Image a stumbling block in recruitment of women drivers, study finds
Summary
If trucking is going to make any headway in its ongoing quest to attract more women, the industry has its work cut out for them. Last year women drivers made up just less than 7% of the trucking fleet, hitting its lowest point since pre-pandemic 2019. ATRIs 2022 update of its Predicting Truck Crash Involvement showed that female truck drivers were safer than their male counterparts in every statistically significant category, yet more than 31% of responses to ATRIs most recent query pertained to attitudes other drivers, motor carriers, shippers and the general public have about women drivers or general disrespect of women. 2, including unclear and inconsistent communication with drivers, and an absence of recognition and appreciation initiatives. Overall, women ranked lack of respect higher (by a wide margin) than personal safety (12.6%), restroom access (12.2%), and their physical ability to perform the job (11.6%).