It is no secret that the trucking industry has been in search of new drivers for years now. Truck drivers have been predominantly older, white men, but that is changing rapidly as more minority drivers begin to take the driver’s seat. However, there is an under-utilized demographic beginning to make their presence known in the trucking industry. The most recent numbers show that women are making huge strides forward and now make up over 13% of all truck drivers. Is this a good thing? Are women as capable as drivers as their male counterparts? In short, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Even TheTrucker.com states that female truck drivers are “independent women with unique skills that help them navigate a male-dominated career in professional truck driving.” Now, in honor of Women’s History Month, Lionzone is diving into the many benefits of adding more women drivers to trucking fleets.
“’Cause if I was a Man…”
DAT.com states that the 13.7% of women truck drivers “still reflects a vast source of untapped potential for the industry.” Women do hold many positions in trucking companies. Nearly 75% of HR and Talent Management jobs are held by women. 44.7% of dispatcher roles are held by women. Data shows that even 33.8% of C-Suite executive positions in trucking companies are filled by women. However, the number of women drivers has only inched forward incrementally. In 2018, women held a little less than 8% of all trucking jobs. By 2019, that number had increased to 10%. Six years later, and that number has only increased about 3%.
Why would it be such a boon for more women to join the trucking industry? DAT.com states that “women have many positive traits that are quite conducive to being efficient, reliable, and safe truck drivers.” From possessing strong multitasking and organizational skills, to being good communicators, to having the ability to focus on a project for a long period of time, to being much less likely to take risks on the road, women have all of the skills necessary to be incredible and formidable truck drivers. Along with all of the abilities associated with women above, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), men are 20% more likely to be in a truck accident than female drivers.
Overall, companies are finding that “Women are intentionally choosing a career as professional truck drivers,” and they are being embraced by many in the industry that know the older, male drivers are retiring at a rapid pace.
“… Then I’d be the man”
For all of these reasons listed above, Women in Trucking (WIT) and their CEO, Ellen Voie, has been pushing for more companies to offer opportunities to women, including reaching out to trucking companies and even setting up grants to help women become owner operators. Starting in 2017, WIT called their partnership with Jason Williams, the CEO and President of Expediter Services, the “Women-Owned Business Initiative,” and it started as a plan to establish 150 women-owned trucking companies. However, it has far exceeded expectations, and, in January of this year, the pair launched their 300th women-owned trucking business. Also, according to the WIT group, “…ES has helped secure an estimated $45 million in financing for participants in the program, and today, more than 40% of the members of the ES community are women.” Both partners agree that there are miles to go yet and both ES and WIT are “excited to continue helping more women break into the industry and thrive in the years to come.”
Not all of the news coming out of the industry of late has been positive, though. With the incoming second Trump administration, many drivers and trucking company executives are concerned that “Policies aimed at protecting and elevating women in the trucking industry will face tough new scrutiny…” Back in 2023, the Biden administration issued the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and their goal was to crackdown on workplace harassment. While their initial aim was to create a fair and level pay scale, the commission had also hoped to provide new female truck drivers with women trainers to make them feel more comfortable and protected as they learned the ins and outs of driving, as well as the proper channels to report sexual assault and harassment. The safety of women drivers has always been a grave question for everyone in the trucking industry, as “a result of long-standing stereotypes, prejudices, and social issues regarding gender roles.” However, in January 2025, the Trump administration issued a freeze order on proposing and issuing new rules until they are approved by someone designated by the President. Any helpful proposals or rules will take much longer to be put into place, if they are approved at all.
Conclusion
The inclusion of female drivers in the trucking industry is one that experts say will lead to many benefits. From DAT.com, “The main takeaway here is that having more women truck drivers will not only improve diversity and address gaps in the workforce – it will also undoubtedly improve the safety of the trucking industry as a whole.” While perspectives have come a long way from the belief that only men can be big rig drivers, many women still do not feel confident joining the industry. Through the efforts of organizations, such as Women in Trucking, though, these attitudes are shifting to a more positive view a little more every day.
__________________________________________________________________________
Meaghan Goldberg covers recruitment and digital marketing for Lionzone. A Patterson, GA native, after graduating from both Valdosta State University and Middle Tennessee State University, Meaghan joined Lionzone in 2018 as a digital recruitment strategist before becoming the social media manager.
Resources:
https://www.prodrivers.com/news/2021/12/40193284/more-minority-representation-among-truckers
https://schneiderjobs.com/blog/advice-from-women-truck-drivers
https://www.dat.com/resources/how-female-truckers-are-changing-the-industry
