Women not only seek to be drivers of these vehicles with salaries of up to 50,000 pesos but also fleet entrepreneurs.
The deficit of 60,000 operators in the motor transportation industry in Mexico broke the stereotype that a woman is relegated in a sector led by men and driving a trailer is almost impossible. Female talent has become relevant and now they not only seek to be truck drivers with salaries of up to 50,000 pesos per month but also cargo fleet entrepreneurs, and will soon expand to bus operators.
“A woman who drives a trailer to transport goods should not be seen as a rebellious girl or a tomboy, but rather as an option to pay, to increase labor participation, and for women who must support a family,” says Guadalupe. Cortínez is one of the 11 graduates of the training program: Scania Drivers, which accredits them as fifth-wheel truck operators.
As International Women’s Day is celebrated this Friday, Scania drivers seek to dignify the role of women in freight transport and improve the quality of life of women.
Mauricio de Alba, director of Scania Trucks, said that the generation of graduates does not change the world, they do inspire and leave the “flame lit” for truck driving and to cover the deficit of drivers in the industry, for which he allocates an investment close to 200,000 pesos in driving training.
Paola Moncada, president and co-founder of the Association of Women Freight Vehicle Operators (AMO), highlighted that the participation of women in freight transportation represents only 22%, ranging from truck driving, as well as those responsible for administrative areas, operations, driving and even business owners of heavy transport fleets.
Training
The role of women in the motor transportation industry has generated a plus for companies since it has gone from an empirical trailer driver to a trained operator.
Fernanda Mares, a Scania graduate, left her profession as a graduate in International Trade to become a truck operator in Manzanillo, Colima. “It wasn’t easy,” she admits, but after knocking on many doors to work, after she was fired, obligations at her home forced her to take the reins of the wheel.
The insecurity on the roads that cargo transporters face does not intimidate them and even when they know that they are exposed to theft or violence, being mothers of a family makes them part of this story.
“My medium-term goal is to get my own unit to be self-employed, to have my own business, and then little by little to add the success stories of my colleagues,” Fernanda projected.
