More and more women are finding themselves behind the wheels of big rigs, and they seem to be in it for the long-haul.
According to the American Trucking Association, women account for around 6% of all truck drivers on the road – a significantly higher number than previous years.
Not only are more women taking on this job, but they are proving to be safer behind the wheel than most of their male counterparts.
When asked why female truckers are safer, truck driver Stephanie Klang said, “We’re more patient.”
Whether patience actually plays a role or not, female drivers are outshining males when it comes to accidents, compliance issues with company rules and passing inspections on the road.
In 2012, there were around 333,000 trucking accidents across the United States; however, these accidents are not divided up by gender. Despite a lack of official statistics, the Women in Trucking association celebrated the fact that female truck drivers have accounted for over 200 million safely driven miles across the United States. Also, many companies have stated that their female employees perform their job to a high standard and are excellent at remaining cautious and staying safe on the job.
Over the past several years, there has been a driver shortage for long-haul trucks, and many companies see women as a solution to that problem. Company outreach to women has increased in order to fill the gap. Unfortunately, many women still see the trucking industry as being for men only and do not consider the industry a career option for them. However, the many female drivers already on the road hope to change the stigma and get more women into the business of trucking.
Regardless of how cautious a truck driver is, truck accidents do (and always will) occur. If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident, be sure to contact Tampa’s truck accident attorneys at Lorenzo & Lorenzo for legal help. We guarantee a free consultation of your case.
