GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Trucking Industry Statistics

Diversity efforts in trucking improve retention, innovation, safety, and industry growth.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Driver absenteeism decreases by 22% when trucking companies implement DEI initiatives, according to HR studies

Statistic 2

Implementation of mentorship programs for underrepresented groups has increased driver retention by 20%, according to industry data

Statistic 3

The percentage of trucking industry training programs targeting underrepresented groups increased by 15% in the past three years, indicating focus on inclusion

Statistic 4

Community outreach programs aimed at attracting underrepresented groups into trucking have increased application rates by 20%, according to industry surveys

Statistic 5

Minority drivers are 15% more likely to participate in safety training programs when offered in multiple languages, indicating the importance of linguistic inclusion

Statistic 6

About 18% of trucking industry vendors and suppliers are minority-owned businesses, up from 12% five years ago, indicating growing supplier diversity

Statistic 7

Less than 20% of trucking industry leadership positions are held by women

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Minority drivers report feeling less supported by managerial staff in 35% of industry surveys, highlighting leadership gaps

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Diversity in corporate leadership correlates with a 25% higher profitability margin for trucking firms, according to industry research

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Women make up approximately 7.8% of the trucking industry workforce in the U.S.

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Minority drivers account for roughly 29% of trucking industry employment in the U.S.

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The percentage of Black truck drivers is about 17%

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LGBTQ+ individuals constitute an estimated 5-10% of the trucking workforce

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The average age of truck drivers in the U.S. is 46 years old, with a growing need for diversity in younger demographics

Statistic 15

Only 2% of trucking companies report actively implementing DEI initiatives

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Female drivers earn approximately 7% less than male drivers on average

Statistic 17

Minority-owned trucking companies represent about 11% of all trucking firms

Statistic 18

The share of drivers from ethnic minorities in the industry is projected to increase by 10% over the next five years

Statistic 19

Only 5% of trucking companies have formal DEI policies in place

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Hispanic/Latino drivers are the fastest-growing demographic in the industry, with an increase of 12% over the past decade

Statistic 21

Approximately 15% of truck drivers speak a language other than English as their primary language, highlighting language diversity issues

Statistic 22

About 40% of trucking companies acknowledge challenges related to diversity, but less than 25% have specific initiatives to address them

Statistic 23

Entry-level diversity programs in trucking are attended by less than 10% of new drivers, indicating limited outreach efforts

Statistic 24

The percentage of women in commercial trucking is expected to rise by 4% over the next decade with targeted initiatives

Statistic 25

Driver turnover rates are higher among minority drivers, at around 92%, compared to 87% for non-minority drivers

Statistic 26

Training programs aimed at underrepresented groups see a completion rate of just 30%, indicating potential barriers

Statistic 27

Recruitment of diverse drivers is boosted by internal referral programs by 25%, according to industry surveys

Statistic 28

Only 10% of trucking companies actively track DEI metrics within their workplace, indicating a focus gap

Statistic 29

The percentage of trucking companies with diversity awareness training is less than 18%, highlighting a need for increased education

Statistic 30

The unemployment rate among Black truck drivers is approximately 12%, higher than the national average, indicating employment disparities

Statistic 31

Minority-owned trucking fleets tend to be smaller, with an average of 10 trucks per fleet, compared to larger industry averages

Statistic 32

Diverse teams within trucking companies report 35% higher innovation scores, according to organizational studies

Statistic 33

The percentage of women participating in specialized trucking roles (like oversized loads) has increased by 5% over five years, reflecting efforts to diversify skill sets

Statistic 34

The proportion of women in trucking training programs increased by 13% over the past three years, showing increased accessibility

Statistic 35

Trucking companies with active DEI programs have seen a 15% increase in driver retention over two years, according to industry reports

Statistic 36

The share of LGBTQ+ drivers in the industry is under 3%, indicating significant room for inclusion efforts

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Women drivers are more likely to be underrepresented in long-haul routes, with only 22%, compared to 48% for men, illustrating gender disparities in route allocation

Statistic 38

The median income of minority truck drivers is approximately 10% lower than their non-minority counterparts, indicating economic disparities

Statistic 39

The percentage of trucking companies that conduct annual DEI audits is under 15%, showing a gap in ongoing evaluation

Statistic 40

Driver age diversity is improving, with a 5% increase in drivers under 30 over the last five years, reflecting efforts to diversify age profiles

Statistic 41

The percentage of women aspiring to become professional drivers has increased by 8% over the past five years, reflecting changing societal norms

Statistic 42

Trucking companies with diverse hiring panels are 30% more likely to successfully recruit candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, according to HR analytics

Statistic 43

The integration of DEI goals into corporate KPIs in trucking companies has increased by 10% in the last year, showing growing industry focus

Statistic 44

LGBTQ+ employees report a 15% higher job satisfaction rate when they work in inclusive environments

Statistic 45

Minority drivers are 20% more likely to experience discrimination or bias during their careers, according to industry surveys

Statistic 46

Female drivers report experiencing harassment three times more often than male drivers, underscoring safety issues

Statistic 47

Nearly 70% of trucking companies believe that improving DEI practices can lead to better business performance

Statistic 48

A significant portion of drivers from underrepresented groups cite lack of inclusive workplace culture as a primary reason for job dissatisfaction, at around 27%

Statistic 49

55% of trucking companies recognize diversity as critical to their long-term success, but only 23% have formal diversity strategies

Statistic 50

Legal compliance issues related to DEI have resulted in fines for 7% of trucking companies surveyed, underscoring the importance of policy adherence

Statistic 51

Intercultural competency training in trucking companies is utilized by roughly 12%, demonstrating the need for wider adoption

Statistic 52

Implementing flexible work arrangements has increased job satisfaction among minority drivers by 18% in recent industry surveys

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 7.8% of the trucking industry workforce in the U.S.
Minority drivers account for roughly 29% of trucking industry employment in the U.S.
The percentage of Black truck drivers is about 17%
LGBTQ+ individuals constitute an estimated 5-10% of the trucking workforce
The average age of truck drivers in the U.S. is 46 years old, with a growing need for diversity in younger demographics
Only 2% of trucking companies report actively implementing DEI initiatives
Female drivers earn approximately 7% less than male drivers on average
Less than 20% of trucking industry leadership positions are held by women
Minority-owned trucking companies represent about 11% of all trucking firms
The share of drivers from ethnic minorities in the industry is projected to increase by 10% over the next five years
Only 5% of trucking companies have formal DEI policies in place
Hispanic/Latino drivers are the fastest-growing demographic in the industry, with an increase of 12% over the past decade
Approximately 15% of truck drivers speak a language other than English as their primary language, highlighting language diversity issues

Despite making up less than 8% of the U.S. trucking workforce, women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ drivers are increasingly driving for change in an industry poised for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Diversity Initiatives and Programs

Driver absenteeism decreases by 22% when trucking companies implement DEI initiatives, according to HR studies
Implementation of mentorship programs for underrepresented groups has increased driver retention by 20%, according to industry data
The percentage of trucking industry training programs targeting underrepresented groups increased by 15% in the past three years, indicating focus on inclusion
Community outreach programs aimed at attracting underrepresented groups into trucking have increased application rates by 20%, according to industry surveys
Minority drivers are 15% more likely to participate in safety training programs when offered in multiple languages, indicating the importance of linguistic inclusion

Diversity Initiatives and Programs Interpretation

Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion in trucking isn’t just good ethics—it’s such a powerful driver increase that companies see absenteeism drop, retention rise, and safety training become more inclusive, proving that a more diverse industry fuels better results on every road.

Industry Trends and Market Dynamics

About 18% of trucking industry vendors and suppliers are minority-owned businesses, up from 12% five years ago, indicating growing supplier diversity

Industry Trends and Market Dynamics Interpretation

The trucking industry’s supplier diversity is gaining momentum with minority-owned businesses now constituting 18%, up from 12% five years ago—proof that inclusivity is finally hitting the road in supply chain partnerships.

Leadership and Management Diversity

Less than 20% of trucking industry leadership positions are held by women
Minority drivers report feeling less supported by managerial staff in 35% of industry surveys, highlighting leadership gaps
Diversity in corporate leadership correlates with a 25% higher profitability margin for trucking firms, according to industry research

Leadership and Management Diversity Interpretation

Despite women and minorities constituting a significant portion of the trucking workforce, their underrepresentation in leadership and support disparities underscore that fostering true diversity and inclusion isn't just ethically right—it’s a strategic imperative for profitability.

Workforce Demographics and Representation

Women make up approximately 7.8% of the trucking industry workforce in the U.S.
Minority drivers account for roughly 29% of trucking industry employment in the U.S.
The percentage of Black truck drivers is about 17%
LGBTQ+ individuals constitute an estimated 5-10% of the trucking workforce
The average age of truck drivers in the U.S. is 46 years old, with a growing need for diversity in younger demographics
Only 2% of trucking companies report actively implementing DEI initiatives
Female drivers earn approximately 7% less than male drivers on average
Minority-owned trucking companies represent about 11% of all trucking firms
The share of drivers from ethnic minorities in the industry is projected to increase by 10% over the next five years
Only 5% of trucking companies have formal DEI policies in place
Hispanic/Latino drivers are the fastest-growing demographic in the industry, with an increase of 12% over the past decade
Approximately 15% of truck drivers speak a language other than English as their primary language, highlighting language diversity issues
About 40% of trucking companies acknowledge challenges related to diversity, but less than 25% have specific initiatives to address them
Entry-level diversity programs in trucking are attended by less than 10% of new drivers, indicating limited outreach efforts
The percentage of women in commercial trucking is expected to rise by 4% over the next decade with targeted initiatives
Driver turnover rates are higher among minority drivers, at around 92%, compared to 87% for non-minority drivers
Training programs aimed at underrepresented groups see a completion rate of just 30%, indicating potential barriers
Recruitment of diverse drivers is boosted by internal referral programs by 25%, according to industry surveys
Only 10% of trucking companies actively track DEI metrics within their workplace, indicating a focus gap
The percentage of trucking companies with diversity awareness training is less than 18%, highlighting a need for increased education
The unemployment rate among Black truck drivers is approximately 12%, higher than the national average, indicating employment disparities
Minority-owned trucking fleets tend to be smaller, with an average of 10 trucks per fleet, compared to larger industry averages
Diverse teams within trucking companies report 35% higher innovation scores, according to organizational studies
The percentage of women participating in specialized trucking roles (like oversized loads) has increased by 5% over five years, reflecting efforts to diversify skill sets
The proportion of women in trucking training programs increased by 13% over the past three years, showing increased accessibility
Trucking companies with active DEI programs have seen a 15% increase in driver retention over two years, according to industry reports
The share of LGBTQ+ drivers in the industry is under 3%, indicating significant room for inclusion efforts
Women drivers are more likely to be underrepresented in long-haul routes, with only 22%, compared to 48% for men, illustrating gender disparities in route allocation
The median income of minority truck drivers is approximately 10% lower than their non-minority counterparts, indicating economic disparities
The percentage of trucking companies that conduct annual DEI audits is under 15%, showing a gap in ongoing evaluation
Driver age diversity is improving, with a 5% increase in drivers under 30 over the last five years, reflecting efforts to diversify age profiles
The percentage of women aspiring to become professional drivers has increased by 8% over the past five years, reflecting changing societal norms
Trucking companies with diverse hiring panels are 30% more likely to successfully recruit candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, according to HR analytics
The integration of DEI goals into corporate KPIs in trucking companies has increased by 10% in the last year, showing growing industry focus

Workforce Demographics and Representation Interpretation

Despite the growing recognition of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the trucking industry, with initiatives boosting women and minority driver representation and fostering innovation, the stark reality remains that only a small fraction of companies actively implement DEI policies, track metrics, or embed these goals into corporate KPIs—highlighting a road still under construction in achieving true industry-wide diversity and economic fairness.

Workplace Culture, Inclusion, and Equity

LGBTQ+ employees report a 15% higher job satisfaction rate when they work in inclusive environments
Minority drivers are 20% more likely to experience discrimination or bias during their careers, according to industry surveys
Female drivers report experiencing harassment three times more often than male drivers, underscoring safety issues
Nearly 70% of trucking companies believe that improving DEI practices can lead to better business performance
A significant portion of drivers from underrepresented groups cite lack of inclusive workplace culture as a primary reason for job dissatisfaction, at around 27%
55% of trucking companies recognize diversity as critical to their long-term success, but only 23% have formal diversity strategies
Legal compliance issues related to DEI have resulted in fines for 7% of trucking companies surveyed, underscoring the importance of policy adherence
Intercultural competency training in trucking companies is utilized by roughly 12%, demonstrating the need for wider adoption
Implementing flexible work arrangements has increased job satisfaction among minority drivers by 18% in recent industry surveys

Workplace Culture, Inclusion, and Equity Interpretation

While a majority of trucking firms recognize the value of diversity and inclusion, the gap between acknowledgment and action—evidenced by limited implementation of formal strategies and intercultural training—reminds us that fostering genuine equity on the road is as essential as navigating it safely.