Being on the road is dangerous. Although driving is useful in many ways, as it allows you to get to work, travel, or transport different things, you are also putting yourself at risk of accidents.
In Seattle, for example, there are numerous traffic-related deaths. Back in 2020, there were 144 serious injury crashes, with 24 fatalities, despite the pandemic. Lots of individuals ended up hiring a Seattle car accident lawyer to help them get compensation. Truck accidents are also likely to happen, and they are even worse – the size and weight of the large vehicle make it a real challenge to stop it, potentially causing more damage and injuries or even fatalities.
So, why is it that women are now taking such a risk by becoming truck drivers? More and more women are joining this domain which is mostly considered a male profession. Let’s find out more!
Why Are More Women Becoming Truck Drivers?
Although a truck driver profession is usually pursued by men, more women seem to be joining the industry. In June, over 83% of drivers consisted of men. However, women are slowly reducing the gap by becoming truck drivers.
There are about 245,000 women on the road now, which is more than there were before the pandemic. In fact, the number increased by 2%. The number of male drivers decreased during the pandemic, though, dropping by 3%.
There are various reasons why women are now becoming truck drivers. Trucking is highly demanded, and there isn’t a lot of training required for it. Furthermore, it pays very well, and it is stable, especially when compared to restaurant or bar jobs.
In June, truck drivers got more than $26 per hour on average, way more than they would get in other service jobs for women. What’s more, working in a restaurant or other similar place is unstable because of the pandemic, as restaurants, bars and anything of the sort had to close or accept a limited number of clients. 12 million women stopped working in April 2020. Therefore, they look at truck driving as a better and more stable solution.
“Guys, you better watch out, ‘cause this right here is a women’s industry from now on,” said Pamela Williams, who is a truck driver and instructor with DSC Training Academy in Jackson, Mississippi.
Some Obstacles in the Way
Although the number of women becoming truck drivers is growing, they are still facing some obstacles. Both on and off the road, ladies are dealing with lots of sexism. Not to mention that it is hard for some of them to leave their families for such a long time, even if doing so will help provide a better life for them.
The Bottom Line
In the future, we may see more women becoming truck drivers, though. While some ladies find it hard to deal with the difficulties, others don’t let any obstacles get in the way, and go for what they want.
Edited and approved.
