The influx of women into the freight transportation sector continues to pick up momentum, and strong female voices were heard, loud and clear, during the American Trucking Associations’ recent Management Conference & Exhibition.
“None of us are here looking for a participation trophy,” Baylor Trucking President Cari Baylor reportedly said. “Women in Motion has the ability, with (American Trucking Associations) and all of its member companies, to create and highlight stories that inspire, so women can aspire. So, it’s important to highlight the great leadership so that they can build hopes and ambitious career paths.”
Women in Motion is a program created by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to improve a gender balance in the freight hauling trades. Female truckers, technicians, and those in other positions face obstacles. Through transparency and open dialogues such as the Women in Motion panel discussion, female participation continues to improve.
An increased number of women are entering the industry in technician, safety specialist, and management positions. With a truck driver shortage estimated at 80,000, opening doors for underrepresented demographics remains critical.
“We’re missing out on the tremendous talent pool if we’re not intentional about bringing more women into the workforce,” Tamara Jalving, vice president of safety at Yellow, reportedly said. “And we can’t afford that.”
Freight carriers and fleet operations have adopted policies to change workplace environments to account for gender differences. For many, the actions and acknowledgment that women are valued employees have proven an effective hiring mechanism. But onboarding female truckers requires more than corporate memos and rulemaking. For women to enter a trade dominated by male culture, leaders need to emerge. That’s precisely what the Women in Motion panel discussion produced.
“I feel like sometimes because it isn’t really normal for a woman to be behind a truck that people are really watching what I’m doing,” Red Pine Transport truck driver Tina Peterson reportedly said. “Sometimes that gets uncomfortable. But then I think about the little girls that are watching me do it, or maybe I can inspire another woman to see that women do this.”
The ATA’s Women in Motion program has been used as an empowerment tool that inspires through storytelling. Female truckers share their personal journeys on podcasts in hopes of breaking down barriers, encouraging young women to earn a CDL, and benefit from a good-paying career in the freight transportation sector.
“When I think about empowerment, I think about two specific things: access and execution,” Angela Tillery, managing director of learning and development at FedEx Freight, reportedly said. “And by access, I mean, you have to have people who are investing in you, who will see your potential, see your talents and strengths to open up different opportunities for you.”
Source: ttnews.com
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