Driving Positive Change in the World of Transportation

June is Pride Month, making it the perfect time to catch up with the state of the LGBTQ community in the trucking industry. People on the Move’s Tyler Kern caught up with Shelle Lichti, the Founder and Executive Director of LGBT Truckers, Inc., for an enlightening discussion on the industry’s past, present, and future regarding LGBTQ issues.

As a female truck driver, Lichti knows discrimination against women and underrepresented populations haunts the trucking industry. Lichti founded LGBT Truckers to fight stereotypes and pave new paths in an industry dominated by men. For trucking to evolve, it needs to become an industry of acceptance. “The culture of the industry has slowly shifted,” Lichti said. “Do we still have room for growth? Yes. In all diversity inclusion levels, there is still a big need.”

Lichti recognized that certain behaviors and attitudes in the trucking industry would not be tolerated or accepted in any other mainstream workforce, so there are still barriers to conquer. “Not vilifying individuals within your workforce or demeaning their value, and what they’re saying,” Lichti said, “are critical components in promoting the well-being of truckers in the LGBTQ community. And companies must not minimize situations occurring with drivers. Apologies without action and remedy quickly become lip service.”