Briefly: New study says women reign over trucking HR departments
A recent study found that women preside over and employ the majority of human resources departments in the trucking industry.
According to the Women In Trucking Association's recently released 2023 WIT Index, women hold an average of 74.6% of human resources and talent management positions in transportation companies. In addition, the 2023 WIT Index reveals that nearly half of respondents, 48.6%, report that between 50% and 89% of HR/talent management professionals at their company are female.
The WIT Index is an annual industry barometer that gauges the proportion of women in critical positions within commercial freight transportation.
According to Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO of WIT, the HR field has traditionally been viewed as a female-dominated field, predominantly due to the skill sets required for success in the field.
"Women are typically thought to have a high Emotional Intelligence (EI) score," Hedrick stated. "They also tend to have the essential skills required for this field, such as multitasking, leadership, planning, communication, and human relations."
Initiated in 2016, the WIT Index is based on statistics reported by transportation companies, such as for-hire trucking companies, private fleets, transportation intermediaries, railroads, maritime carriers, equipment manufacturers, and technology firms. From January to April of 2023, 350 transportation industry companies of varying sizes participated in the confidential collection of data for the 2023 WIT Index. Percentages are reported only as totals for all respondents, not by individual businesses.
In addition to its traditional benchmark percentages for HR/talent management, leadership, and professional drivers in commercial freight transportation, WIT has expanded its collection on the percentage of women to include operations, technicians, sales, and marketing this year as well.
Estes recognized by two publications
Estes, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, was named to both Forbes' Best Employers for Women 2023 and Inbound Logistics' 75 Green Supply Chain Partners lists.
An independent survey of more than 60,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 individuals in the United States determines Forbes' annual list. The sample consisted of over 40,00 women. This is the second year in a row that Estes has been included on this list.
"Estes recognizes the need for more women in the transportation industry to lend their talents, expertise, and perspectives to advance the work in supporting our nation's supply chain," said Estes Vice President of Sustainability, Culture, and Communications Sara Graf. "Estes' inclusion on Forbes' list of the Best Employers for Women for another year is a testament to the company's commitment to this area, which is recognized and appreciated by our staff."
Inbound Logistics' G75 list recognizes the top 75 organizations in the supply chain and logistics industry with the most innovative and effective sustainability practices and initiatives. This is the fourth year in a row that Estes has been named to the G75 list.
This year, Estes is the only LTL provider participating in a pilot program to implement a revolutionary new carbon capture device that, when retrofitted to a semi-truck's exhaust, can capture up to 80% of the vehicle's total carbon emissions. In addition, Estes continues to expand its fleet of alternative fuel vehicles and electric forklifts, invests more in solar energy as a renewable, non-polluting resource, and reduces its emissions through the use of newer, more efficient equipment and route optimization technology.
"Investing in and implementing sustainable solutions is not only beneficial for the environment, but also reduces costs, attracts talent, and makes our operations more resilient," said Graf. "At all levels, we are committed to managing our operations responsibly, both now and in the future, in order to protect our employees, customers, communities, and the environment."