Reasons for Women to Become Truck Drivers

In 2018 men are still dominating in the trucking industry when we talk about drivers. However, times are changing and trucking jobs for women are on the rise. As a woman considering a job as a trucker now is the prime time for you to get behind the wheel. The industry needs more qualified truck drivers, and women drivers offer a huge advantage in expanding the job pool. We want to dedicate our last article for 2018 to the women who are considering career as a trucker, but still hasn’t made their final choice. Here are some reasons you should also consider:

The Trucking Industry Needs You

According to the Truck Driver Shortage Analysis in 2015 by the American Trucking Association, the trucking industry will be short 175,000 drivers by 2024. The industry needs to find individuals who will put the time and energy toward developing a long-term driving career. This includes completing trucking school, truck driver orientation, and on the road training. One way to overcome the driver shortage is by recruiting women truckers who want to find their place behind the wheel. But that’s not all of it:

Trucking Offers Fair and Equal Pay

The wage gap between men and women is not shrinking as fast as you want to, but it’s completely nonexistent in the trucking industry. Women and men are paid the same as drivers, an upside that most other industries cannot claim. Pay is based on mileage, hours or percentage of load. Those factors are not influenced by age, ethnicity or gender.

Not only is the pay equal among genders; it’s also a fair wage. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual income for truck drivers is $44,500. That amount can increase too depending on bonuses, how long one has been in the industry and one’s position. The majority of trucking companies also offer paid leave and 401(k) plans. Due to a driver shortage, many companies are also providing extra incentives and benefits.

Freedom of The Road

In wasn’t a long ago when we still considered success if you find a job in an office, sitting behind a desk 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Well, it turned out this lifestyle is kinda boring, especially for the people who are full of energy and adventurous. This includes women also. They love traveling, seeing new people and places as much as men do. The flexibility and freedom a career in trucking provides are two of the most appealing aspects. For women that love to travel, cross-country trucking routes should be appealing. Truckers swear there is no better way to see the country than behind the wheel. Who wouldn’t want to wake up every day to a new beautiful view?

Job Security

Speaking of that office “dream” job, there’s a better chance of loosing that job than the one in the trucking industry. Although the technology industry is currently developing self-driving vehicles, we’re still a long way off from that disrupting the trucking industry. Truck drivers are sticking around, and that means job security. Add the driver shortage and you got a career that you love and can be sure it will not end due to staff cuts or replaced by a machine.

If you’re a woman who’s considering her options for her next job, don’t let stuffy traditions and outdated modes of thinking limit your options. Explore the world of professional truck driving—it just might lead to your next great job!