Female truck driver, have you ever heard about this job? Is truck driving related to men only? Actually, no it isn’t.
Women make up 47% of the entire United States workforce, while in the field of trucks diving, the made up 6.2 percent of all truck drivers as of 2017, up from 4.9 percent in 2008.
According to the American Trucking Association, of the 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the United States, only 7.89% are women, and that more than 28,000 women have joined the trucking industry since 2014.
Although the number of female truck drivers is said to be on the rise, there still a clear gender gap in the trucking field that needs to be filled.
These women are calling themselves “adventurous.” They prefer relying on their own and do their best to get the work done.
In addition, they love driving. Truck driving also provides an opportunity to get a competitive salary.
Most of the women entering trucking field are between 39 and 59, and there are many of them older than 60 and still driving.
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What are the Pros and Cons of being a female truck driver?
Such as any field of work, being a female truck driver has both advantages and disadvantages.
So what are the advantages and disadvantages of being a female truck driver? Follow with the following list:
Advantages of being a female truck driver:
Most trucking companies offer their drivers benefits that include competitive pay, flexible vacation time, safety bonuses, health programs, and so much more.
Equal salary:
Ellen Voie, the president of Women in Trucking, says: “As a truck driver, you make the same amount of money as your male peers because you either get paid by the mile or the load of the percentage. So gender is not an issue in pay in the truck industry for drivers.”
The most important point is that the truck driving industry offers its female drivers the competitive pay, benefits, and respect the same as offered for their male counterparts.
Abundance of support:
Over the years, there have been a number of valuable resources and organizations established to help support and encourage women who are actively pursuing or are already involved in a truck driving career.
For example, the Women in Trucking Association (WIT) “is a non-profit organization with the mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.”
This organization and related organizations like REAL Women in Trucking provide their readers with information,
And support to educate women considering a trucking career and improve the lives of the women already behind the wheel.
The industry wants its women drivers to succeed, and there are countless companies who are advocates of female drivers and want to help them begin or prolong their careers as professional truck drivers.
To celebrate women in leadership roles, WIT also holds an annual “Influential Women in Trucking” event, sponsored by Navistar, and an annual “Salute to Women Behind the Wheel” event each March.
They also feature guest bloggers monthly to share the personal stories of drivers across the country.
So as a female truck driver, I would like to tell you that you are supported well. So think well and make your decision.
Disadvantages of being a female truck driver
For men on the road, trucking life is tough, but for women, it is harder. Far from family and friends, they may face many problems while driving on the road.
Let me provide you with the following list including disadvantages of being a female truck driver:
Sexual harassment:
Many female truck drivers’ cases were reported facing sexual harassment exposure,
Becoming a problem that most women concerned about when applying for a truck driver job.
Safety Concerns:
Safety concerns are common, encompassing everything from poor vehicle maintenance to dangerous or poorly lit loading docks to pushing workers to drive in inclement weather.
WIT (Women in Trucking) works with truck stops to improve safety, recommending changes such as improved lighting or additional security guards.
The organization also hosts self-defense workshops and collaborates with truck manufacturers to equip cabs with safety alarms and ergonomic additions for female drivers.
Another way to improve safety is to work in shifts with a partner and make your best to choose a person you trust, a helpful partner in order to get the job done probably and avoid safety concerns.
Is it safe to be a female truck driver?
According to a WIT (Women in Trucking), Best Practices Survey conducted by Sawgrass Logistics and The Women in Trucking Association,
Female truck drivers rated how safe they felt in their job a 4.4 on a scale of 1 to 10.
How much does a female truck driver make?
What is the average salary that a female truck driver receives? Is it similar to the male truck driver? Is it more? Or is it less?
Actually a female truck driver’s salary looks the same as a male truck driver’s salary, the industry isn’t stopping there.
Instead, the entire trucking industry is making changes to accommodate its female truckers.
What are the tips for women who want to become truckers?
Here are some pieces of advice for women want to become truckers and want to enter the industry:
1. Believe in yourself:
Many men go through the world and the workforce with the sense of deserving what they get, especially when they have little work experience or skill.
You’re probably just as qualified, if not more, so go into the application process with that confidence. Then the industry will welcome you.
2. Ask for help when needed:
You need to put in your mind that you won’t be the only woman in the trucking industry. Many brave and competent women have paved the way for you.
According to Women in Trucking (WIT) website there is a lot of information and resources you can rely on in your quest. You’re not alone. You have powerful allies out there just waiting to help you achieve your goals.
3. Don’t hesitate to have a training:
No doubt that you are going to need training. Choose a training school taking in consideration that it has a mix of both men and women on their staff in order to get use to work with both gender and deal with them during work.
For example, Roadmasters Driving School is a good place to start; they have several female directors running schools for them and would be a great environment for you to study to pass your CDL (Class A Commercial Driver’s License) exam.
If you choose a place that does the best for you to provide you with the needed training, you will be able to take advantage of all the help that institution has to offer to help get you on your way and pass you to the world of trucking.
4. Pass Your State’s Regular Driver’s License Exam
Residents won’t be allowed to drive family autos or trucks without holding a current driver’s license, let alone commercial vehicles.
By holding this license, you may be qualified to start your career driving delivery trucks while studying to earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
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