The logistics and transportation industries are fundamental to our country. Without them, the e-commerce industry wouldn’t be the juggernaut it is today, and people across the world wouldn’t have access to the products and services they so fiercely rely on.
As a result, pursuing a career in logistics is a surefire way to get plugged into a valuable profession, help support people’s day-to-day routines, and ultimately contribute to one of the country’s most influential fields. While logistics and trucking may appear to be primarily male-lead industries, that couldn’t be farther from the truth, as women in logistics have been around since the formation, development, and continued evolution of the industry.
Women in the Transport Industry
Women have played a crucial role in the transport industry since its very beginnings. Not only have women in logistics and transportation been a constant presence, but as of 2018, there are more female-owned trucking companies than ever, and the number of women working in logistics only continues to go up.
While men still make up the majority of truck drivers, with women comprising “between 4.1% and 6% of the overall truck driver population” as of 2017, the trucking industry has always been eager for new and more diverse drivers and has made great strides in continuing to recruit and support women in logistics.
Organizations like Women in Transportation (WIT) have been instrumental in this respect, as they have strived “to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.” However, it’s also the logistics companies themselves that have played a significant role in supporting women who pursue a truck driving career.
Not only does a career in truck driving offer consistent income and a wealth of benefits, but it also rewards all of its drivers equally. Ellen Voie, the President and CEO of the Women in Trucking Association, puts it like this: “A carrier sets the pay based on mileage, hours or percentage of the load. It is not related to age, ethnicity or gender.” This means that female truck drivers salary is no different from anyone else’s in the industry.
With the industry in need of drivers (and plenty of them), it should come as no surprise that the American Trucking Association has reported over 28,000 women joining the industry since 2014. Here at Lily Transportation, for example, we’re always actively pursuing women for roles across our company.
Truck driving is not only a viable career option for women, but it’s also a flourishing one. There are more women in logistics, transport, and trucking roles than ever, and the industry is making great strides towards finding new and meaningful ways to accommodate and encourage this trend.
If you want to learn more about women in logistics and how Lily Transportation can help you get started, then reach out to us today! We’re always on the lookout for new and passionate drivers and would love to talk to you.
