The Gender Gap in the Trucking Industry
February 12, 2018
The majority of people that work in the trucking industry are men. In fact, only seven percent of the trucking workforce is made up of women. According to Ellen Voie, president and CEO of The Women In Trucking Association (WIT), this is unacceptable. Women should be encouraged to pursue careers in the trucking industry, including management positions. In her weekly Sirius radio show, Women In Trucking, Voie addresses some of the issues and challenges that women face, including gender diversity, the lifestyle of a truck driver, and personal safety while on the job.
The live radio show that Voie hosts every Saturday features interviews with members of the trucking industry, including drivers, technicians, engineers, dispatchers, and CEOs. Listeners can also call in to ask questions or share their personal experiences and opinions about working in the trucking industry. Voie hopes that the show will also help promote the employment of women while also eliminating the obstacles that prevent them from entering the field.
Factors That Are Important to Women
Voie discussed a recent WIT Best Practices Survey with Keera Brooks of Sawgrass Logistics on how to gain a better understanding of what attracts women to the industry and what makes them leave. They found that women are less likely than men to encourage other people, particularly women, to become truck drivers. One reason for this, according to Voie, is that women do not feel that they are treated fairly by dispatchers and other male counterparts.
Another key issue for women is the fact that they do not always feel safe on the job. In fact, when asked to rate how safe they feel at work on a scale of one to 10, women gave an overall rating of 4.4. Safety issues range from faulty, potentially dangerous equipment, to feeling unsafe on the road. It is frustrating, said Voie, because this is such an important issue for women, yet none of the recruiting ads that we see address safety, even though personal safety and proper vehicle maintenance are important issues for both men and women.
Interestingly, even though they are less likely to encourage a friend or family member to become a truck driver, once they are in the industry, women truckers are also less likely to leave. Voie explained that women tend to ask a lot of questions about the job and the industry before accepting a position. Therefore, they tend to have a better understanding of what the lifestyle of a truck driver is like, and that part of the job involves being on the road and away from home, sometimes for days at a time. With that understanding, however, comes the expectation that their safety is a priority.
Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Advocate for All Truck Accident Victims
If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident, it is in your best interest to contact the Baltimore truck accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We also represent female truck drivers who have been injured because of defective parts, poorly maintained vehicles, or factors that compromise their safety. We will determine the cause of the accident and secure the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent truck accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
