drivers simpler by equipping your fleet with as much cutting-edge technology as your budget allows when acquiring new vehicles.

6. Create and advertise safety procedures:

As with any occupation where the worker is required to spend significant time alone, safety is a major consideration for women in trucking. Create processes to ensure your team’s safety from harassment and harmful environments when traveling and work to make sure they are present.

7. Give Help with Learning and Developing Skills:

Get more women into truck driving by giving them the tools they need to succeed. Women truck drivers should be given thorough career training, including tips for safety on the road. Ensure that female driver have the resources they need to succeed by providing them with mentoring and counseling programs.

How you can Promote Female Truckers:

Businesses may show they care for women truck drivers by doing things like:

• Instructors and trainees of opposite sexes are provided with separate sleeping quarters; women are given specialized mentoring and training in areas like safety, planning, and self-defense; employees are encouraged to strike a balance between work and personal life by, for example, taking time off to attend family events and emergencies

• A company’s ability to recognize biases and implement inclusive initiatives depends on its ability.

• Remove any gendered references to truck driving (such as the idea that “trucking is a man’s profession”) from your vocabulary and conversations.

• In order to give women more agency, we must destroy the stereotype that women cannot drive or operate a truck. Truck driving is a job for which women are just as qualified as males. As PTI professional driver Lori Sifuentes observes, “I see a lot of powerful women in trucking.”

• Leadership and employees should be educated on the significance of eradicating and being aware of unconscious prejudice when recruiting and promoting women in the workplace.

• Honor women who have achieved significant accomplishments and good influence.

• People’s lives have always been enriched by the transportation industry’s ability to bring them together. It will be even more rewarding as gender diversity grows and we celebrate women in trucking.

Sufficient Means Available:

Numerous organizations and helpful resources have been developed over the years to aid and encourage women interested in or currently engaged in a profession as a truck driver. One such group is the Women in Trucking Association, and whose stated goal is “to promote women’s employment in the trucking business, to highlight the achievements of women in the sector, and to lessen the challenges they experience on the job.”

The mission of this group and others like it, REAL Women in Trucking, is to empower and inspire women who are interested in or already working in the trucking industry by providing them with information and resources to help them succeed in their chosen profession. The trucking industry is invested in the success of its female drivers, and several businesses actively support and encourage women truckers.

Advantages Galore:

Competitive compensation, flexible vacation policies, safety incentives, 401(k) matching, health and wellness programs, and much more are some of the perks that truck drivers may expect from their employers. Truck driving is a way of life that allows individuals from many walks of life to see the globe in unique and rewarding ways while earning a decent living.

Inequality in Compensation:

Moreover, women truck drivers in the sector get equal pay, benefits, and respect from their male colleagues. According to Women in trucking President Ellen Voice: “As a truck driver, you get the same amount of money as your male counterparts because you are paid by the mile or the load or the percentage.” That being said, truck drivers of either sex may expect to earn the same amount.

Although trucking may seem like a male-dominated profession, women are welcome to apply. Companies are not only willing to provide women with equal pay and benefits to those of males, but they are also eager to recruit women and provide them with the tools they need to thrive.

Final Thoughts:

Women may join the trucking profession in various roles outside truck driving. Beyond the realm of driving, women have a wide variety of other occupations to choose from. Statistics show that more and more women are becoming business owners, fleet managers, and leaders in other fields. Data from the last several years suggests that women make up at least 47% of the trucking employment.

Author’s Bio:

Samuel Dawson loves helping others to thrive online through Social Media, Blogging, and SEO. What good is knowledge if you cannot share it with others? He has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 10 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.

He spent his last decade reading and writing blogs and his words show new colors of life to readers. He was invited as a guest to a renowned College to distribute awards for creative writing. Also, he is a professional architect and loves observing the kids’ behavior towards their elders.