by Women In Trucking Staff, on Sep 25, 2023 5:00:00 AM
ARLINGTON, Va. – Sept. 25, 2023 – According to new data from the 2023 WIT Index, which was released recently by the Women In Trucking Association (WIT), the percentage of female equipment technicians in corporations with for-hire or private fleets in the commercial freight transportation industry has shown a substantial increase. The WIT Index is the industry barometer to benchmark and measure each year the percentage of women who make up critical roles in transportation.
The 2023 WIT Index shows that more than 7% of technicians in companies in transportation are women. This number reflects an increase of nearly 4% from the reported 3.7% of women in technician roles in the 2022 WIT Index.
“A major concern of the trucking industry is the widely reported shortage of professional truck drivers, who play a vital role in the U.S. economy by safely transporting the nation’s freight,” said Jennifer Hedrick, president and chief executive officer of WIT. “But drivers cannot complete that mission when their trucks are in the shop or broken down on the side of the road - whether it’s caused by a problem with the engine aftertreatment system, an electrical issue, or a problem with the truck’s brakes. That’s when it becomes abundantly clear that skilled truck maintenance technicians are indispensable in keeping professional drivers productive, on the road, and delivering on-time.”
Initiated in 2016, the WIT Index is based upon reported statistics by companies in transportation, including for-hire trucking companies, private fleets, transportation intermediaries, railroads, ocean carriers, equipment manufacturers, and technology companies. Data involving the 2023 WIT Index was confidentially gathered from January through April of 2023 from 350 participating companies of various sizes operating in the trucking industry. Percentages are reported only as aggregate totals of respondents rather than by individual company.
In 2022, WIT expanded its collection of the percentage of women to include not only technicians but also operations, human resources and talent management. The WIT Index historically also has identified the percentage of women who are in leadership roles and professional drivers with the commercial freight transportation industry.
For more information on the WIT Index and to download a full executive summary of the 2023 WIT Index findings, visit https://www.womenintrucking.org/index.
Click here for Technicians – Percentage of Women
###
About Women In Trucking Association, Inc.
Women In Trucking Association, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Arrow Truck Sales, Bridgestone Americas, Daimler Truck North America, FedEx Freight, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Michelin North America, Navistar International, Inc., PACCAR, Penske Transportation Solutions, Ryder System, Walmart, and WM. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. For more information, visit www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.
