Women Driving Change in Trucking 

Each year, International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate progress, recognize leadership, and highlight the individuals helping shape a stronger future. This year’s theme, Give to Gain, reflects the power of reciprocity; the idea that when we share knowledge, offer support, and create opportunities for others, we strengthen our communities and industries as a whole.  In the trucking industry, collaboration and mentorship play an important role in building that future.  As the industry continues to evolve, more women in trucking are stepping into diverse roles across transportation and logistics, from professional drivers and technicians to dispatchers, safety and logistics professionals, and corporate support roles. Their expertise, innovation, and dedication are helping move the industry forward while inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in trucking. 

The growing impact of women in the trucking industry 

Trucking has always been essential to keeping businesses and communities connected. Every day, transportation professionals ensure that goods move safely and efficiently across the country.  Today, women are playing an increasingly important role in trucking and logistics. According to the Women In Trucking Association, women now make up over 9.5% of professional truck drivers in North America, a number that has grown over the past decade. Female representation in leadership roles is also rising, with women holding 28% of C-suite transportation executive positions and 34.5% of supervisory leadership, according to the latest WIT Index.  Their contributions are helping strengthen operations, bring new perspectives to leadership, and support innovation across the supply chain.  Creating opportunities for women in transportation doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through everyday actions; sharing knowledge, mentoring colleagues, supporting career growth, and encouraging new voices within the industry.  This spirit of collaboration reflects the heart of the theme Give to Gain.  When individuals support one another and share their experiences, they help create an environment where talent can thrive. In turn, the entire trucking industry benefits from stronger leadership, new ideas, and a more inclusive workforce. 

Driving the future of trucking 

The future of transportation depends on building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. Encouraging more women to pursue careers in trucking and logistics helps strengthen the industry and opens the door to new perspectives and opportunities.  Recent labour projections estimate the trucking sector could face a shortage of between 25,000 and 55,000 drivers in Canada by 2035, driven by an aging workforce and growing demand for freight transportation. This highlights the importance of attracting and supporting new talent across the industry.  Every day, women are demonstrating leadership, resilience, and innovation. Their contributions are helping drive meaningful change while ensuring the trucking industry continues to grow and adapt in a rapidly evolving world.  This International Women’s Day, we’re proud to recognize the women whose work, leadership, and dedication help keep our industry moving forward.  

Discover the stories of women driving change 

Explore the stories of the women helping shape the future of our organization and industry as a whole. From their experiences in trucking to the lessons they’ve learned along the way, these stories highlight the many ways women are making an impact.  Read more about the women driving change at Erb: 

• Isabel’s journey: A driving force in the trucking industry   
• A Decade with The Erb Group: My Top 10 Tips for Cold Chain Success   
• Erb Driver Recognized as 2023 TCA Highway Angel of the Year   
• Inspiring Inclusion, Empowering Excellence in the Workplace   
• How Viola Erb helped build The Erb Group of Companies   

Who inspires you? Share their story and why you admire them today!