In recent years, the trucking industry has made great strides toward becoming more diverse and inclusive, with more women entering the field now than ever before. While women still make up a minority of the overall trucking workforce, their presence is growing and, not surprisingly, they are proving to be just as skilled and dedicated as their male counterparts. In fact, according to a recent study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), women truck drivers are statistically safer on the road than male drivers. The study found that female drivers had a lower accident rate and were less likely to engage in risky driving behaviors such as speeding or hard braking. It’s fair to say that these findings suggest the trucking industry could benefit from greater gender diversity, as women bring valuable skills and perspectives to the job.
In addition to women finding themselves in the driver’s seat more, we are also seeing an uptick in women doing behind-the-scenes roles in transportation too. According to the Women in Trucking Association, women currently make up around 10% of the trucking industry workforce, and that number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
One woman who is making a name for herself in the trucking industry is Sara Ellis, our very own Operations Team Leader here at Fraley and Schilling. Sara was recently named one of Women in Trucking’s “Top Women to Watch in Transportation” for 2023, an honor that recognizes female professionals who are making significant contributions to the industry.
Sara was hired into an entry level position at F&S in 2015, and since then has worked diligently to earn her role as a leader in the company. Today, Sara leads a team of 6 managers, as well as almost 170 professional drivers. The goal she has set for herself and her team is to be better today than yesterday, and she accomplishes that goal on a daily basis. Sara serves as a role model to the entire organization, exemplifying that hard work and dedication is the recipe for success at F&S.
Sara being recognized as one of Women in Trucking’s “Top Women to Watch in Transportation” is a validation of her hard work and dedication in the industry. It is our hope that her success will inspire other women to pursue careers in trucking and show that there is a place for them in this traditionally male-dominated field (See WIT’s complete press release here).
We join WIT in celebrating Sara as well as the entire list of Top Women to Watch in Transportation for 2023!
