Untapped Potential – Women in Trucking

Canada could be facing a shortage of 25 000 truck drivers by the year 2020, according to a recent Conference Board of Canada study, commissioned by the Canadian Trucking Association.Why?  The factors include increased demand for goods transported by road, retiring drivers, and a lack of skilled drivers.  Companies are going to be looking outside of traditional areas when they search for new recruits.  

Women in particular represent a large population of people who are currently under-represented in the field, and could be attracted to careers in trucking.Currently, fewer than 3% of all company-employed drivers are female.  Women make up only 4% of all owner/operators in the country.  If the Canadian trucking industry is going to deal with the coming shortfall behind the wheels of the nation’s trucks, this dynamic is going to have to change.Granted, there are some challenges for women to overcome.  

Truck driving is generally perceived as unfriendly to female drivers.  It often involves long hours away from home, physically and mentally challenging work, and a lot of the time accommodations are actually inside the truck.  In spite of the challenges (that face men, too) many of the women who have pioneered the long-haul landscape have found the work to their liking, and the companies they work for are finding that gender makes no difference in job performance.  

More and more of the companies looking to hire truck drivers are actively trying to attract women.  As the approaching driver shortage drives up demand for skilled professionals to take the drivers seat, these efforts are likely to increase.If you’re interested in a career in the fast-paced, challenging motor freight industry, you owe it to yourself to find out more.  In Manitoba, contact First Class Training Centre online or call Toll Free (1-(855) 632-5302.  In the Winnipeg area call 204-632-5302.