Are There More Women Behind the Wheel Today?

by Marge Bailey - Owner/Founder - DriverFinder Network - LadyTruckDriverJobs.com

Today more and more women consider a truck driving job traveling across the country as a solo or with a co-driver. To my knowledge there are approx. 6% of the 3 million+ over the road drivers that are female currently in the US. Just like their truck driver male counterparts, some women behind the wheel make a career of truck driving. Did you know women truck drivers make the same money as men for the same work? That fact alone has become an attractive draw to truck driving for ladies of all ages and backgrounds. The transportation industry is 2nd only to communications in the largest, most needed services in today's world. In other words, trucking will never go out of business!  
    
Companie today are serious about hiring more women to drive their trucks. Many of the companies are working hard to make safety for women in trucks a top priority. This affects all truck drivers, male and female, to be safer and feel safer while fueling, eating or sleeping at our nations' truck stops, delivering and picking up loads and while driving to and from their destinations. Also by becoming members of Women in Trucking Association and posting their job opportunities on sites like LadyTruckDriverJobs.com, the employers demonstrate they are concerned and willing to engage actively in efforts to improve every area possible for not only women, but all truckers. Learn More
     
Truck Driver Jobs include pulling dry van, flatbed, drop deck, moving van, bull wagon (livestock), frozen foods, vehicles, step deck, doubles, triples, etc.; there is a long list of trailers and variety of freight from which to choose. Most women choose dry van or refrigerated (refer) due to the fact that most dry van and refer companies offer no touch freight or 'lumpers' (load & unload hired laborers).     
    
Not to infer that women can't handle loading and unloading, some can, but due to the requirement that drivers must be able to lift 50 to 100 lbs (it varies from carrier to carrier), many women lack that kind of physical strength. There could be a strength test everyone must pass to get hired by a majority of companies even if the company has 'no-touch' freight, so keep that in mind in making your decision. In fact that should be your first question in a job interview.    
Considering Truck Driving as a Career?   
If you are a woman (or man) & think that you'd like to give truck driving a chance, you will need CDL truck driving school first, then get hired by a trucking company for on the road training.
 
Once completed (driver training time varies by company or school) you will be handed the keys to your own rig and the great adventure begins!

If you'd like to know more about or to join WIT, join Women In Trucking Association. You'll find help and encouragement whether a newbie or experienced driver as a WIT member. Also check out a lady WIT member w/ 30 years under the wheel who has written several BOOKS of safety tips and sage advice.