The freight industry for example has been one of the most masculine industries globally with estimates indicating that about 92-94% of the jobs are assigned to men. But the recent trends depict a rather different picture. According to the 2023 Women in Trucking Association (WIT) index, there is a growing presence of women in various roles: The statistics show that female C-Suite managers have been at 31.6% in 2023, the female executive directors at 36.9% in 2023, the female HR and talent management at 74.6% in 2023, the female dispatchers at 43.5% and female professional drivers with Class A license at 12.1% in 2023 from 7.9% in Now it is time to turn the clock back to honor the female leaders of our field.
Luella Bates: A Trailblazer in the 1920s
Luella Bates was considered the first female truck driver in the 1920s and the pioneer of women's freight. She became famous for her accomplishment of driving a 3-ton truck across the country and for the fight for women freight drivers when women were restricted in their careers. The actions she undertook helped to pave way for the future generations of women in the transportation industry.
Lillie Elizabeth Drennan: First Licensed Female Truck Driver
Lillie Elizabeth Drennan is recognized as the first female licensed truck driver in Texas and the USA. Drennan was the sole owner of the Drennan Truck Line by the time the couple divorced in 1929. She served her company for almost twenty-two and a quarter years; her company had a good safety standard; she was given many safety awards and people admired her as a livewire and a strict but efficient authority figure.
Edwina Justus: Obstacles in Railroads
Curlie Justus was the 1st African American woman to be a locomotive engineer at Union Pacific Railroad. Despite the earlier rejections due to color and gender, she managed to move up from Traction Motor Clerk to a reputable engineer in 1976. Despite enduring racism and even a cross burning in her front yard, she courageously ran the locomotive operations in Nebraska, effectively transporting essential supplies and exemplifying the spirit of resistance amidst oppression.
Modern Moguls in Freight
In the recent past, the freight industry has seen many strong women rise to leadership positions and take on the industry. Over the last year, FreightCaviar Podcast has been able to speak with a line of amazing women who do diverse and complex work within our field.
Diverse Roles and Leadership
Many of these leaders come from various sectors in the logistics and transportation industry and have shared their experiences in managing and implementing supply chain challenges and sustainability. For instance, the women working for freight broker companies are experiencing career progression. These are the companies that play a major role in the transportation of goods and we are seeing more women in leadership positions at these companies.
Promoting Inclusivity and Sustainability
The current freight industry has slowly started to adopt the concepts of diversity and environmental conservation. Women are also at the forefront of this change by ensuring that they participate in sustainable activities and ensure workplace Diversity. Today, women owners of freight broker companies are motivated not only by the dollar but also by the impact of their companies on the environment and society.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite this, there are still some problems that women face in the freight industry even today. They experience various hurdles that include discrimination based on gender, and other practicalities that make their trip very challenging. But the experiences of the likes of Luella Bates, Lillie Elizabeth Drennan, and Edwina Justus are a clear indication of the kind of perseverance needed.
The Road Ahead
The freight industry is sitting at the crossroads. This is a promising period for the development of the sector as more women are joining the profession and holding senior positions. The increasing number of women who are taking up positions in freight broker companies and other positions within this industry is not a trend, it is a movement.
Hence, as we celebrate women in freight, the industry must be encouraged to diversify. Thus, we can ensure that the freight sector remains viable and evolving and remains accessible to future generations.
In conclusion, therefore, it can be observed that women in the freight industry have transitioned from being mere pioneers to today's tycoons. These are the stories of determination, innovation, and leadership that, together we directly contributed and will continue to contribute to the shaping of a better future for the freight industry.
Sign in to leave a comment.