Recommendations of Women of Trucking Advisory Board spark action from FMCSA

The work of the Women of Trucking Advisory Board is now complete, with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration filing its final report to Congress regarding the board’s recommendations.

On Jan. 15, FMCSA submitted its report to Congress. This outlines the recommendations of the board, along with “any actions taken by the administrator to adopt the recommendations, or an explanation of the reasons for not adopting the recommendations.”

In its final report to FMCSA, the board presented the agency with 37 specific recommendations with the following goals:

• Priority recommendations to the government and the private sector
• Accountability and reporting harassment/assault/discrimination
• Recruitment and retention of women in the CMV industry
• Increasing opportunities for mentoring women in the CMV industry
• Training
• Women’s quality of life
• Development of a portal for women active in the CMV industry

In its report to Congress, the agency acknowledged the work of WOTAB, saying it “recognizes the unmet needs” the board’s recommendations seek to address.

“FMCSA supports WOTAB’s goal of increasing economic opportunities for women by elevating governmental and industry awareness of the issues facing women CMV drivers,” the agency’s final report says. “FMCSA and the commercial motor vehicle industry need to create meaningful opportunities for diverse women to participate in policy development in both the government and private sectors, including at the executive leadership level.”

During the board’s final meeting in November 2023, former FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson joined the group to share her support of its work.

At that time, Hutcheson said the agency already had begun to address some of the issues raised by WOTAB. One example Hutcheson gave was the creation of a safety hotline for female drivers to call when they feel that they are having an issue.

The agency said it had also started a Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment working group to “address sexual harassment and violence against women in the CMV industry, particularly drivers.”

In addition to establishing a hotline and working group, FMCSA has acted to increase regulatory enforcement regarding sexual assault against truckers. This past December, the agency published a Notice of Enforcement Policy reminding states of federal laws that require a commercial driver’s license holder be disqualified if convicted of a felony that involved using a commercial motor vehicle.

Looking ahead, the agency said it is currently developing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that “will seek information from stakeholders on how FMCSA can best improve driver training requirements to increase the awareness of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the CMV industry and enhance the physical safety of truck and motorcoach drivers and trainees.”

Additionally, FMCSA said it is collaborating with the Federal Highway Administration and the National Coalition on Truck Parking on “efforts to create safe truck parking opportunities” that align with the recommendations of the board.

Now with the report submitted to Congress, the board will terminate. OOIDA life member Joyce Brenny served as the WOTAB chair. She said the board’s work will have far-reaching impacts for women in the industry.

“Having a voice at the federal level will offer additional help to all in or considering the trucking industry for a career,” Brenny told Land Line. “It is obvious that knowledge is power, and the knowledge provided by WOTAB (as) industry experts will indeed make real changes, which will help in the future in the trucking industry.”

In its final report, FMCSA said it “would not have the responsibility for taking all the actions WOTAB recommends” but would remain committed to “facilitating industry discussions” with other federal, state and local government agencies.

Brenny said shedding light on the issues facing women in trucking and the experience she had as a member of the board are proud points in her 40-year trucking career.

“I feel strongly about offering opportunities for women and ensuring that we are transparent in the challenges of the trucking industry,” she said. “I will always feel finding the right people is by far the most important, and we are then obligated to offer a safe and encouraging environment for career success.” LL