female truck drivers statistics
Just last week, she said she had to call 911 after someone pulled on the door handle of her parked truck. She passes the time by catching up with friends and family and stays active on social media. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Women In Trucking Association is a nonprofit that encourages the employment of women in trucking, ... this celebration acknowledges and applauds professional female drivers for their service and commitment to keep the economy moving and success in a male-dominated industry. Hauling laundry detergent on a regular shift from Ohio to North Carolina, she said Dart has been good about giving her breaks when she needs it. About half were smokers, more than twice what's found in the general population. The American Trucking Association estimated a shortage of about 60,000 drivers at the start of the year, prompting trucking firms to seek out women. They also blog about their experiences. Women made up 6.2 percent of all truck drivers as of 2017, up from 4.9 percent in 2008, the ATA reports — still a pittance considering they make up almost half the U.S. workforce. Ingrid Brown backs her big rig into a space at a cold-storage terminal in Yuma, Arizona. While truck driving remains a male dominated profession, the number of women pursuing and earning their commercial drivers’ licenses is growing. Currently about 8 percent of long-haul drivers are female. Official statistics tend to lump all truck drivers into a single occupation, but the fact of the matter is that the specifics of different truck driving jobs, and the attractiveness of those jobs as a result, are not homogeneous. I kind of looked at him...I said, 'I appreciate your opinion, sir, but my kids are grown and I don't have a husband. Ingrid Brown orders breakfast at a truck stop diner outside of Los Angels. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. "It's a good field to get into but a hard life," said Clark. She loops her seat belts through the door handles and locks them for extra protection from an intruder. She has come close, however. Clark said doesn't mind the grime or eating meals in the truck. Trucking can be dirty, difficult work. They describe a work environment that requires them to watch out for sexual predators, confront inappropriate male coworkers and care for children or elderly parents while thousands of miles from home. She remembers the time out on the road when a driver got on his CB radio and said, "there goes a woman, watch out!" '", Ingrid is one of the women that made up 6.2 percent of all truck drivers as of 2017, up from 4.9 percent in 2008. She doesn't walk between trailers where she can't easily be seen. She said more women should consider getting behind the wheel of a big rig. Far from family and friends, they are forced to grapple with sexism, sexual harassment, personal safety, hygiene and an overall trucker lifestyle associated with poor health while trying to turn a space the size of a backyard shed into a rolling home on wheels, sometimes for weeks per outing. www.trucker.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. CRST Expedited, a unit of a big trucking company, is still hashing one out filed by three women in 2015. This page goes into detail about the employment, gender, and ethnic ratios of the workplace. While driving through Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, Clark manages her household from afar, not always easy with a mother who needs to be taken to medical appointments and with one of her three daughters still at home. "It's that women are seeing other women doing it and saying 'I should do that,'" said Ellen Voie, CEO of the Women In Trucking Association, a support group based in Plover, Wisconsin. That figure represents a … A January 2017 report found women were merely 7% of female over-the-road drivers and totaled 23% of management. "For other millennials, do you want the college debt or do you want to come out here and make a damn good living?" In 2008, 4.9% of over-the-road truckers were female. At one point, she said Dart let her drive from Tennessee to North Carolina without a trailer just so she could be by her mother's side, who had heart problems and is now dealing with cancer. Becoming a truck driver allowed her to pay off her debts. She tries to park in the front line of trucks, not the last, when spending the night at a stop. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. Decades ago, Brown said she used to ask employees to stand guard when she used the showers at truck stops as a precaution from a man trying to barge in. Grabbing the steering wheel with both hands for emphasis, Brown said, "This doesn't have a clue what gender is holding it.". She has her truck washed twice a week. Women make up 7% of the drivers on the road and 23% of management. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a total weight exceeding 26,000 pounds for the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. Of the more than three million truckers in the United States, it is estimated more than 200,000 are women. Ingrid Brown waits for her load of produce to get packed. Then there was the time she encountered an older male driver at a truck stop. A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Brown is a cross-country big-rig driver, a veteran in a field that is increasingly hoping to attract more women at a time when the industry faces a steep worker shortage as it tries to keep up with America's crushing demand for goods, from steaks to big-screen TVs. In our updated guide, you can discover the average salary for truck drivers in 2021. As of October 2020, Shawna Robinson, Hailie Deegan, Manami Kobayashi, and Gracie Trotter remain the only women to have … In 2016, the number of employer and self-employed ( nonemployer) trucking businesses reached 711,000, surpassing the pre-recession high. Now she drives a truck with her spouse, Mike Barclay, 25. More information about women in trucking: Statistics About Women Truck Drivers. "You take care of yourself first and foremost. Experts think it's because they are less likely to take risks. ", More: Truck driver shortage is raising prices, delaying deliveries. How Much Truck Drivers Make a Year. Truck driver demographics in the United States Learn about the types of people who become truck drivers. Ingrid Brown drives "Big Faith," her big-rig truck. Along with veterans, she said women mark the biggest potential new pool for new job candidates. www.trucker.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Still, it’s an overwhelmingly male industry: Of the 3.5 million drivers in trucking, 234,234 of them in 2018 were women, making up just 6.6 percent, per the ATA. (Photo: Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY). The risk to truckers, both male and female, isn't just crashes. The hazards of truck driving go beyond personal safety. When he died, she was loaded with debt and on the verge of losing her house. TA, one of the largest chains, has installed 70 fitness rooms and tried to institute more healthy options in its diners. Johanna Long (42 XFINITY, 24 Trucks = 64) (thru 11-18-2018) Women in NASCAR - 16 female drivers have run at least one race in the Cup Series (by … Until she became more comfortable with life on the road, she said she used to sleep with a baseball bat at the ready at truck stops. It said it has stepped up efforts to have harassment reported and has about twice the industry average for women among its drivers. Unfortunately female truck driver wages lag behind those of males, being on average just under 10,000 dollars per year lower in 2016. asks Rocha. The U.S. is experiencing a severe shortage in truck drivers that is predicted to grow to as many as 175,000 by 2026. It may not be too surprising that about 16% of new Ford F-150 owners are female/84% male. In a younger age bracket, ages up to 24, that ratio becomes the opposite. Her trailer alone is 53 feet. "They have considerably fewer crashes," said Dan Murray, vice president for the American Transportation Research Institute, which released a study on the issue in July. 50.7% of all 24-year-old and under licensed drivers are male, 49.3% are female. "I feel like the independence and the ability to go anywhere you want in this industry is what will get my generation in.". When Brown started in long-haul trucking, she said she knew of six other women drivers. Ingrid Brown walks around back to open the trailer of her big rig. YUMA, Ariz. — Ingrid Brown had already piloted her big rig from the maddening rush-hour traffic of Southern California to the desert vistas of Arizona when she pulled into the grimy freight terminal. Truckers say they can see increased diversity on the road. The same attitude extends to her rig. She will tell you that she, like all the men, are just out there to do a job. Ingrid Brown checks on navigation data from her phone behind the wheel of her big rig. And although they face mandated rest periods, about one in four were averaging less than six hours of sleep a night. Ingrid Brown poses in front of "Miss Faith," her big-rig truck in Yuma, Ariz. Ingrid Brown walks around back to open the trailer of her big rig. She will tell you that women, like all the men, are just out there to do a job. Big-rig driving is listed among the most dangerous occupations in 2017 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And she tries to park in a way that gives her a direct line to walk to a truck stop. In the private shower rooms, hair dryers are available. She tries to park in the front line of trucks, not the last, when spending the night at a stop. Jackie Rocha, 24, came to trucking after starting her career as a private investigator in Florida and bank fraud analyst in Georgia. This trend appeared to be independent of such socioeconomic influences as education levels or the proportion of female-to-male drivers in the population of drivers killed. The industry is still figuring out how to make room for the new women drivers. Inside, she goes over the entire interior every four to five days with Clorox Wipes. Ingrid is one of the women that made up 6.2 percent of all truck drivers as of 2017, up from 4.9 percent in 2008. Next stop is Phoenix. This process is automatic. … Data shows women truck drivers are generally safer than men. Travelers who happen to glance over their shoulder have a greater chance of seeing a female driving an 18-wheeler than a man. This is "Miss Faith," some 80 feet long overall. The number of female truck drivers is increasing at a greater rate than ever before and by the end of 2007 is expected there will be over 200,000 female truck drivers. She doesn't walk between trailers where she can't easily be seen. Clark, who drives solo, said she doesn't take chances when it comes to personal safety. About three-quarters of all new Ford F-150s are purchased by white males, although Hispanic buyers account for 22% of total incremental growth of new F-150 sales from 2010 to 2017. Some of her rules are hard and fast: "You can be friendly, but don't invite someone in the cab of your truck and don't get in theirs.". Brown, who owns her tractor-truck, takes her own precautions when it comes to safety. Self-driving trucks could make that happen; some say, no way. More women are hitting the open road as big-rig drivers and influencing change in an industry long dominated by men. Asked to rate how safe they felt on the job on a scale of one to ten, women truck drivers responding averaged 4.4, a survey commissioned by Women in Trucking found. Data showed that the percentage of fatally injured drivers who were drinking was highest for Native Americans (57%) and Hispanics or Latinos (47%). The pair roam the country as truck owner-operators for FedEx Custom Critical with their three dogs and a parrot named Rocky. She cared for her Vietnam veteran father for 15 years. The trucking companies, warehouses and private sector in the U.S. employs an estimated 8.9 million people employed in trucking-related jobs; nearly 3.5 million were truck drivers. CRST said through its attorney that it takes harassment allegations seriously. For a while, they were going to a gym. This varies from the Department of Labor’s single estimate of women who are “driver/sales workers and truck drivers,” a notably dissimilar category from NIT’s “over the road drivers.”. Despite this gender-bending trend, the road has gradually accepted women as drivers. Brown, 57, was the only woman in sight. Read here. She said they try to avoid unhealthy eating at truck stops and instead grocery shop for organic fare that they keep in their onboard refrigerator. To qualify for their license, drivers must meet a number of baseline measures. If the driver is diabetic, the disease must be well controlled generally without insulin. In 2000, women made up 4.7 percent of the trucking payroll. "I needed to find a career to make decent money. Of this figure UPS employs 60,000 workers and 9% are owner operators. Women, Brown said, have to put themselves ahead of the job at times. More than 11,900 male drivers died in U.S. traffic accidents in 2009, compared with … Ingrid Brown, who owns her tractor-truck, takes her own precautions when it comes to safety. Dart Transit, a big trucking company based in Eagan, Minnesota, has sought out women with targeted advertising, social media posts and testimonials, said Wendy Bartz, the trucking company's recruiting director. More: Retail giants enable trucker exploitation. The American Trucking Associations estimated a shortage of about 60,000 drivers at the end of 2018, prompting trucking firms to seek out new pools of recruits, whether its veterans, immigrants or women. The truck driver's blood pressure must be 140/90 or below. Currently, only one per cent of UK truckers are thought to be female - that's just 3,000. Based on 2019 data, 49.4% of all licensed drivers are male and 50.6% are female. Ingrid Brown waits for her load of produce to get packed. Women made up just 6 percent of the 3.5 million sales workers and truck drivers employed in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a scant 1.1 … Ingrid Brown plans her trip east after picking up her next load in Yuma, Arizona. She said she recently consulted with truckmaker Paccar brand Peterbilt, which made her truck, to find ways to design cabs that can more easily accommodate women. These figures are confirmed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the US federal government. Some harassment cases become lawsuits. Trucking companies nationwide are willing to pay competitive salaries and bonuses to qualified drivers. © 2021 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. The suit alleges the women were harassed by male driving partners as part of a team driving arrangement to allow trucks to stay on the highway longer and reach their destinations faster. There is no load more important," she said. For men on the road, life is tough, but for women, it's harder. A 2015 study published by the Centers for Disease Control found more than two-thirds were obese. Truck Driver Pay: The pay during the first few years can range from as little as $18,000.00 a year to maybe $37,000.00 though it is very important to understand that many truck driver recruitment efforts claim the first year you can make $40,000 and up to $80,000. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. Retail giants enable trucker exploitation, Walmart hiring hundreds more truck drivers – and it's paying nearly $90,000, Truck driver shortage is raising prices, delaying deliveries, A trucker asleep in the cab? she recalled. Meanwhile, Daimler, maker of Freightliner diesel tractor-trucks, said it has added automated manual transmissions and better visibility that can aid drivers. (Photo: Sandy Hooper, USA TODAY). Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. A what has changed about the world during 2021, but one thing that hasn’t is the high demand for truck drivers. She was ready for the road. Ingrid Brown with "Miss Faith," her big-rig truck. Trucker Ingrid Brown stands in front of her Peterbilt as she waits for a load of produce at a terminal in Yuma, Arizona. The mean wage for a commercial driver is $45,570 (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) "I never needed it," said Clark. More: A trucker asleep in the cab? She grew up a tomboy, riding horses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS) reports that the average annual wage for tractor-trailer truck drivers was $45,570 as of May 2018, the most recent data available. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. The truck driver shortage has created an increased need for new drivers of both genders, and continuing to welcome more women into trucking is a promising way to meet this need. Out of a population of 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S. – 3.1 million of whom are commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders – some 38.75% are … Part of the reason the percentage is higher for female licensed drivers is related to life expectancy. A mom, wife and truck driver, Devlin is one of the women who makes up just 6.2 percent of the occupation that’s not male, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some are lured by the money, with the industry reporting an average annual salary of about $53,000 as of last year, up $7,000 in five years. It's the harassment that's difficult to live with. The trucking industry's efforts to increase that percentage seem to be working. USA TODAY. A chorus of idling diesel engines rumbled as rows of male truckers whiled away time in their cabs, waiting for their refrigerated trailers to be filled with pallets of lettuce, green onions, cilantro, parsley and other produce. The industry is still figuring out how to make room for the new women drivers. Among younger truckers under age 35, more of them are women, Hispanic and more educated than their older counterparts age 55 and older. She watched a gang of men wearing thick parkas and steering forklifts, silently willing them to load her trailer, headed East. Research by Freightwaves found that women now make up 10% of the driving population. Ingrid Brown is veteran cross-country big-rig driver, Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/03/09/women-truck-drivers-shortage-opportunities-pay-big-rigs/2845083002/, Ingrid Brown is a long-haul trucker who says she is happy doing things her own way, even though she's not one to think of herself as breaking barriers. A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Women new to the trucking world, particularly younger ones, say they want to help change long-haul trucking and in the process, improve its image. They also are less likely to quit driving, which is particularly critical as turnover rates among truck drivers reach 95%. Data shows women truck drivers are generally safer than men. "They just said, 'Go!'" Never one to fade into the crowd, 5-foot 2-inch Brown, dressed in blue jeans and a green plaid shirt, hopped out of her 80-foot-long truck and marched into the chilly warehouse. Now, they are a more common sight. Check out more industry statistics related to gender. Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about. Local and long-haul truck driving, for example, are very It's also lifestyle. And she tries to park in a way that gives her a direct line to walk to a truck stop. Grabbing the steering wheel with both hands for emphasis, Brown said, "This doesn't have a clue what gender is holding it.". She is a stickler for cleanliness. She keeps tubes of lipstick tucked in her seat pocket and a Bible between the front seats. After repeating the process at three other terminals, Brown let out a sigh of satisfaction: Her truck was full. More: Walmart hiring hundreds more truck drivers – and it's paying nearly $90,000, She said she was lucky, receiving some counseling from other drivers about how to be safe when she started driving more than three decades ago. DOT Exam - To obtain a certified drivers license, commercial drivers must pass a biannual Department of Transportation (DOT) Examination, which consists of a comprehensive physical including assessment of medical history and biometrics. Women can drive trucks just as well as men, and there are all sorts of insurance industry data that show that females, especially compared with young men, are generally safer drivers. She knows to count on a continuous blast of her truck's horn to summon other drivers to her aid. The state of play: There were a total of 234,234 female drivers in 2018, but women still only accounted for just 6.6% of the 3.5 million truck drivers on the road, according to the ATA. Now, she said truck stops have improved facilities because there are more women drivers. Self-driving trucks could make that happen; some say, no way, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Women made up 6.2 percent of all truck drivers as of 2017, up from 4.9 percent in 2008, the ATA reports — still a pittance considering they make up … "He said, 'you women -- you all ought to be a home raising the kids and cookin' the dinner and taking care of your man.' Women make up just five percent. According to the organization, the largest minority trucker group is African Americans, making up 14 percent of drivers, followed closely by Hispanics, at just over 12 percent. She passes the time by catching up with friends and family and stays active on social media. (Photo: Sandy Hooper, USA TODAY). Tami Mendoza Clark, 49, started driving Dart's big rigs more than four years ago. www.trucker.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Brown said she is happy doing things her own way, even though she's not one to think of herself as breaking barriers.