Bid to get more female truckers on the road
Just 3% of Irish truckers are women, it was revealed today.
Widely considered a career best suited to men, haulage employers nationwide are hoping to dispel the macho myth and attract more females behind the wheel.
The results of a commercial transport magazine survey found managers believe women drivers to be just as good as their male counterparts.
“The Irish road transport industry is not alone in being male dominated, and it’s a situation which is reflected in most European countries,” Editor of Fleet Transport Jarlath Sweeney said.
“Truck driving is a tough, demanding job, but there is no reason why it shouldn’t appeal to more women.
“It can lead to some excellent career opportunities and drivers of specialist vehicles, such as car transporters and fuel tankers, can earn quite an attractive salary,” he added.
The magazine survey, jointly carried out with Michelin, interviewed employers on the prospect of hiring women drivers.
“Male drivers are often quick to make remarks along the lines of ’bloody woman driver – shouldn’t be on the road’, but joking aside, I would have no hesitation in hiring a female driver if one applied,” one manager said.
“I currently employ three ladies and two of them would definitely be on a par or if not better than their male counterparts. All of them enjoy the work and are great assets to the team,” another pointed out.
The survey, which additionally looked at high insurance premiums for young, inexperienced drivers, also revealed a lack of new blood coming into the haulage industry.
