Women have been driving commercial vehicles in the U.S. for over a century, but the share of female CDL holders has historically been small. As of 2024, women make up roughly 14% of professional truck drivers in the U.S. — a substantial increase from about 6% in 2010 — and the number is growing every year as more carriers actively recruit women drivers.
Industry shift
Carriers including Schneider, Werner, Walmart, US Xpress, and Knight-Swift have launched women-specific recruiting and mentorship programs. The Women In Trucking Association (a 501(c)(6) trade group) advocates for industry changes including better truck-stop facilities, women-specific safety training, and higher representation in carrier leadership. Many carriers have introduced same-gender training pairings, harassment-reporting hotlines, and revised PPE/uniform sizing.
Pay parity
Pay in trucking is largely formula-based (per-mile or per-hour rates set at the carrier level), so the gender pay gap in CDL driving is among the smallest in any U.S. industry — typically less than 3% based on Women In Trucking's annual member surveys. Where gaps exist, they're usually attributable to differences in equipment, lane assignment, or experience rather than overt discrimination.
Lifestyle considerations
Truck-stop safety remains the most-cited concern in industry surveys. Women drivers tend to favor: well-lit truck stops with active security; stops with attached restaurants (rather than just snack stores); and stops with 24-hour staffing. Many women drivers report carrying personal-protection tools and cell-phone-based safety apps. Family-friendly carriers have introduced "home weekly" lanes specifically targeted at drivers (men and women) with school-age children.
Resources
The Women In Trucking Association (womenintrucking.org) maintains a job board, mentorship matching, and an annual Accelerate! conference. Many community college CDL programs have women-specific cohorts and instructor pairings on request. The federal Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant funds women-driver training initiatives at qualifying providers.
Getting started
The path to a Class A is identical regardless of gender. Read our How to apply and CDL training comparison guides, then research carriers' women-specific recruiting pages before accepting an offer.