A major impediment to providing women truck drivers with greater opportunities is the inadequate facilities for them on major long-haul routes – and that will require a major mindset shift by transport operators and the people running garages and truck stops.
Nicci Scott-Anderson, CEO of the Commercial Transport Academy, said the pitiful percentage of female drivers in Africa (believed to only be 1.6%) can be addressed in part by giving women more comforts and security on the road.
United States and Australian data has indicated that there is a case for using women in the driver mix - and the profession will become more attractive should they be allowed greater upward mobility to improve their experience base and financial well-being.
“There are three truck stops on South Africa’s major routes which have been designed with women in mind - and they are characterised by cleanliness of facilities supplied so women can have their ablution privacy if using truck stops overnight,” said Scott-Anderson.
“Truckstop owners must be convinced about the need for female facilities and make the investment, although we know it is a stressed environment financially. So it is chicken and egg. However, if women know that there are certain truck stops that are safe for them and opt for a long haul, they will use the facilities that have provided them with the opportunity to grow from shorter routes and more administrative positions to benefit from the more lucrative and challenging long haul routes,” she explained.
Referring to greater equity that has been seen in other industries such as mining to absorb more women into challenging environments alongside men, she said those industries had to respond to legislation requirements for more gender equality. However, the transport industry does not have any such dictates.
Gender considerations on the road extend to the simplest things. French group Total has begun introducing more female petrol attendants on its forecourts as research indicates that women drivers will feel safer if there is another female face around when there are generally a lot of male attendants.
Hollard Insurance is now providing special waivers for women drivers who have obtained what it deems to be correct training and show careful behaviour as it will reduce accident claims.
With more and more empirical data being made available, the advantages of considering women are varied and extend to safety, care for vehicles and cargo, and fewer accidents.
All these have an impact on the bottom line as well. Better-driven vehicles had fewer accidents so vehicles and cargo were spared, which meant less downtime and costly repairs, she added.
Prior to Scott-Anderson setting up the Academy, she built up a trucking company that operated in southern Africa which gave her a perspective on shortcomings in driving, which she sought to help overcome with the Academy – especially for women. The company was bought out by a major supporter of the Academy’s combined driving skill and technical skills requirement before being certificated as ready for driving operations. It employs many of its women graduates.
