Like any career path or business community, there continues to be debate concerning women’s role in these spaces. Despite multiple waves of feminism and many leaps and bounds towards equality and equity on all fronts, women continue to go unseen and questioned in professional spaces. However, thanks to both women and their allies in these spaces, more and more progress continues to be made.
Can women be truck drivers?” is yes! Thanks to legislation passed in the twentieth century, sex and gender cannot be discriminated against in the place of work. You may have heard of variations of the use of these laws and regulations, such as protections for pregnant and unmarried women and simply allowing women the right to work in whichever workplace they choose.
Although women still do not make up a large portion of truck drivers nationwide, they do exist. In fact, women truck drivers make up 8% of the truck drivers in the United States in 2022 and are ever-increasing as the truck driver shortage necessitates more and more available drivers. This number is a 3% increase from the previous years! 3% may not sound like a lot, but considering the U.S. is made up of millions of people, 3% accounts for 30,000 women per million Americans! Moreover, 14% of truck drivers nationwide who are Class A certified are women. The numbers just keep rising!
There are a few safety tips that women truck drivers can follow to protect themselves and others on the road.
A simple but necessary safety tip is always to check your window and door locks– twice!
You should also think about reinforcing door locks or getting window shades so no one can see into your cab at night while sleeping.
A longer-term safety option for a female truck driver is to get a truck-driving travel pet companion, such as a dog. Dogs have always been known as guards due to their typical hyper-vigilance surrounding strange noises and people. If you’re sleeping in your cab, this is a great option, as you’ll get a guard dog for your space and a cuddle buddy!
One easy safety tip is always ensuring your dispatcher, friends, and family know where you are.
Although this may seem obvious, always be aware of your surroundings. If you’re traveling alone, make sure no one is following you when you head back to your truck, and never make it obvious that you’re alone–i.e., if you’re on the phone with someone, don’t say you’re heading back or traveling alone.
Are you looking to become one of the next women truck drivers or help make truck driving more accessible to women? contact us to get started on your next big career move!
