Being the most common job almost in every state, there are only 15.7% of women truckies in the US, compared to 84.3% of male truck drivers.
Gender imbalance isn’t the only rising issue in the trucking industry – trucking companies expand significantly every year, leading to nationwide shortages of employees. At the same time, women, ready and able to work to fill the supply chain, either miss out on the opportunity or face serious obstacles preventing them from joining the transportation niche.
Keep reading to find out what causes the gender imbalance: unattractiveness of the job or the industry being highly oriented toward male candidates?
How It Started: History of Women in Trucking
A predominantly male-dominated industry of trucking supposedly would never be impacted by women until the real need for it arose. Although trucking jobs were all occupied by men while women were expected to fulfill their roles as home caretakers, female counterparts had to step up their game when men were drafted into the military during World War I.
Trucking was one of many industries where women had to join the workforce while their men fought, and unsurprisingly, they proved to be as capable as their fellows. Sadly, once the war ended and men returned, women were once again expected to continue their traditional role of homemakers.
Even during the relatively short time for the industry, a number of female truck drivers had a strong say in shaping the trucking industry and will always be remembered for their input.
Succeeding in the Male-Dominant Industry
Women truckers who paved the way for future generations despite being outnumbered are just a few but some of the most iconic pioneers in trucking. Thanks to their bravery and competence, they opened up new opportunities in the transportation industry, showing that gender has nothing to do with skill and expertise.
Mary Fields
Mary Fields was better known as “Stagecoach Mary” and was the second woman to be hired by the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier.
Fields didn’t have an easy life – she was born a slave around 1832 and had to make ends meet doing all sorts of jobs. Only in her early 60s did she get an opportunity to have, what we call, a secure job with a stable income.
Winters back then were tough, and when her horses and a mule couldn’t carry the stagecoach any farther through the deep snow, she would continue the route on her snowshoes.
Luella Bates
Luella Bates was the first licensed truck driver, effortlessly steering a Model B truck for Four Wheel Drive Company. She received her license in 1920 in New York after dedicating two years to the company during World War I. Out of six other females, she was chosen to become a test driver.
Initially, she was responsible for making parts, and when vacancies appeared, she was chosen to fill one of them within the company. Even after the war ended and the majority of women had to leave their jobs to tend to home, she continued driving across states.
In fact, she was sent on three transcontinental tours to promote that steering a truck was easy since a woman could do it.
Lillie Elizabeth McGee Drennan
Lillie Elizabeth McGee Drennan was another pioneer of female trucking with an excellent driving record.
Drennan got into trucking with her second husband, with who she established a company transporting supplies to oil fields. Drennan Truck Line didn’t take long to expand and grow. After their divorce, Lillie overtook the company and became its sole owner in 1929.
Even as an owner, her position didn’t stop her from acquiring a driver’s license in Texas. However, the Railroad Commission was puzzled about it at first, taking into consideration that Lillie had a hearing impairment.
Throughout her career, Drennan received recognition and awards for her safe driving. In fact, she could even drive 48 hours with no sleep or break for rest. Obviously, we do not encourage anyone to repeat her practices. It’s much more convenient and easier to find a comfy spot to rest your eye with Truck Parking Club.
Mazie Lanham
Mazie Lanham was yet another woman to join the trucking industry during World War II. When men were drafted into the military again and vacancies needed to be filled in, Mazie was the first woman to be hired by UPS in 1943. She was responsible for driving package cars.
Later, the recruitment spread, and more women were hired to sort, route, or load packages.
Adriesue “Bitsy” Gomez
Andriesue Gomez always knew she wanted to become a truck driver. The only thing stopping her from following her passion was not enough funds to sponsor her own truck. She and her three children moved to California, where she worked with trucks but had not yet driven them. She was loading and unloading trucks up until she met another woman who owned one.
She then became a relief truck driver and only later realized how discriminating the industry was. Hence, she established the Coalition of Women Truck Drivers, which was joined by 150 members who collectively fought against sexism and discrimination.
The coalition’s very first achievement was upgrading truck stops with female bathrooms. Their demands for making the industry more female-friendly didn’t stop there. Throughout her career, Gomez was a big role model and an advocate for making trucking more advantageous for women.
Challenges Faced by Women in Trucking
Many prominent women truckers tried to fight discrimination and make the industry more welcoming to female truck enthusiasts. After so many years of women in trucking, there are still a number of issues they face, gender imbalance being one of them.
In the US, obtaining a license doesn’t guarantee you a job. Most trucking companies hire entry-level drivers to co-drive with more experienced colleagues. But here, a couple of problems arise. Due to the inexperience of a new employee, a trainer often makes a decision when it is time for a shower or bathroom break. The same trainer commonly shares a tight small space with a female co-driver that may feel unsafe, especially when they have to sleep close to each other.
In case of sexual abuse, some trucking companies may also require a witness to confirm an incident took place, which is almost impossible in most cases.
It takes a lot of time and effort to afford your own truck and feel safe on the road. And in order to become independent, new truck drivers require another driver to gain experience from.
Other challenges and obstacles women truckers face include harassment and safety concerns, work-life balance, and gender bias, despite more women joining the industry than ever before.
Organizations Empowering Women Truckers
If you are considering joining the trucking industry but aren’t sure of what to expect, there are a number of organizations that provide support and educational opportunities from like-minded women truckers. These organizations include:
Available Grants for Women in Trucking
The U.S. Department of Transportation helps communities gain new experiences and opportunities with various programs and projects they regularly post.
Women in Trucking is a non-profit organization that helps women realize their dreams of becoming professional truck drivers. The organization offers three different types of scholarships. You can be eligible to receive a one-time payment of $1000 to elevate your skills and expertise in the trucking industry.
Final Word
The historical accounts of pioneering women in trucking, such as Mary Fields, Luella Bates, Lillie Elizabeth McGee Drennan, Mazie Lanham, and Andriesue Gomez, demonstrate that gender has no bearing on skill and expertise in driving trucks. These trailblazers shattered stereotypes and opened doors for future generations of women in the industry.
However, challenges persist. There are organizations that provide support and numerous educational opportunities for women to excel in the industry.
Efforts to promote inclusivity and gender diversity in trucking must continue. It is crucial to challenge societal stereotypes, provide comprehensive training programs, address safety concerns, and foster an environment that values and supports women in trucking.
The information published herein is for general informational purposes only. Truck Parking Club does not make any representations or warranties about the completeness, reliability, legality, and accuracy of this information. Any reliance placed on such material is strictly at the user’s own risk. Truck Parking Club shall not be responsible for any losses or damages incurred in connection with the information published herein.
