ย Lone Star Transportation, a specialized heavy haul carrier, noticed an extreme uptick in their female driver applicant pool which CFO, Kristi Williams, attributes to the jobs paying better.
โWomen truck drivers, like women in other fields, want to earn more money and respect in their careers,โ said Williams. โThey want access to the same advancement opportunities as men. As a professional truck driver, that means taking on jobs in which they haul bigger, more specialized freight.โ
Paula Stroud, a driver for Lone Starโs elite four-axle tractor fleet qualified to haul freight of any length, width, and weight said, โIโve heard a woman shouldnโt be doing this. Itโs not your place. You shouldnโt be out here doing a manโs job, and certainly shouldnโt be doing a manโs job better than him.โ
CEO of Women in Trucking, Ellen Voie, said, โItโs different todayโwomen make up 7 percent of the over-the-road truck drivers, and they are moving all types of freight. Youโll find them driving tankers, hazardous waste, and extreme over-dimensional loads. Pay is a major consideration when women transition into moving larger freight, but so is the challenge it brings.โ
Ellen adds, โWomen truck drivers bring a higher level of safety to the industry. They work well with customers, and theyโre an important demographic as the trucking industry tries to fill professional driver positions.โ
