SWIFT Action on Shortage of Women in Trucking

Women managers and executives from across Canada’s trucking industry are joining together to help more women pursue traditionally male-dominated career opportunities in trucking.

Supporting Women in Freight Transportation (SWIFT), a new national advisory committee spearheaded by Trucking HR Canada, includes a cross section of senior managers, directors, presidents and C-level executives, including OBAC’s Joanne Ritchie. Together, they are committed to educating other women about careers in trucking, identifying challenges and barriers to their career paths, and promoting the recruiting and retention practices which support women in the workforce.

Looming labour shortages resulting from an aging workforce are particularly acute for the trucking sector, and carriers are beginning to make a concerted effort to attract women to the industry, as the traditional labour pool of drivers dries up.

“This bodes well for the industry as a whole,” says Ritchie. “Let’s face it, a lot of the things that will make trucking a more appealing career choice for women will make the job better and safer for everyone.”

Trucking is well below the national average for when it comes to the participation rate of women. While they represent close to half the Canadian labour force, women represent a mere 3 percent of Canada’s truck drivers, mechanics, transport trailer technicians, and cargo workers. They also account for just 11 percent of managers, 13 percent of parts technicians, 18 percent of dispatchers, and 25 percent of freight claims/safety and loss prevention specialists.

SWIFT’s inaugural meeting will be held April 11 during Truck World, the largest truck trade show in Canada.

For a complete list of SWIFT advisory committee members and to follow their activities, click here.