ARLINGTON, VA — Smaller trucking companies are setting the pace for workforce diversity, employing a higher percentage of female commercial drivers than their large-fleet counterparts. According to the 2024-25 WIT Index released by the Women In Trucking Association, smaller motor carriers report that women make up 12.5 percent of their professional drivers holding CDLs.

This finding challenges the long-held industry assumption that mega-carriers and large private fleets naturally offer more employment opportunities for female truckers due to their sheer scale. Data collected between August 2023 and April 2024 from roughly 350 transportation organizations indicates that medium-to-large carriers average 10.5 percent female driver representation, while major carriers lag further behind at just 7 percent.

The shift extends well beyond the cab and into corporate headquarters and dispatch operations. Women currently occupy 28 percent of executive-level positions and 34.5 percent of supervisory roles across the surveyed companies. Human resources and talent management departments show the highest concentration of female staff at 74.5 percent, while dispatchers account for 38.5 percent. Technical departments remain a stubborn bottleneck, with women comprising only 4 percent of diesel technicians working on Class 8 iron.

What This Means for Drivers

CDL-A drivers and owner-operators scouring load boards or evaluating carriers will notice shifting workplace cultures as smaller fleets capture market share. Trucking companies hiring through regional hubs increasingly emphasize flexible dispatch and driver support to attract a broader demographic of qualified talent. OTR truck driver retention improves when carriers invest in modern fleet equipment and transparent pay structures that appeal to all professional drivers.

Industry Reaction

Motor carriers across the country face persistent recruitment hurdles, forcing fleet executives to rethink traditional hiring pipelines and expand outreach to underrepresented segments of the labor force. The latest survey data proves that agile, smaller operators can implement progressive operational policies faster than bureaucratic corporate structures. Industry advocates argue that widening the talent pool remains essential as demographic pressures mount across the freight sector.

Key Points

• Smaller motor carriers report 12.5 percent female representation among CDL holders.
• Medium-to-large fleets record 10.5 percent female driver staffing, compared to 7 percent for major carriers.
• Women hold 28 percent of executive positions and 34.5 percent of supervisory roles in the surveyed firms.
• Diesel technician positions remain heavily male-dominated, with women filling only 4 percent of shop roles.

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