Women in Trucking Industry

In the past, the trucking industry has been male-dominated, but today, the industry is being run by successful women and men alike. As more and more women enter this field, they continue to take the trucking industry by storm and change it for the better.

Changing Perspectives of Women in Trucking

One of the most valuable ways that women are changing the industry is through their unique experiences. As they enter the industry, they bring their stories and perspectives into the conversations about trucking. Even though there used to be some misconceptions about female truckers, women in trucking have proven these misconceptions wrong and have gained the admiration of their male counterparts by making their voices and their ideas heard.

The women in this industry are changing what used to be a stereotypically male profession and opening the door for generations of female truckers to aspire to have successful careers in trucking.

Female Truck Drivers Statistics

The 2024–25 WIT Index reports women at about 9.5% of all “professional drivers” in surveyed fleets, down from 12.1% the previous year

From around 2010 to early 2020s, the number of female truck drivers grew significantly, reaching roughly 9–14% in some segments. We are talking about 260K to 300K women in driver roles.

Driver Shortage

As you probably know, the trucking industry is having more and more trouble finding enough drivers, especially with the rising number of rules and regulations. But having more female truck drivers in the industry can really help here. In fact, the women in this industry prioritize safety and tend to leave carriers if they don’t feel safe.

So, because female drivers prioritize safety compliance, they can help fill this driver shortage that has been caused largely because of the number of increasing regulations that are turning away other drivers. Already, the number of female drivers is growing by 10% every year.

Recruitment

In order to fill the driver shortages with aspiring female truckers, companies have realized that they need to make some internal changes, especially with their hiring processes. In order to recruit female drivers, companies have to create advertisements that show that they are specifically looking to grow their number of female drivers. It is important for these women to know that a company is making the effort to make their workplace and the industry more inclusive.

As a result, companies are now actively seeking potential employees from different backgrounds to create a diverse workplace and a thriving industry that is open to everyone.

As we wrap up this blog, we want to acknowledge the women working in this industry. We see all the hard work you’re putting in, and Simplex thanks you and admires you. Keep changing the game!

Organizations supporting Women in Trucking

Several organizations actively support women in trucking through advocacy, training, scholarships, and community.

• The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) is the best-known nonprofit, focused on increasing the number of women in all trucking roles, breaking down barriers, and recognizing female leaders through programs like the WIT Index, the “Top Companies for Women to Work For in Transportation” list, and the Girl Scout patch initiative.
• The Women In Trucking Foundation builds on that by providing scholarships for women pursuing careers in driving, safety, technical, and leadership positions.
• REAL Women in Trucking (founded by veteran drivers) focuses on grassroots advocacy, mentoring, and education to address real-world challenges women face on the road.

What are the main challenges for Women in Trucking?

Women in trucking face a mix of safety, cultural, and practical challenges that go way beyond just “fitting into a male industry.” Research from the American Transportation Research Institute highlights six big pain points:

• a negative industry image
• difficulties completing training (cost, childcare, travel)
• unsatisfying or hostile company culture
• trouble adapting to the OTR lifestyle (home time, health habits)
• limited safe parking and restroom access
• high levels of gender-based harassment and discrimination.

Work-life balance for women in trucking

Work–life balance for women in trucking is less about finding a “perfect” schedule and more about managing constant trade-offs in a job that still revolves around long hours, tight delivery windows, and time away from home.

Many female drivers carry a double load: they’re expected to perform like any other OTR or regional driver and still handle a big share of childcare, elder care, or household responsibilities when they’re off the road. That pressure is amplified by unpredictable dispatch, last-minute load changes, and limited control over home time.

On top of that, the basics that make balance easier, reliable communication with dispatch, realistic route planning, safe parking, and access to decent facilities, are still hit or miss, which raises stress and makes it harder to rest properly between shifts.

The women who manage it best usually do three things:

• they pick roles and carriers that offer more predictable schedules (regional, dedicated lanes, or local)
• they set hard boundaries with dispatch about home time and hours
• they build a strong support system at home so they’re not trying to run a household solo from the cab.

Without those elements, “work–life balance” in trucking is mostly a nice slogan on a recruiting flyer—not a real, sustainable setup.

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