The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has launched a comprehensive research initiative aimed at identifying and addressing the barriers that women encounter when pursuing careers as truck drivers. Currently, women represent just 8.1% of all U.S. truck drivers, with only 2.7% of them working as over-the-road drivers, as reported by the American Trucking Associations’ nonprofit research group.
In response to this gender disparity within the trucking industry, ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee has made this women-focused research initiative a top priority during its 2023 Annual Meeting. Led by Research Analyst Abbigail Huffman, the initiative will involve national surveys and focus groups, engaging women who are currently truck drivers, those who have previously worked in the field, and various groups of women considering careers in trucking. The goal is to identify the challenges and motivators women face within the industry.
Moreover, ATRI will collaborate with truck driver training schools to pinpoint recruitment and training issues specific to women. The research will also involve surveying motor carriers with a higher proportion of female drivers compared to the industry average. Additionally, the initiative will extend its outreach to women executives within motor carriers to gain insights into issues and opportunities beyond truck driving roles.
ATRI’s findings will contribute to a growing body of research dedicated to attracting more women to the trucking profession. The Women In Trucking Association, which has been committed to this cause since its establishment in 2007, has published white papers addressing topics such as gender bias, harassment, same-gender training policies, and the shortage of truck parking. Their estimates suggest that women make up over 12% of truck drivers in the industry, a higher percentage than reported by the American Trucking Associations.
Sexual harassment remains a significant obstacle preventing the growth of women in the trucking industry. A study by the federal Department of Transportation revealed that up to half of sexual harassment incidents go unreported because victims often believe their complaints won’t make a difference.
Key figures within the transportation industry, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Robin Hutcheson and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, have recognized the need to address these issues. Hutcheson highlighted the importance of making the industry safer and more equitable, emphasizing the Department of Transportation’s concerns about the prevalence of sexual harassment within the sector. Buttigieg referred to the industry’s failure to recruit more women drivers as “mathematical madness” and urged the industry to remove barriers that hinder women from pursuing careers in trucking.