Women In Trucking (WIT) President/CEO Ellen Voie and Board Director, Jan Hamblin of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. recently visited the White House to discuss the issue of harassment in the trucking industry. They met with Lynn Rosenthal, White House Adviser on Violence Against Women and Judge Susan Carbon, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice.
The meeting was facilitated with the assistance of Marlise Streitmatter, Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Secretary LaHood and a member of the White House Council on Women and Girls. Anne Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also attended the meeting.
The discussion focused on concerns expressed by female professional drivers who have been the target of harassment in their jobs. “In order to attract women into driving careers, we need to make the environment safe and hospitable for all drivers,” said Voie, “and unfortunately the trucking industry is still a man’s domain and some behavior is unacceptable.”
Women In Trucking Association’s mission includes addressing obstacles that might keep women from succeeding in the industry, and harassment is one of the obstacles being addressed. A toll free crisis line was a point of discussion and will be pursued as a future goal.
“This meeting was only the beginning,” Voie said, “and we are truly honored to have the attention of the White House in addressing the issue of harassment in the trucking industry.” Hamblin shared copies of the Anti-Harassment Employment Guide prepared by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. and provided free to corporate Women In Trucking members.
Women In Trucking was established in 2007 to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 14 percent of its members are men who support the mission. For more information visit www.WomenInTrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.
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