Rough and tough men are the typical workers haulage companies Delta Bridge .com have traditionally tended to look for when hiring drivers. However, these days, women are starting to become more and more common in the haulage industry. Just how has this phenomenon come about, and what does this mean for the industry as a whole?
Women in the Haulage Industry
Why are more women applying to be hauliers? Simple: women need jobs too! The recession of ’09 forced many companies to trim down their workforce, and haulage companies were no exception. Now that the economy is picking up steam and more work is being carried out across the country, these companies are looking to quickly and effectively refill their depleted ranks. Women, for their part, are searching for jobs that provide a reliable income and can help put food on the table. Some are willing to have a shot at occupations that were previously dominated by men, and they are finding out that these jobs are not as tough as they were once made out to be.
What Women Can Bring to the Industry
Hauling itself does not require a lot of raw muscular power or expose drivers to elevated levels of risk. Haulage companies are simply looking for able bodies that can obtain the necessary licenses to handle lorries and other heavy vehicles used for the purpose. Thus, the physical differences between men and women matter little in the occupation.
The motivation to do a great job is one aspect where a woman’s instincts can give them a leg up as well. Single mothers, young women and older ladies alike are joining the workforce of the transport industry. In short, women have a lot to contribute and overlooking them because of their gender means that haulage companies risk losing out on some great drivers.
Physical Barriers
Hauling goods over long distances can be taxing physically, and the job itself is admittedly not a glamorous one. It takes a certain amount of character to get used to the rugged nature of hauling, and some women are simply not comfortable with the idea of being perceived as ‘manly’ for doing so. Women that do look beyond this image, however, will quickly realise that it is a job like any other – one that puts food on the table and pays the bills.
The Bottom Line
Truth be told, men and women each have something to contribute in the business of hauling. The actual act of driving from point A to point B, however, is not something that gender plays a real role in. Both haulage companies and women themselves need to understand this simple fact. Once preconceived notions are dealt with and the realities of the situation are accepted, the haulage industry will have no problem tapping into a resource that was once overlooked.
