Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/592176
T rucking, like many other industries, has traditionally been a male- dominated industry. I look at women in trucking and women in technology very much the same way, and not just because they have the same acronym (WIT). Males have dominated both industries for extended periods of time. e technology industry seems to be seeing a transition away from this tradition as of late. According to Forbes Power women list, seven of the top 25 and 18 out of the top 100 executives in the technology industry are women. e highest placing on the list was Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. You can attribute the success of women in technology to advocacy associations and through women being promoted into these leadership roles. It instills condence in women everywhere to reach higher and breaks down false barriers to enter into these industries. I look at Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shay Haver, the rst two females to graduate from Army ranger school, as inspiration for women everywhere that there truly are no dierences in what a human being, male or female, is able to accomplish when they put their mind to something. Driving truck is rigorous work, at times with harsh weather and working conditions, but there is a great need across the nations for drivers. is is an area where the industry can step up together in our eorts to bring more women into the industry. ere is also a great need for women in leadership roles throughout the industry. Like women in technology, I think this would squeeze the gap and help drive more female entrants into the industry. Something that we take pride in here at Truckstop.com is that our organization is largely comprised of women. A consistent message when asked how women want to be treated in the work force, in the military and in any professional setting, is to be treated as an equal and to be treated professionally and with respect. At a minimum we, as transportation professionals, owe that courtesy to our counterparts. e future of the industry depends on it and bringing in new perspectives and more diversity will only strengthen who we are. "" "YOU CAN ATTRIBUTE THE SUCCESS OF WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY TO ADVOCACY ASSOCIATIONS AND THROUGH WOMEN BEING PROMOTED INTO THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES." A Female Footprint in the Trucking Industry BY THAYNE BOREN, UDROVE GENERAL MANAGER 38 IT MAGAZINE Vo l . 9 , N o . 6