Women In The HGV industry: The Ups & Downs Of Being a Female Truck Driver

The trucking industry is an important cog in the machine that is the global economy, with billions of goods transported exclusively by truck.

Despite this, the industry has struggled in recent years due to a severe shortage of new drivers. Originally exacerbated by Brexit & the COVID-19 pandemic, this shortage is only predicted to worsen as many current drivers near retirement age.

To help address the shortfall, many companies are now actively encouraging women to enter the trucking industry, however this is proving to be a harder goal to achieve than first thought.

Key statistics & takeaways

• It is currently estimated that only 1% of UK truck drivers are female.
• Only 9.1% of HGV driving tests in 2021-22 were taken by women.
• The % of women in the HGV industry hasn’t changed since 2016.
• The 2021-22 HGV exam pass rate for women was 62.7%, 3.7% higher than the industry average.
• 9% of women aged 20-29 passed their HGV driving test compared to only 63% of men of the same age range.

How many female truck drivers are there in the UK?

According to figures from Logistics UK, there are only 2200 female truck drivers in the UK.

This total amounts to roughly 1% of the 315,000 registered truck drivers despite the trucking industry’s best efforts to recruit more women to their ranks.

Are women better truck drivers than men?

Whilst there is no definitive proof to show that either sex is better at driving an HGV than the other, recent data does indicate that women are more likely to pass their HGV test than men.

In fact, according to data from Pallet Track, the overall pass rate for women in 2021-22 was 62.4%. This is significantly higher than the industry average pass rate in the same year which stood at just 58.7%.

This would mean that if as many women as men had taken an HGV test in that same year, there would now be an estimated 48,000 extra HGV drivers on UK roads.

This would almost erase the UK’s current shortfall of drivers which stood at an estimated 50,000 in 2022, although this number is likely to have grown in recent years.

The challenges facing female truck drivers

Part of the reason for the significant shortfall of female HGV drivers in the UK is the sheer number of challenges that they have to overcome when deciding to enter the industry, many of which are associated with the male dominated culture within the HGV world.

Some of the most common trials and tribulations female truck drivers may face include:

Stigma, Stereotypes & Bias

Due to the male dominated culture of the HGV industry, and outdated stereotypes regarding the driving ability of women, many female truck drivers are likely to face pushback in their career from co-workers and customers assuming that women aren’t as capable as men.

This can lead to a lack of respect towards female drivers and is, unfortunately, one of the main deterrents that is preventing would-be female truck drivers from pursuing a career.

Safety Concerns

Being on the road for days at a time, often alone, is a major safety concern for all truck drivers. In fact, according to a report by the BBC and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, there were more than 5,000 incidents of lorry crime in 2023, equalling about 14 incidents a day.

Family Life

Due to the long hours that truck drivers face, particularly in the long-haulage sector, many women are put off by the lack of work life balance this provides.

In many cases, women with young children, outside of work commitments, or loved ones in need of support, cannot justify spending days or even weeks on the road, away from home. Fortunately, many companies are realising the struggles that all drivers face and are now offering more flexible or even part time roles to new HGV drivers.

Why more women should consider a career in the trucking industry

Despite the barriers that women are likely to face when trying to enter the trucking industry, particularly as a driver, there are more and more reasons to consider it as a long term, viable career.

In fact, despite remaining a male dominated industry, women have been behind the wheel of HGV trucks for a long time. In the 1960s, Rita Jane became the first female long distance lorry driver in the UK and the industry has only moved forward since then.

Equal Pay

Data from Statista shows that the UK gender pay gap currently sits at around 14.3% for both full and part time employees.

However, due to increased regulations and the clear cut nature of HGV driver pay, there is little room for this to occur in the trucking industry. Depending on who you work for, HGV drivers are paid by the hour, per mile or for the job as a whole with the average pay remaining the same regardless of gender.

Flexibility

Due to the vastness of the HGV driver shortage, more and more companies are offering more flexibility within their HGV driver roles. Within a lot of trucking companies in the UK, whilst there are no set hours, the driver often gets an input into when and how long they are prepared to work.

In addition to this, there are no more options for HGV drivers, with part time and full-time hours more readily available. In fact, there are 184 part time HGV jobs on reed.co.uk as of the time of writing.

Industry Support & Incentives

Over recent years, in line with the push to recruit more female lorry drivers, the UK has launched a number of initiatives to encourage women to enter the trucking industry. One more recent example is the launch of the Road Haulage Association’s (RHA) “She’s RHA” Initiative, a campaign designed to help improve the culture within the trucking industry.

Further to this, more and more companies are having open and honest discussions about being female & in the trucking industry. MAN’s “WoMAN Initiative” aims to investigate the need for female truck drivers, whilst other trucking companies have launched their own female only mentorship programmes.

Ultimately, there has never been a better time for women to start a career as a HGV driver.

“It’s really energising for me” – What female truck drivers have to say about working in the industry

Despite the recent push for female lorry drivers, many women are still looking for real life experiences they can relate to, especially in such a male dominated industry.

This report from the BBC, looks at what it’s like to be in the 1% of female lorry drivers. They interviewed Shanalee Johnson, a female UK truck driver who said the following when asked about the stigma associated with the role:

“I have always loved it; I don’t think they [the men] have ever made me feel out of place. If anything, they have tried to help me”

She went on to say:

“I’m actually excited to get up to go to work, to look forward to something. I see it as a career at this moment in time, it’s really energising for me.”

Ultimately, the challenge the UK faces regarding getting more women into trucking is substantial, but with additional regulation, incentives and more positive experiences being shared we will hopefully start to see even more women breaking down the stereotypes and stepping into the world of trucking.

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