The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has agreed on a new policy framework aimed at increasing the number of women working across the global road transport sector, following its annual general meeting in Geneva last week.
At the AGM, members of the organisation, including the UK’s Road Haulage Association (RHA), backed the introduction of a “Charter for Women in Road Transport”, designed to improve recruitment, retention and career progression for women in logistics and transport roles. The initiative comes amid ongoing concerns about workforce shortages and the need to make the sector more attractive and inclusive, with a particular focus on removing barriers that may discourage women from entering or remaining in the industry.
The charter sets out six guiding principles intended to support greater gender balance across the sector:
1. Neutral recruitment practices: Encourage clear job descriptions and hiring processes that attract applicants regardless of gender.
2. Equal access to development: Ensure training and progression opportunities are available to all employees.
3. Fair pay structures: Promote equal pay for equal work, based on role, skills and experience rather than gender.
4. Work-life balance support: Include policies to support employees during key life stages, such as returning to work after maternity leave.
5. Clear grievance procedures: Provide transparent systems for reporting workplace issues such as bullying or harassment.
6. Safer working environments: Improve facilities such as depots, parking areas and terminals to ensure they are secure, accessible and suitable for all workers, with consideration for women’s needs.
The IRU said the charter builds on previous work analysing labour shortages and workforce demographics in the transport sector, with the aim of improving both recruitment and long-term retention. Evidence cited by the organisation aligns with findings from an International Transport Forum (ITF) report, which highlighted that women currently make up only around 12% of workers in transport and storage roles globally.
That report also argued that increasing female participation in transport is key to improving efficiency, safety and sustainability across the sector. It concluded that a more gender-balanced workforce can strengthen decision-making and deliver wider benefits for both businesses and transport users.