For trucking companies and industry mouthpieces, one of the most important issues is the so-called truck driver shortage. Whether caused by poor wages from some companies, a smaller hiring pool, declining working conditions, or a wider lack of desire to do the available jobs, truck drivers are in extremely high demand.

We’ve covered two of the primary ways that the trucking industry is looking to alleviate this problem. The first (and best for existing truck drivers) is by raising wages, expanding benefits, and increasing home time. This recent trend has been excellent for those in the industry and those recently joining.

The second solution to the so-called driver shortage is to expand the hiring pool. We’ve seen this in the push to lower the interstate commercial driving age to 18 and in the lobbying for increased foreign worker visas.

One effort to expand the pool of available and qualified drivers is to reach out to groups whose proportional representation in the trucking industry is vastly below their numbers in the general US population. One of these groups is women, who make up only 6% of all truck drivers.

The Women of Trucking Advisory Board

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has recently announced the launch of the Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB), whose stated mission is to increase recruitment of women into commercial truck driving. Part of this mission includes making the career safer for women drivers, a necessary step in a career with a severe lack of safe parking locations at night.

According to the FMCSA, “WOTAB’s work will support women pursuing careers in trucking, expand scholarship opportunities for women in the trucking industry, and enhance trucking training, mentorship, education, and outreach programs for women.”

The WOTAB will include at least eight members with a variety of backgrounds and experience. The FMCSA is currently accepting applications from those who wish to join this group.

If you fit what they are looking for, consider applying at the FMCSA website. The WOTAB is looking for the following:

• Women who represent trucking companies of all sizes
• Women in non-profits involving trucking
• Trucking business associations
• Both owner-operators and company commercial truck drivers
• A truck driving school
• An institution of higher learning