Updated February 11, 2026

Close your eyes and picture a Truck Driver. What do you see?  While these images will vary from person to person, it is likely to envision this one commonality…the Driver is a man.

Unfortunately, this is a stigma that has plagued the trucking industry for years, but there is some truth to it.

According to the latest Women in Trucking Index, data from 2024 shows women make up about 9.5% of professional drivers and 28% of leadership roles in C-suite executive positions. While these numbers have slowly risen over the years, they have a long way to go toward gender diversity.

The good news? The trucking industry is becoming more diverse than ever before. Organizations like the Women in Trucking Association are encouraging women to find employment in the industry and helping to minimize obstacles that might stand in their way.

The Hidden Gap for Women in Trucking

The pre-pandemic truck driver shortage is no longer the case in 2026. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the US currently has more CDL holders than in 2018.  There is still a need for Drivers to fulfill the consistent need for goods and products shipped across the country. But rather than a “shortage”, truck driving employment is stable.

There is one critical gap for women, though. When we dig a little deeper, the need goes beyond getting a CDL. 

According to FreightWaves, the greatest need is in “experienced, mode-specific, technically proficient drivers – hazmat, flatbed, out-of-gauge, reefer – with real-world experience.” 

And women can help by targeting the actual need as Drivers AND as Freight Agents (read these articles about specializing in refrigerated/reefer and liquid bulk freight). 

Minimizing Obstacles for Women

There are still challenges to be addressed when it comes to recruiting women into the trucking industry. One of the biggest concerns for many women who might be interested in this career is that the industry itself was designed for men. For instance, trucking equipment was designed with male use in mind, so it can take some getting used to.

Some women might also be intimidated coming into a workforce that is dominated so heavily by men. Considering a trucking career might be overwhelming. Understandably so.  However, women can remove this fear by replacing it with knowledge and the humility to ask questions in order to build confidence. 

These are issues that need to be addressed on a large scale, but they also need to be addressed by individual trucking companies. As more women join the industry, the national progression of addressing these challenges will become essential.

Women are Needed to Drive Trucking Ahead

Private transportation businesses are starting to realize just how crucial women can be in the future of the trucking industry. Kopf Logistics Group is one of those businesses.

Our family-owned company proudly employs women in critical positions, including our Vice President, Director of Recruitment, Logistics Manager, and office staff.  

As the trucking industry continues to grow and thrive, there will continually be a need for people to move goods from one part of the country to another.  Now is the perfect time for women to step in and become a larger part of the industry.

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