Truck Transportation is the largest subsector (30% of the Transportation & Warehousing industry) and has one of the lowest female participation rates at 14%.
In the Truck Transportation industry itself, women tend to hold administration, service and support roles in the industry and less likely to have management, operational or driving roles. The largest occupation, Transport Truck Drivers, shows female employment rate at 3%. There are several reasons for this, and these reasons also exist in other previously male dominated industries.
Some of the reasons have been:
underestimating/discounting the impact of the general public perception of women entering non-traditional roles such as truck driving
roles being designated as male roles are not actively chosen by women
a great lack of information made available to women who are interested in the role provided by women already in the role (getting the information straight from those who really know)
previous lack of access to basic education related to the necessary skills (although the Canadian government has been moving forward with programs to get women into no-traditional roles)
people making a difficult work culture and environment to women in no-traditional roles such as truck driving.
Women With Drive is Trucking HR Canada’s National Project to Promote Women in Freight Transportation. This is a three-year action plan to help tackle the shortage of women in the trucking industry. Other commitments involve creating mentorship programs, identifying best practices, and developing workplace tools and procedures for inclusive workplaces.
For the first project, HR Trucking Canada is receiving $296,720 for a three-year project that will engage women and representatives from all levels of the trucking industry to create a sustainable mentorship model for women. Together, they will identify barriers and opportunities for women entering into and advancing within the industry, as they develop and pilot a mentorship model with employers in targeted communities in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario.
For the second project, Trucking HR Canada is receiving $125,000 for a project to improve the workplace participation of groups that are under-represented in the transportation sector.
The issue of women’s underrepresentation in the trucking continues to be an area of opportunity for both government and industry stakeholders to support various programs and initiatives focused on developing women in transportation careers. This will provide some of the necessary alleviation to the driver shortage.
Even with the addition of more women driving trucks the question will still need to be asked – are women the answer to the truck driver shortage?
Many large trucks are now equipped with very sophisticated communications equipment that allows for the driver to receive instructions and for the truck to report back to the terminal on an array of technical aspects of the truck and its driver. This equipment makes driving safer and delivering goods more efficient.
Many passenger vehicles now come equipped with the latest technical devices to help people navigate, communicate and be entertained while they drive. It’s important that all communications devices add to safety rather than distract from it.
Professional truck drivers recognize the enormous responsibility that they have driving such large vehicles on the roadway. There are some hard and fast rules in the trucking industry for using communications technology in the truck’s cab – stay focused on the main job of driving and communicate at stops. Use technology wisely and don’t be used by it.
Having been in and around trucking for the last 30 years I am amazed at how much has changed. One of the greatest changes has been to what one would call the stereotypical American trucker. While there are still plenty of asphalt cowboys crossing one another’s paths as they travel the interstate, the next generation of truckers is slowly emerging, and the differences are many indeed.
Once hailed as an occupation suited best for grizzled old men and a small handful of tough ladies, you are now more likely to see a woman holding the steering wheel of a truck than her chromed silhouette adorning its mudflaps. With automatic transmissions, power steering, in cab 5th wheel release, and power assisted hoods & landing gear, operating a tractor trailer is easier than ever before.
Technology has played an essential role in this trucker evolution.
Navigation tools- While they still have some flaws, we are not too far away from having nearly perfect truck routing that adjusts to real time conditions and circumstances.
APU’s- Gone are the days where truckers had to open every door and window in an often failed attempt to keep cool in no idling zones. Nor do they have to risk starting a fire with their cavalier attempts to wire home appliances to a battery or an already overloaded inverter.
In Cab Technology- CB radios one reigned supreme as the must have tech gadget in trucking. Now trucks have flat-screen satellite TV’s, wireless Internet, electronic log books, all-in-one office machines, computers, gaming consoles, and much, much, more.
While all of this tech has made life on the road easier, it’s full impact on productivity and safety has yet to be fully analyzed,
These and many other changes are ushering in the era of the Renaissance Trucker. A new type of professional driver who is inherently tech savvy, more interested in quality of life than a tough persona, and closer in appearance to a white collar worker than a blue collar. Their having never seen the old ways of working the system, this new generation is much more in tune with safety and compliance. Many companies are having to rethink the way in which they interact with this new breed of driver for fear of failing to attract, retain, and motivate them. The days of the get it done any way possible trucker are quickly disappearing, ushering in a new era of drivers equipped with a more technical understanding of the industry, and brandishing it in ways that do not always favor their employer. Like it or not, the age of the renaissance trucker is upon us.
Thinking of signing on with a new trucking company? Before you sign anything educate yourself, remember the interview process isn’t just for the company’s benefit, this is also your opportunity to get to know them. Establishing relationships in any industry is important; this is especially true in commercial trucking. Even before you interview learn as much about the company as you can, find out what they do, what they make, and what kind of services they provide. Then ask questions about the actual job requirements, benefits, type of work that you will be expected to do. Be prepared to take notes! Your personal list of interview questions may grow or shrink as you determine your own requirements.
Here’s an example list of questions that a driver will want to ask recruiters before deciding to accept the job. It is comprehensive enough to give you a good idea of how the company operates. It’s also a good idea to include the contact person’s full name, company’s name, phone number, and date on your checklist for future reference.
GENERAL
1.Will I be a: Company Driver / Contract driver / Owner Operator ?
2.As an employee, how is my pay figured? Hourly _________
By the mile Rate_______
What are the rates during training?
3.If paid by the mile, how is mileage calculated?
Hub miles
Computer program Ex: PC Miler etc
4.Does the company hold back the first paycheck?
No / Yes: One week / Two weeks
5. Do you pay by direct deposit?
Yes / No
6.What benefits does the company offer?
> Paid vacation? After how long ______ How much time_______
> Sick days? After how long ______ How many sick days________
> Health/dental care: No/ Yes
Is family included? No / Yes
> Safety awards
> Retirement plans
> Rider policy: No / Yes
What are the age requirements? _______
Is it limited to family members only? No / Yes
> Safety bonuses No / Yes:
6.What is the company policy on fueling? Driver choice of supplier / Company choice of supplier / Fuel Card supplied / Driver pays & company reimburses
7.Do you have forced dispatch? If I’m having issues with a dispatcher what procedures are in place for me to get assistance?
8.What regions does the company expect you to run?
9.Does the company offer dedicated runs?
No / Yes
How do I get one?
10. Are you on paper logs or Elogs ?
If using Elogs do you provide proper training? No / Yes
11. What is the company policy on check calls ? Are you required to check in at certain times? If they haven’t heard from you what is their policy?
12. Does the company allow pets in the truck? No / Yes
Are damage deposits required?
How much?_________
What is the deposit return policy?
13. Does company provide cell phones or cell phone allowance ? Do you give my number out ?
14. Does the company pay for:
> Layovers
> Detention time
> Canceled loads
> Motel/Food if broke down
> Multiple drops and picks
> Tolls/Bridge fees etc. Do you provide a company card or cash float ?
> Truck washes
> Trailer wash-outs
> Scale tickets
15. How many miles per week can I expect to run?
16. How many days/weeks will a driver be kept out?
17. What is the policy on home time?
LOADS
18. Is the driver responsible for loading and unloading? No / Yes
19. If not, how is the lumper issue handled? Company contract with lumpers / Advances for lumpers (deduct from paycheck) / Reimbursement for lumper with receipts
20. If driver unloads, how is payment made? Flat rate or Hourly ?
TRUCK
21. What kind of truck will I be driving?
Year Make Model
22. Can driver take the truck home?
No / Yes
23. What kind of transmission? Standard or Automatic ?
24. What kind of engine?
25. What kind of sleeper?
26. Can I put my own chrome and lights on the truck?
No / Yes
27. Are power inverters allowed ? Does the company install ? What wattage is allowed?
28. CB equipped? No / Yes
29. Satellite Radio / Internet ? No / Yes
30. Refrigerator? No / Yes
31. Qualcom? No / Yes
32. How often does company purchase new equipment?
33 . Can I purchase my truck through the company? No / Yes
Lease/purchase plan? No / Yes
Success rate on lease/purchase?
TRAINING
34. Does the company provide training?
No / Yes
35. Is training paid by company? No / Yes
36. If company paid, is there a penalty if I leave the company before a specified period of time? No / Yes
How is it calculated?
37 . What are trainer requirements?
38 . Does the trainer receive extra pay?
No / Yes
39 . As a trainer, will I be able to refuse to train a potential driver?
No / Yes
40. Is trainer responsible for actions of trainees?
No / Yes
41 . What is the length of training period?
42. Will I be assigned solo after the training period? No / Yes
43. Are female trainers provided for female trainees upon request?
No / Yes
44. Is transportation provided to orientation? No / Yes
45. Motel/Food paid by company during orientation ?
No / Yes
46 . If I am disqualified or if I choose not to sign on, does the company pay for my transportation back home? No / Yes
47. Do you provide out of province / state medical insurance? No / Yes
Does it start immediately? No / Yes
48. Do you provide short & long term disability benefits?
49. If I experience issues with my trainer what procedures are in place ? Who do I call ?
50. Do you have your own customers or do you rely on load brokers ?
A CVSA level one inspection has 38 steps and it is a full mechanical and driver inspection, where drivers would have to provide necessary documentation to the officer.
A CVSA level two inspection is a 31-step procedure, where the majority of the steps are repeated just as a level one procedure (checking HoS compliance, low-air pressure etc.) however, the inspector is not going under the vehicle.
A level three inspection is only a 13-step procedure that involves no mechanical inspection, just the presentation of documentation from the driver.
These levels are standardized, meaning that the same level one inspection you receive in Ontario is the same level one inspection you’d be getting in southern Mexico.
The purpose of an inspection is four-fold. The CVSA is to check to see if drivers are in violation, if they are out-of-service, if the vehicle has defects and if the vehicle is out-of-service.
For more information on the CVSA please follow this link :
Establishing relationships in any industry is important; this is especially true in commercial trucking. Even before you interview learn as much about the company as you can, find out what they do, what they make, and what kind of services they provide. Then ask questions about the actual job requirements, benefits, type of work that you will be expected to do. Be prepared to take notes! Your personal list of interview questions may grow or shrink as you determine your own requirements.
