The common stereotype about truck drivers is pretty much based on the movie “Smokey and the Bandit” – with good old boys hee-hawing as they high-tail it across the US.
Nowadays, however, the trucking industry is far more diverse – in fact, they’re making a significant effort to get more women behind the wheel. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, since 2010 the number of female truckers has increased by 68% – there were more than 234,234 in 2018!
While percentage-wise they’re still greatly outnumbered by men, there’s little chance the growth will slow down for a number of reasons:
- Pay – the median wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is $43,680 – and if you ask a fleet how that plays out, they’ll tell you point blank that it’s based solely on experience levels and routes. Gender does NOT matter.
- Demand for transportation workers is high – especially in the age of Amazon and the expansion of e-commerce. Goods must get from point A to point B and the best way to make that happens still requires a qualified someone behind the steering wheel.
- Technology has evolved to make truck driving much less strenuous – plus it’s more common for drivers to not be involved in the actual loading and unloading of cargo / freight.
At this year’s “Women in Trucking” Accelerate Conference and Expo held in Dallas, TX, over 1,100 attended 60+ Educational Sessions on critical transportation issues and trends, along with perspectives of women in the industry.
Bottom line: if you have a dream, don’t let stereotypes or outdated thinking hold you back – and that includes your dreams for a retirement that’s happy, fun, and financially worry-free. Give us a call at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or book online and let’s put pedal to the metal to make that happen for you.
Regards,
Dan Cuprill, CFP®
