Women remain significantly underrepresented in South Africa’s trucking industry, making up just over four percent of commercial truck drivers despite growing calls to diversify the country’s transport workforce.
While more women are entering the broader transport and logistics sector, industry leaders say there is still a long road ahead when it comes to breaking barriers behind the wheel and in senior leadership positions.
According to figures cited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport South Africa (CILTSA), women account for around 28% of South Africa’s transport and logistics workforce. However, in the road freight sector, just over 4% of commercial truck drivers are women. Reports referenced by the Vaal University of Technology also indicate that women hold fewer than one in four senior leadership positions across the transport and logistics industries.
Despite these challenges, there are signs of progress. Statistics South Africa reports that the proportion of black African women holding a driver’s licence increased from 9.6% in 2013 to 13.4% in 2020, suggesting that more women are gaining access to opportunities traditionally dominated by men.
The industry believes that increasing female participation is about more than improving representation. With South Africa’s logistics sector facing infrastructure constraints, port congestion, skills shortages and rapid technological change, attracting and developing more women is increasingly being seen as part of the solution to building a stronger and more resilient supply chain.
One initiative aimed at driving that change is the fourth Women in Logistics, Transport and Supply Chain Empowerment Conference (WECON 2026), which will be hosted by CILTSA on 18 September 2026 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.
Held under the theme “Resilience Reimagined: Leading Through Disruption,” the conference will bring together professionals from transport, logistics, warehousing, procurement and supply chain management, along with entrepreneurs, students, educators and policymakers.
CILTSA Brand Ambassador Shevon Kotiah said the event will focus on equipping women with the skills, networks and confidence needed to lead organisations through the challenges currently facing the logistics industry.
The programme will cover topics including the future of South African logistics, building disruption-ready transport businesses, strengthening supply chain competitiveness, professional development and career progression. Delegates will also have access to the Imbokodo Hub, an exhibition and networking space designed to connect professionals with industry partners, while a mentorship matchmaking initiative aims to foster long-term relationships between experienced leaders and those entering the sector.
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Although women continue to make gains across the transport industry, the low percentage of female truck drivers highlights how much work remains to be done. Industry stakeholders hope that greater investment in training, mentorship and leadership opportunities will encourage more women to pursue careers behind the wheel, in operations and in executive positions.
As South Africa works to strengthen its transport and logistics network, many believe that expanding opportunities for women will be essential to addressing skills shortages and building a more resilient industry for the future.
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