Biden administration prepares trucking workforce programs focusing on women and younger drivers

On November 15, the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed to help address the lower numbers of women and younger drivers in the trucking industry. FMCSA leader Robin Hutcheson, appointed by President Biden, informed a Senate committee that “an advisory board focused on women entering the trucking workforce – the Women of Trucking Advisory Board – would be launched later this year”. There will be a kickoff held in late summer or early fall to address the different barriers women entering and currently in the industry are facing.

Transport Topics reported that the “aim of the soon-to-be-unveiled board is to provide recommendations and respond to an array of workplace concerns. These concerns may pertain to career advancement, safety risks, workplace harassment and instances of lack of mentorship”. Addressing and increasing the presence of the female demographic in the trucking industry would help relieve the truck driver shortage. Recruitment is becoming more and more difficult in the industry and Biden is urging carriers to expand their recruitment efforts, specifically for women and young driver demographics. Click here for the full story.