The trucking industry is making strides to better accommodate female truck drivers’ needs, especially concerning safety at truck stops. Trucker Path has identified insights into how these stops are evolving to support women in the trucking sector.

Partnering with Women In Motion, Trucker Path conducted interviews with female truck drivers to identify critical safety features they seek at truck stops. The study then evaluated how many truck stops incorporate these essential amenities.

Key Findings from Trucker Path Survey

Lighting emerged as the paramount safety feature for female truck drivers at truck stops. The survey pinpointed seven crucial amenities:

• Illuminated parking spaces
• Well-lit bathroom access
• Brightly lit lounge areas
• 24/7 accessible, well-lit shower facilities
• 24/7 accessible, well-lit laundry services
• Around-the-clock security presence
• Continuous maintenance services available

Trucker Path’s network includes 320 truck stops offering at least one of these amenities. Notably, 95.6% of these stops provide lighted parking, while over half offer illuminated bathroom access. However, only a select few have round-the-clock maintenance or illuminated laundry services.

Truck Stops Providing Comprehensive Safety Amenities

Among those surveyed, 14 truck stops stand out by offering all seven sought-after amenities:

• Shoemaker’s Truck Station – Lincoln, NE
• Big Apple Travel Centers – Joplin, MO
• Walburg Travel Center – Georgetown, TX
• American Truck Plaza – Milton, PA
• ACME Truck Stop – Orlando, FL
• Dukes Travel Plaza (TA Express) – Mount Vernon, TX
• Sumner Truck Stop & Travel Plaza – Sumner, WA
• Circle C Travel Plaza – Walterboro, SC
• Texas Travel Center – Salado, TX
• Mankato Travel Center – Mankato, MN
• Compass Travel Center – Demotte, IN
• Ports to Plains Truck Plaza – Lamar, CO
• King Travel Plaza – Kingsland, GA
• Garden Inn Truck Plaza – Forest City, MO

This survey sheds light on the ongoing challenges female truck drivers encounter and the trucking industry’s initiatives to attract and retain more women drivers.

In June, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released a study titled “Identifying and Mitigating the Challenges Faced by Women Truck Drivers.” The research identifies six primary hurdles for women in trucking and proposes methods for addressing these issues. These challenges include:

• Negative perceptions of the industry
• Difficulties completing driver training
• Unsatisfactory company culture within motor carriers
• Challenges adapting to the over-the-road lifestyle
• Limited access to parking and restrooms
• Prevalence of gender-based harassment and discrimination

“While the visibility of women in trucking advertisements has increased and the percentage of women drivers has been rising slowly over the past few decades, significant challenges persist that deter women from considering or continuing a career in trucking,” says ATRI in their study.

Additionally, ATRI’s recent findings reveal that female truck drivers face longer detention times than their male counterparts. A detention time study indicated that over a third of female drivers experienced short waits at stops compared to 27% for men. Furthermore, detention times of two hours or more constituted 15% of stops for women, versus just 10% for men.

Source: Land Line