Washington, D.C. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced on September 10, 2026 that sixteen women have been appointed to the newly created Women in Trucking Advisory Board, a panel charged with shaping policies that attract and keep women behind the wheel.

The move comes after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act mandated a federal focus on gender equity in transportation. Women now occupy only about 24% of all transportation jobs, a figure that lags behind the broader labor market. Studies cited by FMCSA show female drivers are roughly 20% less likely to be involved in a crash, a safety edge the agency hopes to leverage as overall truck‑related accidents climb.

Board members span the industry spectrum: Anne Balay, a Service Employees International Union organizer; Joyce Brenny, owner‑operator of Brenny Transportation; Jerri Banks, founder of Life on the Road Recruiting; Elisabeth Barna, vice president of the American Trucking Associations; Enjoli DeGrasse, deputy director of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Marie Druckenmiller, Amazon’s director of transportation; Erin Ducharme, CFO of H&L Bloom; Laura Duryea, recruiting manager at Boyle Transportation; Marquita Jones of J.B. Hunt; Kellylynn McLaughlin from Schneider National; Dianne McNair‑Smith, CEO of 3 Girls Trucking Academy; Sharae Moore, founder of the She Trucking Foundation; O’Sheauna Parker, driver with Haul; Emily Plummer, Prime Inc. driver; Soledad Munoz Smith, VP of operations at Munoz Trucking; and Nicole Ward, co‑owner of the African American Women in Trucking Association. The group reflects small, medium and large carriers, owner‑operators, labor unions, and educational outfits.

What This Means for Drivers

For CDL‑A drivers and OTR truck driver candidates, the board promises a pipeline of mentorship programs that could shorten the time between training and steady pay. Owner‑operators may see new outreach initiatives that lower financing barriers and provide tailored insurance options under evolving FMCSA regulations. Fleet managers are likely to receive guidance on recruiting practices that highlight the safety record of women behind the wheel, potentially lowering insurance premiums and improving overall fleet safety scores.

Industry Reaction

FMCSA Deputy Administrator Robin Hutcheson stressed that the advisory panel “will generate ideas that expand equity and safely open career doors for women across the industry.” Carrier groups such as the American Trucking Associations welcomed the appointment, noting that a broader talent pool could ease driver shortages that have plagued trucking companies hiring for months. Labor representatives echoed the sentiment, pointing to the board’s mix of union and employer voices as a sign that solutions will be pragmatic rather than purely regulatory.

Key Points

• Women hold only 24% of transportation jobs, according to FMCSA data.
• Female drivers are about 20% less likely to be involved in crashes than their male peers.
• The Women in Trucking Advisory Board comprises 16 members from carriers, unions, schools, and owner‑operator circles.
• The panel must deliver a set of recommendations within the next 15 months, covering recruitment, training, mentorship, and safety.

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