More women at the wheel ‘will address driver shortage’
All-women-run haulage and logistics training provider NTP Services has launched a campaign to encourage more women to enter the industry, in a bid to help address the goods vehicle driver shortage.
According to Channel 4’s 2012 documentary MotherTruckers, only two per cent of the UK’s lorry drivers are female – but NTP says it has detected a distinct increase in the number of women coming into the haulage industry.
The training firm has recently teamed up with MotherTruckers, the nationwide women truckers’ club, and Lincolnshire training school Priestley LGV, in a bid to incentivise potential applicants.
Daryl Moore, business development manager at the firm, said: “From women truckers, through transport management to haulage company owners, there are more and more women becoming a force to be reckoned with.
“There are no jobs that aren’t suitable for women nowadays, and we along with MotherTruckers and Priestley LGV want to offer women the opportunity to get into a fun and rewarding industry.”
Director Kimbly Mackman added: “Women are becoming a large part of the industry, so we at NTP Services have decided to boost this trend and are actively seeking more women to become part of this vital industry.”
NTP Services, which Moore and Mackman run alongside training manager Kelly Moore, offers a range of services including shunter and banksman training, Driver CPC, first aid and operator licence training.
Wendy and Les Priestley, from Priestley LGV, are known for encouraging women into the industry, including Selina Derry (pictured) who passed her LGV Class 1 on 11 October.
Following the success of the Channel 4 documentary, Wendy Priestley founded the MotherTruckers – Lady Truckers Club, which has since been offering guidance and support for women entering the industry.
Wendy Priestley said: “This is a very exciting time for us, joining forces with NTP and helping women get into the industry. We are all ready to make 2015 the year of women in haulage.”
