Commercial truck driving has traditionally been considered a male-dominated profession—but if current trends continue, it’s likely the ‘typical’ face of a professional truck driver will look very different by the year 2030.
What’s driving more women to pursue a career in CDL and professional truck driving? We explore some of the leading factors below and offer advice on whether professional CDL training is worth pursuing, regardless of your gender.
Women in Trucking: Economic Changes Offer More Professional Opportunities
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Much of the projected employment growth in this occupation is due to recovery from the COVID-19 recession that began in 2020.”
The demand for truck drivers has increased as more companies and manufacturers continue to experience the pandemic’s effect on global supply chains, creating artificial shortages and prolonged shipping delays.
According to the Pew Research Center, higher-risk industries employ more women than men; 19.4 million workers in these industries are women compared with 18.7 million men. The economic impact of the pandemic has specifically had a significant impact on the service sector and retail trade, areas where many women traditionally find work. As a result of this volatility, more women are considering industries like professional truck driving which potentially offer more job stability.
As more women are reconsidering their professional opportunities in light of these dramatic economic changes, there is renewed interest in CDL driving jobs among women who were previously underrepresented in this field.
CDL Driving Jobs: The Outlook for 2022 & Beyond
As thousands of Americans inevitably leave the workforce each year due to reasons like retirement, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects there are as many as 231,100 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers to fulfill nationwide, during any given year, through 2030. With 6% job growth anticipated through 2030, there are plenty of professional opportunities for women looking to enter the field.
With an increasing demand for skilled workers, the median wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is $47,130 as of May 2020—the BLS reports that the highest 10 percent of drivers earned more than $69,480.
Advocacy for Women Truck Drivers
Another significant development driving more women to a career in CDL and professional truck driving is increasing advocacy. Organizations including Women In Trucking are seeking to bring more gender diversity to truck driving and specifically advocate for female truck drivers while addressing obstacles including flexible work arrangements and fair wages.
Similar organizations like Real Women In Trucking are seeking to foster a sense of community for women in trucking by providing important educational resources promoting driver safety. In addition, their work is centered around encouraging equal representation in the commercial driving industry.
CDL Truck Driving School: Train to Be a Truck Driver at Midwest Technical Institute (MTI)
The first step toward a career in commercial truck driving is finding CDL trucking schools in your area that provide the training required to prepare you to pass your state licensure exam.
MTI’s Professional Truck Driving Program offers both classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel experience. After successfully completing the program and passing the state licensing exam, students can pursue entry-level CDL jobs.
MTI also offers a 20-day CDL Training Course to teach students the procedures and techniques required to pass the state licensing exam.
MTI’s Professional Truck Driving Program and CDL Training Course are currently offered at MTI’s Springfield, Missouri Trade School campus—classes are now enrolling.
SOURCES
SCRIBD
https://www.scribd.com/document/521815153/ZipRecruiter-BLS-Trucking-Data
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Harvard Business Review
https://hbr.org/2020/09/global-supply-chains-in-a-post-pandemic-world
Reuters
Pew Research Center
Women In Trucking
https://www.womenintrucking.org/
Real Women In Trucking