Delivering the Goods: Women Leading the Way in Freight Transportation
Women continue to face significant barriers when entering and working in the transportation industry. Only 16.8% of the transport workforce worldwide consists of women. While North America sees a comparatively higher representation, it is still only 29%. The number is even lower when examining multimodal freight transportation. Five key barriers contributing to the gender imbalance include:
Persistent gendered stereotyping and occupational segregation, resulting in women being under-represented in STEM-based roles and driving positions
Discriminatory workplace cultures, including the risk of harassment and violence
Limited access to flexible working arrangements and childcare, hindering women’s ability to remain in the workforce
The presence of a glass ceiling that restricts career progression and leadership opportunities
The need for an intersectional approach to gender, acknowledging the interconnected issues of diversity encompassing racial, sexual and socio-economic equality.
This panel focuses on the challenges that women face in multimodal freight transportation but also highlights opportunities and successes.