EMPOWERING WOMEN
GENDER DIVERSITY FROM THE GROUND UP
cessful career: stability, a lucra- tive income, and many avenues to grow professionally,” she says. As the association has evolved, grown its membership, and gained momentum, raising awareness of career opportu- nities has remained a key com- ponent. But other critical goals have also come into focus.
safety and protection of drivers at truck stops, and things that are unique to women in a male- dominated industry, like pro- viding clothing and uniforms tailored to women and appropri- ate restroom access on the road. “Although the trucking industry has been working to reduce the gender gap, there are areas that still require attention,” says Goodwin. “I hope to see more consideration given to women- friendly restroom/bath facilities, ergonomic cab design, and safer truck stops and parking lots.” DRIVING FUTURE SUCCESS As Hedrick moves into the second year of her tenure as association president and CEO, she is excited to take the orga- nization farther down the road to diversity. “There is still a lot of work to be done in educating women about all that’s available to them in trucking, as well as educating our member companies on how they can recruit, interview, and hire women in a variety of roles.
While gender diversity has been a trending topic in recent years, it has always been at the core of what WIT is all about. Prominently displayed on the WIT website is the powerful statement that: “Gender diver- sity brings new perspectives, fuels greater idea generation,
The growth potential in transportation is when you recognize the key part that women play in keeping the wheels in motion every day. ƺNť ƨ QŰX
Goodwin says she has seen progress, and that the industry is rethinking its recruitment strategies to be more inclusive of women. However, additional work needs to be done. “These companies recognize the unique skill set that women offer,” she says. “One power- ful strategy is the rebranding of recruiting materials. Do the images show female driv- ers? Benefit options that can be explored include childcare EHQHࡼWVPDWHUQLW\OHDYHVLFN OHDYHࡽH[LEOHZRUNVFKHGXOHV and guaranteed equal pay.” One of the key pieces of WIT’s mission is to ensure the barriers for women in trucking are elimi- nated. This includes the
problem solving and innova- tion, increasing business per- formance and overall revenue generation.” As a trade association, WIT has the ability to lobby for causes that matter to the majority of its membership. Further, while WIT is—as its name suggests— primarily women, membership is open to people of all genders. Hedrick explains that this spirit of representation is the basis upon which WIT was founded. “When Ellen founded WIT, she saw the gender gap and oppor- tunities that women didn’t even know existed. Yes, trucking is a stereotypically male profession, EXWLWDOVRRಀHUVPDQ\EHQHࡼWV women are looking for in a suc-
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