# Opportunities for Women in the Trucking Industry

Published 2022-12-08 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Transportation on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/transportation/creating-opportunities-for-women-in-the-trucking-industry
Creator hub: Straight Outta Crumpton

> While women comprise nearly half of Canada’s workforce (47%), only three percent of women make up the number of Canadian truck drivers. While the number of women getting their commercial driver’s licenses has increased since 2010, there is a long way to go to realize the potential of women in the trucking industry. The…

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While women comprise nearly half of [Canada’s workforce](https://www.gennaro.ca/female-drivers-in-the-trucking-industry-whats-the-current-status/#:~:text=Statistics%20show%20that%20almost%20half,been%20a%20male%2Ddominated%20industry.) (47%), only three percent of

women make up the number of Canadian truck drivers. While the number of women

getting their commercial driver’s licenses has increased [since 2010](https://www.gennaro.ca/female-drivers-in-the-trucking-industry-whats-the-current-status/#:~:text=Statistics%20show%20that%20almost%20half,been%20a%20male%2Ddominated%20industry.), there is a long way

to go to realize the potential of women in the trucking industry.

The [Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada](https://www.womenstruckingfederationofcanada.net/) is one organization working to make a

difference. This non-profit organization strives to encourage women’s employment in

the trucking industry, supports women’s advancement in the industry, and minimizes the

obstacles that might prevent their success.

Meet [Shelley Walker](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-walker-b1775884/?originalSubdomain=ca), CEO of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada. A longtime

driver herself, Walker’s commitment to making women a prominent part of the trucking

industry couldn’t come at a better time. Estimates indicate Canada will be short [25,000](https://www.trucknews.com/transportation/canada-short-25000-truck-drivers-by-2023-report/1003137725/)

truck drivers by 2023. Unfilled jobs in 2018 cost the trucking industry an estimated [$3.1](https://www.trucknews.com/transportation/canada-short-25000-truck-drivers-by-2023-report/1003137725/)

billion in lost revenues.

[Straight Outta Crumpton’s](https://marketscale.com/shows/straight-outta-crumpton/) [Greg Crumpton](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregcrumpton/), accompanied by [Tyler Kern](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-kern/), spoke with Shelley Walker

to shed light on the truck worker situation in Canada and how her organization

makes a difference for women in the trucking industry.

“The big part about us is we believe in working together,” Walker said. “Our slogan is: in

the office, under the hood, or behind the wheel, we’re all pieces of the puzzle. I firmly

believe that for our industry to continue to grow and attract young people into our

industry, we need to fix all the problems we have internally. It’s time for a change.”

### Crumpton, Kern, and Walker’s conversation include:

**•** The state of the trucking industry for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ+

community

**•** The need for equity and inclusion in a predominantly white/male-dominated

industry

**•** The lack of young people entering the trucking field

**•** Why Walker founded the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada

“There wasn’t enough supporter network working for women in this industry,” Walker

said. And I found that to be it didn’t matter where I went. This was an original idea by a

friend of mine, and I continued forward with this organization and started it. I built it on

networking, and I like to think outside the box. I don’t just network with women in the

trucking sector.”

Shelley Walker is a trailblazer. As CEO of the non-profit Women’s Trucking Federation

of Canada, her mission is to bridge barriers, empower women, and provide a positive

platform for education, mentorship, networking, and development within the trucking

and transportation industry. Walker has more than seventeen years of experience

supporting the transportation/trucking/railroad industry as a reputable and respected

leader, spokesperson, keynote, and professional driver. Walker was inducted into the

PMTC Hall of Fame for Professional Drivers in 2020 and awarded the 2020 Woman of

Inspiration™ Rural Leader Award.

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