The percentage of female equipment technicians in corporations with for-hire or private fleets in the commercial freight transportation industry has shown a substantial increase, according to new research from Women in Trucking Association (WIT).
“A major concern of the trucking industry is the widely reported shortage of professional truck drivers, who play a vital role in the U.S. economy by safely transporting the nation’s freight,” says Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO of WIT. “But drivers cannot complete that mission when their trucks are in the shop or broken down on the side of the road, whether it’s caused by a problem with the engine aftertreatment system, an electrical issue, or a problem with the truck’s brakes. That’s when it becomes abundantly clear that skilled truck maintenance technicians are indispensable in keeping professional drivers productive, on the road, and delivering on-time.”
Key takeaways:
- The 2023 WIT Index shows that more than 7% of technicians in companies in transportation are women. This number reflects an increase of nearly 4% from the reported 3.7% of women in technician roles in the 2022 WIT Index.
