Challenges for Women in the Trucking Industry
The trucking industry has long voiced concerns about a significant shortage of drivers. However, some women argue that trucking companies have created barriers that make it nearly impossible for them to secure driving positions.
Hiring Practices Disadvantage Women
Many trucking companies often do not hire female applicants unless they have other women available to serve as trainers. With less than 5 percent of truck drivers in the U.S. being women, there is a limited pool of female trainers accessible, making it difficult for women to gain entry into the field.
Gender-Specific Training Policies
Industry-wide, same-sex training policies are prevalent, as noted by truckers and legal experts. This practice persists despite a federal ruling in 2014 that deemed it illegal for trucking firms to mandate that female applicants be matched only with female trainers.
A Personal Struggle
Ashli Streeter from Killeen, Texas, took out a $7,000 loan to enroll in a truck driving school in the hopes of securing a better-paying job than the warehouse work she previously held. However, she reported that Stevens Transport, a company based in Dallas, informed her that they could not hire her due to the lack of women available for training. Other companies rejected her for the same reason.
Filing a Complaint
“I got licensed, and I clearly could drive,” Ms. Streeter said, expressing her frustration. She, along with two other women, filed a complaint against Stevens Transport with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Thursday, arguing that the company’s same-sex training policy unjustly prevented them from obtaining driving jobs. The EEOC investigates such claims and may initiate its own lawsuit if it finds sufficient evidence of discrimination.
Need for Change in Industry Practices
Critics have pointed out that the retention of same-sex training policies, almost ten years after the judicial ruling that did not establish a national precedent, indicates that trucking companies have made insufficient efforts to recruit women who could alleviate their labor shortages.
Looking Forward
The situation highlights the need for the trucking industry to adapt its hiring practices to foster a more inclusive environment, ensuring that qualified women can enter and thrive in this essential field.
