According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) , last year the participation of women in the transport sector was 27.4 percent . In turn, data from the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) detailed that Mexico occupies the 33rd place out of 146 countries, with a score of 76.3 for the gender gap, which is mainly driven by discrimination against women.
For its part, the Basic Statistics of Federal Auto Transport 2023 showed that of the 708,930 current license applications, 0.8% were requested by women . That is, according to data from the General Directorate of Federal Auto Transport (DGAF) , in Mexico, 5,450 current licenses were issued for female operators, of which 78.7% were requested for cargo vehicles, which was equivalent to 4,289 licenses, corresponding to 0.6% nationally.
In this context, during the Panel “Gender gap in the motor transport industry”, held at the First Forum of Women Leaders of Motor Transport 2024, Paola Moncada, president and co-founder of the Association of Women Cargo Vehicle Operators (AMO) , highlighted that the lack of job opportunities for women operators is an issue that must be addressed, since, despite the fact that they comply with the relevant training and have a driver’s license, few companies are those that bet on hiring them, because “they are a woman and have no experience.”
In this regard, she commented that it is important for more companies to join together so that opportunities are equal, defined by capabilities and performance. She added that unfortunately “there has always been sexism and negative comments, however, it is important not to validate the comments and focus on professionalization and continuous training ,” she said.
For her part, Montserrat González Amador, executive director of planning and development at the DGAF of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) , agreed with Moncada that one of the obstacles to women joining the workforce of freight transport companies is precisely their openness to female talent.
González Amador explained that one of the strategies that the DGAF has implemented to stimulate the training of female operators is to support the opening of training centers in the country , along with the dignification of the profession.
Although the numbers are low at the operational level of the units, they are on the rise at the business level. Claudia Sánchez Porras, general director of the National Chamber of Cargo Transport (Canacar) , explained that 11% of the members of the board of directors of the organization are women. “It may seem like a small amount, but it is a big step considering that in previous administrations there were almost no women,” she said.
Sánchez Porras recalled that according to data from the International Road Transport Union (IRU), there is a shortage of 56 thousand operators in the country, a fact that represents a challenge, but also an opportunity to promote the training of women.
In this regard, she highlighted the importance of private initiative and the government supporting training projects such as Conductoras Scania , which has promoted professionalization and the development of driving skills, programs that more companies have joined, for example, Volkswagen Truck and Bus with the Mujeres Transformando project .
This year, the Baja California government has launched a training project that aims to professionalize 100 women by the end of 2024.
Finally, the president and co-founder of AMO pointed out that some factors to encourage more women to join the profession of operators are: infrastructure in companies and distribution centers, promoting policies of respect and good practices, but above all having safety on the roads.
