Washington, D.C. — The Women of Trucking Advisory Board convened its inaugural session to combat workplace violence, harassment, and security threats facing female commercial vehicle operators across the United States. Composed of 16 industry leaders, the newly established panel met following the release of a targeted federal safety study examining crimes committed against minority and female freight haulers. For CDL-A drivers and fleet operators navigating current staffing shortages, the board's work centers on closing the persistent gender gap in a sector where women currently account for just seven percent of the workforce.

Commercial freight hauling has long remained heavily dominated by male mechanics, technicians, and drivers. To counteract this imbalance, federal regulators formed the advisory panel to overhaul recruitment strategies and establish secure working environments. Board members bring deep industry credentials to the table, boasting a combined total exceeding 80 years of driving experience alongside 275 years across other transportation domains. Their primary mandate involves leveraging data from recent federal findings to formulate practical security solutions for long-haul and regional professionals.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg addressed the board during its initial gathering, emphasizing that the American supply chain cannot afford to sideline talented candidates amid ongoing driver retention challenges. The meeting directly responded to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's safety report, titled Crime Prevention for Truckers. FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson noted that the survey data exposes a heavy prevalence of sexual harassment directed at female operators, alongside a widespread reluctance to report incidents due to widespread skepticism that administrative action would follow.

What This Means for Drivers

Professional truck driver jobs demand rigorous physical endurance and time away from home, but personal security on the road remains a baseline requirement that many fleets fail to guarantee. The findings from the FMCSA safety report highlight alarming rates of unpunished threats, harassment, and physical assaults at shipper facilities, truck stops, and rest areas across major freight corridors. For owner-operators and company drivers alike, heightened federal focus on these security gaps could eventually translate into tighter safety mandates for facilities and improved emergency response networks for vulnerable personnel.

Industry Reaction

Trucking companies hiring across the country are facing mounting pressure to clean up their operations and establish zero-tolerance policies for harassment, both on company property and out on the highway. Advocacy groups and carrier executives point out that attracting a broader demographic of qualified operators requires a fundamental shift in industry culture, starting with secure parking availability and transparent reporting mechanisms. As carriers compete fiercely for reliable OTR truck driver talent, proving that safety is a top priority has become a core operational necessity rather than a secondary human resources goal.

Key Points

• The Women of Trucking Advisory Board consists of 16 members with over 355 combined years of transportation experience.
• Women currently make up roughly 7 percent of the commercial truck driving workforce in the United States.
• The inaugural meeting was called to address findings from the FMCSA Crime Prevention for Truckers safety report.
• Federal data revealed that female operators face disproportionately high rates of sexual harassment and often underreport incidents.

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