Independence, adventure or familiarity are three reasons that attract women who have served in the armed forces to the trucking industry – and so after six years of active duty in the U.S. Army and three years in the reserves, Charlette Cohee found herself back in the driver’s seat.

“I chose trucking after a series of dead-end jobs that barely paid more than minimum wage,” Cohee says. “I had experience with large vehicles, so I tried trucking.”

During her active duty, she was an 88M motor transport operator. Working in military logistics and transportation is becoming more common for military women, according to the Task Force Movement (TFM). In fact, 17.3% of women during active duty and 21.4% of women in the National Guard and Reserves have trucking roles, TFM says.

While women represent a significant number of truckers in the military, only 7.8% of U.S. civilian truck drivers are women, according to TFM.

Pathways from the Military to Trucking Careers

“When you’re driving in the military, you might just be working in a logistics space, where you’re driving a truck from one side of the base to the other,” says Elizabeth Murray-Belcaster, executive director at TFM, which partners with the Teamsters Union to train veterans in trucking on and off military installations.

“I remember when we started a program at Fort Sill: We had two women in that class and one of them was an ammunition specialist,” Belcaster says. “She was in charge of over $1 billion in ammunition. And the reason she chose to go into the trucking industry was because she wanted to see how it got to and from all the logistics that she saw underneath the umbrella she was responsible for. So, for a lot of reasons, that could be why they go in(to trucking).”

With a projected 60,000-100,000 driver shortage, the industry sees veterans as a highly qualified talent pool. A variety of programs, including the TFM-Teamsters program, provide pathways for this workforce. Community colleges across the country offer six-week Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) programs that also require 180-200 hours of training. And veterans like Cohee who gained trucking experience while serving their country may also take advantage of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Military Skills Test Waiver Program, which could fast track a CDL for drivers with two years of experience. Apprenticeships, scholarships and more are also available.

‘I Would Recommend that Women Do Their Research’

Before signing up, Belcaster urges potential drivers check the credibility of any program or offer.

“Vulnerable people transitioning out of the military think they’re going to school to get their CDL, and they’re actually getting 15 offers from trucking companies that want to lease them a truck, and they don’t understand what that looks like,” she says.

“Those are some of the things that we’re trying to correct, not only for women, but for all people,” she adds. “That is a that’s a very big problem in the trucking industry. It was a lot more so in 2011 and 2012. I think we have given transitioning service members and veterans the understanding of what the difference is between being the lessee of a truck, an owner-operator and an employee.”

The Oklahoma City-based Cohee went the employee route, and says she landed at her current company, Maverick, based in Arkansas, a few years into her career. Maverick named her 2022 Driver of the Year, and she now trains student drivers. In 2023, she was the first female driver for the company’s Salute truck, which displays a distinctive wrap that honors the nation’s military and history. See her pictured in front of the Salute truck in this article’s main image.

“I would recommend women do their research on a company by checking all resources to see what they have to offer and if women are happy working there,” she says.

Trucking Has an Entrepreneurship Route

Some drivers choose to the entrepreneurship route. Twenty percent of veterans are owners, according to the Minority Professional Truckers Association (MPTA), a nonprofit that helps people start and grow their business in the trucking industry.

Executive director Teresa Watson is a driver and owner herself, following in her father’s footsteps. She grew up shadowing him, got her own license in 2005 and has driven more than a million miles.

“If you want to start your trucking company, it’s best to understand what the driver goes through on a day-to-day basis,” Watson says. “You may be late, because you may be stuck in traffic, or there’s an incident or an accident that 10 miles down the road. It could be inclement weather.

“Understanding what a driver goes through helps you understand as a business owner, so that even if you’re not the driver, then you’ll have a better understanding,” she says. “That individual veteran, he or she can have that career path as they choose to in the trucking industry.”

Women Face Challenges in ‘Man’s Job’

Watson likes the travel, and Cohee says the adventure aspect of the job is appealing to her too. But, she has faced challenges.

“Some employers shy away from women, from my experience,” Cohee says. “This career still comes with gender discrimination. The majority opinion that this is a ‘man’s job.’ There are physical challenges, and your abilities are being questioned. I’m still asked by some places if I’m the driver.”

“It’s still considered a man’s industry,” Belcaster adds. “I think industry by industry, it is a tough industry to get into. But I think that there’s some promise for women who do go into it.”

There’s broad variety within truck driving such as the distance of the hauls, the types of trucks used, and the variety of products transported. Beyond driving, the evolution of what “trucking” entails is also opening up more opportunities, such as jobs that look at how companies can optimize for wear and tear on infrastructure, or how to manage emissions, efficiency, and traffic. These and other functions also incorporate the growing use of generative AI.

Trucking Industry Ebbs and Flows

Despite the increasing need for employees, Belcaster warns there will be ebbs and flows.

“Many of our Task Force Movement partners will tell you right now that they have a hiring freeze going on because there is a transportation recession,” she says. “But then you talk to some of my other partners from rock and tank lines, fuel truck drivers, tank truck drivers. They’re always looking for drivers. That never changes.

“So it depends on what space you’re in and how the companies are impacted by future tariffs,” Belcaster adds. “How does that impact the company, and what they can spend on a driver and how many drivers they can house within their industry to get the work of that industry done? And that looks a little bit different industry by industry, as well.

“It’s a very interesting time to be talking about veteran women and truck driving amid all that’s gone on (recently),” Belcaster says. “But you can’t look away. Trucks aren’t going away.”

Cohee says she’s certainly enjoying the job.

“I love what I do because it allows me independence and the opportunity to see different parts of the country,” she says. “There’s job security and I’m continuously learning. Be flexible and optimistic. Don’t be afraid to jump out here and see where it goes.”