Trucking HR Canada (THRC) is launching the Women’s Leadership Accord initiative at the Women with Drive Leadership Summit on March 6 in Toronto, aiming to recognize employers who are leading the way in creating inclusive workplaces for women in the trucking industry.

The Women’s Leadership Accord recognizes companies that are actively working to recruit, retain, and support women through gender equity, inclusivity, safety, and empowerment policies. It highlights organizations fostering women’s career growth while showcasing the industry as an attractive option for fulfilling careers.

The program is being piloted with several fleets that will receive their Women’s Leadership Accord certificates at ceremonies during the Women with Drive Leadership Summit and at the Western Women with Drive event in Calgary on April 30.

To join the Accord, employers have to sign up and commit to its overarching goals and demonstrate their initiatives supporting leadership, attraction and recruitment, retention, health and safety, and community engagement.

“We’re proud to be an inaugural signatory to the Women’s Leadership Accord,” said David Tumber, president and chief operating officer of Kriska Transportation Group, in a news release. “Attracting women is important to our future viability — not just our company, but to the industry as a whole. The Accord is an easy way to demonstrate what we’re doing to recruit, hire, train, and support women to thrive in their careers.”

Angela Splinter, CEO of THRC, added: “Thanks to the efforts already underway from forward-thinking employers, women employed in trucking and logistics increased by 27% in 2021 over 2016 — that’s 26,235 women joining our industry who recognize the opportunities for fulfilling careers in the sector.”

The Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada is partnering with THRC on the initiative, with the organization’s CEO Shelley Walker saying that the Accord as “a meaningful way to support companies that empower women — and shift general attitudes about women in the industry and beyond.”

Attendees at the Women with Drive event can learn more about the Accord at a special breakout session, while THRC continues to offer free tools and resources to help employers attract, recruit, and retain women in the trucking industry.