Women in Trucking Shares Insights on Recruiting and Retaining Female Drivers

Participate in Roundtable with Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Secretary Walsh

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) President Ellen Voie participated in a recent Trucking Industry Roundtable hosted by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to address supply chain disruptions and discuss the recruitment and retention of truck drivers. For over 14 years, WIT has worked to remove barriers and identify best practices for growing the number of women working in the industry.
 

“The Covid pandemic has made millions of Americans realize just how important the trucking industry is to their everyday lives. But at the same time, our industry faces critical challenges regarding the supply chain and the demand for more drivers,” Voie noted. “We are grateful to Secretaries Buttigieg and Walsh for hosting this important roundtable and appreciate the opportunity to share our insights.”
 

Voie reminded participants that women are playing a larger role at all levels of the industry. “From drivers to technicians and carriers to dealerships, women play an integral role in the trucking industry. But we believe they can play an even greater role in meeting the current demand for more drivers,” Voie said.

During her presentation, Voie outlined the numerous programs WIT has developed and supported to increase female participation in the industry and ensure their safety such as working with truck stops and travel centers, working with manufacturers on safety technology, creating anti-sexual harassment guides and promoting a same gender training option for carriers.
 

“We have made tremendous progress over the years, but more work remains to be done. We look forward to continued collaboration with the driver community, our industry partners and with policymakers to expand the opportunities for more women to enjoy a safe and rewarding career in the transportation sector,” Voie added.

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