It’s no secret that there’s a massive demand for truck drivers right now. According to Bob Costello, chief economist at the American Trucking Associations (ATA), “We will be short… just over 80,000 drivers” and ATA data says if nothing is done to try and bring in more drivers, the shortage could grow to 160,000 drivers by 2030. This massive demand means that trucking companies need to shift their strategy when it comes to truck driver recruitment. One of those strategies is to focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) with a special emphasis on women drivers. According to FreightWaves.com, women now make up 10% of all truck drivers in the United States—a massive increase from just a few years ago, but we still have a ways to go if we want to meet the growing demand for drivers. Keep reading to find out 5 reasons why trucking companies should focus their efforts to bring in more women drivers. 

1. Women are a huge part of the economy.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women now represent 46.6% of the total workforce, yet they are still underrepresented in trucking jobs. That’s a huge population of untapped talent that the trucking industry is missing out on.

2. Women drivers have shown they make safer truckers than men.

Hiring women drivers could actually increase your safety record. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, women are safer drivers. They’re less likely to be distracted by their phones or other devices and are more attentive to safety. They’re also less likely to drink and drive or speed—two things that cause a lot of accidents in the trucking industry. 

3. Many women lost jobs during the pandemic.

The pandemic hit everyone hard, but women were hit even harder. That’s because women tend to work in industries that were disproportionately impacted by business closures. Think residential and home nursing care, childcare, food service, and the hospitality industry. Some of these women were not able to return to those jobs, and a trucking career could be a great option for them – especially those without college degrees. Find ways to reach these women in your recruitment strategy, and make trucking known as a viable career path.

4. It shatters the stigma.

The only way stereotypes can change is by major players in the trucking industry leading the way. Some of the most frequently cited reasons for not having more women in trucking are that driving a big rig for hundreds of miles at a time isn’t family-friendly, and the industry is male-oriented and unwelcoming to women. While these stereotypes may be true in some cases, the first step towards change comes by creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for the brave and hardworking women who are already in the industry. The more that we work towards creating a safe and welcoming work environment for all, the more comfortable new women-driver prospects will feel entering the industry.

There are also plenty of women who do not hold ties to family and home life, just as there are male drivers with varying needs for home time. For those women (and men) who do have home and family needs, there are flexible options available, like local and regional driving. Plus, there are many non-driving jobs in the trucking industry, too.

Final Thoughts on Women Drivers

In order to meet the demand of the driver shortage, the trucking industry needs more women drivers to fill a gap left by the retiring population of truck drivers. By hiring women, companies can help shatter industry stigmas, increase their diversity and inclusion efforts, and relieve some of the driver shortage problems that are costing money and hurting the bottom line. If your driver recruitment team would like to learn more about DEI and is interested in making a plan, reach out to KJ Media today.