Why Australia Needs More Female Truck Drivers

By: Ben McEachen

Women are the “perfect” choice for truck driving and Australia would be better for it, according to Lyndal Denny.

“Research shows quite clearly that women are safer drivers,” said Lyndal, who is CEO of advocacy and support body Women in Trucking Australia.

“Women figure less in road crashes and drug-and-alcohol instances on our roads. We wear our seatbelts. Women figure less in road crashes and drug-and-alcohol instances on our roads.

“And women are also hardwired, I guess, to ‘sweat the small stuff’ while men are ‘big picture’. When it comes to truck driving and safety, it is critical to focus on the small stuff.

“Women are really in the box seat when it comes to being perfect for truck driving.”

However, Lyndal said that such positives for female drivers have not yet translated to significant on-road representation.

“Trucking is the biggest employer of Australian men,” said Lyndal.

“They estimate there is about one quarter of a million truck drivers and that number continues to increase, as people take to online shopping. Less than two per cent of that quarter of a million are women.”

Lynda said trucking has been seen as a “man’s job” due to the physical demands (particularly before power steering).

An interstate truck driver for years, Lyndal believes changes in technology make driving and loading trucks more accessible to all.

“There are different shifts women can do and different freight you can haul,” Lyndal said about the well-paid career. You can do regional work, local work, interstate work.

“Day shift, night shift; there is something for everybody in the trucking industry.”

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Images: Supplied by Women in Trucking Australia