Campaign to attract more women to the haulage industry

Tempcon’s subsidiary, Tommy Nordbergh Åkeri, launches a campaign to attract more women to the haulage industry.

More and more women are realising the significant benefits of working in logistics and the haulage industry, but the progress is too slow, according to Linda Backlund, newly appointed Vice CEO at Tommy Nordbergh Åkeri.

We at Tommy Nordbergh are at the top when it comes to the percentage of female drivers, but we need to become more, many more, Linda continues. Unfortunately, many still have an outdated view of the trucking profession and the haulage industry. We want to demonstrate that much has changed in recent years. Today, the trucking profession is much more than just long journeys, heavy lifting and fast food at a roadside pub. The vehicles are modern, the routes are varied and today we have all the aids needed for our employees to have a sustainable workday.

In the logistics industry, gender equality has come further than in the haulage industry, so there is still much to be done in the sector. We are just at the beginning, but we see and experience change. It’s encouraging that the number of female applicants to the transport programme has reached a record high of 34%.

It’s exciting to see more women discovering the driving profession, but we need more. In order to succeed in attracting even more girls, we need to improve the dissemination of information about the significant advantages within the haulage industry. On average, 83 percent of all transport students get a job immediately after graduation, indicating that we need many more in the industry.

There is a significant shortage of professional drivers, both in Sweden and internationally. The Transport Union’s Occupational and Work Environment Committee’s long-term assessment is that 50 000 new truck drivers are needed in Sweden over the next ten years. There, women can play a significant and important role.

The truck in the picture is starting to operate between Skåne and Stockholm and is a tribute to our team’s women here at Tommy Nordbergh Åkeri. It’s also a welcome to more women in the haulage industry, both in the cab and in the office, explains Linda. It is also a call to both those who are faced with their career choice, want to start a new career or are already one of our colleagues in the industry – help us change! Our journey is equitable, sustainable, and firmly rooted in our organisation.

I will be the driving force in this development, concludes Linda, who during her seven years at Tommy Nordbergh has seen the significant benefits of having female drivers. They are calmer, more meticulous, and more cautious on the road. Moreover, a gender-equitable organisation thrives better.