US Republican Senator from Kansas, Jerry Moran, is crafting legislation - the 'Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act' - that aims to increase the number of female truck drivers by establishing an advisory board within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) dedicated to achieving this goal.
The draft bill contends that the trucking industry 'should explore every opportunity, including driver training and mentorship programmes, to encourage and support the pursuit of careers in trucking by women,' reported New York's FreightWaves.
Mr Moran's legislation would require the FMCSA administrator to establish and appoint a five-member 'Women in Trucking Advisory Board' within the agency 'focused on creating opportunities for women in the trucking industry.' It would be tasked with providing education, training and mentorship, as well as with helping recruit drivers.
Statistics cited in the bill show that women hold just 24 per cent of all transportation and warehousing jobs and represent only six per cent of truck drivers. They make up 12.5 per cent of all workers in truck transportation, and just eight per cent of company owners.
The bill's draft language also points out that the total number of women truck drivers is falling and, yet, they have shown to be safer than men while operating a truck and 20 per cent less likely than men to be involved in a crash.
WORLD SHIPPING
The draft bill contends that the trucking industry 'should explore every opportunity, including driver training and mentorship programmes, to encourage and support the pursuit of careers in trucking by women,' reported New York's FreightWaves.
Mr Moran's legislation would require the FMCSA administrator to establish and appoint a five-member 'Women in Trucking Advisory Board' within the agency 'focused on creating opportunities for women in the trucking industry.' It would be tasked with providing education, training and mentorship, as well as with helping recruit drivers.
Statistics cited in the bill show that women hold just 24 per cent of all transportation and warehousing jobs and represent only six per cent of truck drivers. They make up 12.5 per cent of all workers in truck transportation, and just eight per cent of company owners.
The bill's draft language also points out that the total number of women truck drivers is falling and, yet, they have shown to be safer than men while operating a truck and 20 per cent less likely than men to be involved in a crash.
WORLD SHIPPING