Despite the trucking industry being male-dominated, the number of women entering the profession is increasing, and there are compelling reasons for this trend.
Kayla Chavez, a truck driver with a TikTok following of nearly 20,000, notes, “This industry offers equal pay for men and women.”
As reported by the Truck Driver Institute, drivers are compensated on a per-mile or hourly basis, which helps eliminate pay disparities based on gender. Indeed.com lists the average yearly salary for new truck drivers at around $72,571.
After being unsatisfied with her previous jobs in banking and aviation, Chavez found trucking provided her with better pay and a more flexible schedule.
“I used to work as a banker and later as a flight attendant, but I was overwhelmed by low pay and juggling two jobs,” she recalls.
Initially doubtful about trucking, her boyfriend’s uncle’s suggestion eventually led her to pursue this career, leading to personal and professional success.
The Rise of Women in Trucking
The Women in Trucking Association reports that the percentage of female long-haul drivers has grown from 10% in 2019 to 13.7% now. The industry is eager to recruit more women to combat driver shortages caused by retirements and training facility closures during the pandemic.
