The American Trucking Associations (ATA) recently launched a program designed to encourage women to enter the trucking industry while also addressing industry issues that affect female drivers.
On July 15, the ATA debuted the Women in Motion (WIM) program designed to “accelerate the rise of women throughout the industry and help eliminate the roadblocks that stand in their way.”
According to a fact sheet on the program, 7.8% of truck drivers are women. While this is an historic high, the ATA says that trucking is “still lagging behind the national average for workforce participation for women.”
The ATA says that the program will involve partnerships with coalition partners, policy makers, and businesses to advocate on issues like diversity and safe parking to provide female truckers with a more stable workplace. WIM will also highlight the contributions of women in the industry and work to demonstrate that trucking can be a financially rewarding career path for women.
“The trucking industry relies on women – whether in the boardroom, as a technician, or behind the wheel – and we believe that by highlighting the many contributions the women already in trucking make, we can demonstrate what a rewarding and lucrative career path it can be for millions of others,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “The name Women in Motion is an apt description of our industry, and I’m pleased that ATA is recognizing these individuals who are critical to our industry, and looking for solutions to make their jobs even more gratifying and more secure.”
“As a woman in this industry, I know firsthand that while trucking can be a tough job – it is a rewarding and important one,” said Cari Baylor, President, Baylor Trucking. “I’m glad to see ATA launching this new initiative to celebrate the contributions of the many women in our industry and advocate for issues such as safe truck parking that our industry deserves.”
You can click here for access to WIM career resources or for more information on the program.