Understanding female driver needs key to recruiting and retention

From Commercial Carrier Journal.

In 2021, we saw increased attention on the opportunity for more women to join the trucking industry, which continues to face driver shortages despite being one of the largest occupational groups in the U.S. The latest American Transportation Research Institute survey released in October 2021 confirmed that driver shortage remains the number one concern facing the industry, with the number two issue being driver retention.

Some progress is being made to diversify the trucking workforce and attract new talent. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) reported that the number of professional female truck drivers in the U.S. rose by 68% between 2010 and 2018. And according to a Women in Trucking Association (WIT) survey from 2019 – a more accurate depiction than recent Department of Labor statistics – women represent more than 10% of U.S. truck drivers.

This year, the U.S. will continue to look at the vital role of truck drivers in the larger supply chain as it advances measures to promote women in trucking through the bipartisan infrastructure bill and Biden-Harris Trucking Action Plan. As carriers ramp up efforts to recruit women, it is critical to understand the physical and mental health challenges encountered by female drivers pursuing careers in the field.

See the complete article online at Commercial Carrier Journal.