YRC Worldwide Expands Partnership with Leading Transportation Industry Organization Women in Trucking, Inc.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- YRC Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: YRCW - News) announced today a partnership with Women in Trucking, Inc., a leading transportation industry organization established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize the obstacles they face. Through best-in-class programs and initiatives, YRC Worldwide and Women in Trucking aim to address the real and perceived barriers that exist in the transportation industry, particularly for women.
YRC Worldwide is proud to work collaboratively with Women in Trucking, said Jim Kissinger, YRC Worldwide Executive Vice President of Human Resources. By doing so, we're better able to explore and address the industry-wide misconceptions that have historically discouraged women from considering transportation as a career. As the LTL industry leader, we're genuinely committed to fostering a more diverse workforce.
The partnership includes:
-- Additional memberships for 25 female YRC Worldwide drivers to Women in Trucking. In addition, Maggie Peterson, a YRC professional driver, already serves as a Women in Trucking board member.
-- Joint development and administration of a national survey of women truck drivers on workplace issues such as driver training, safety, job satisfaction and other issues
-- Discussion with the travel center industry about the possibility of developing a scoring system for truck stops around the country detailing cleanliness, safety, and other relevant issues raised by the survey
-- Expansion of current recruiting programs to encourage the interest and hiring of women across a variety of positions, including dock workers and drivers
-- Improved training benchmarks and programs designed to improve hiring and the work environment for women
-- Development of information addressing safety issues for female truck drivers. Pamphlets will be available for use throughout the trucking industry, including truck stops and distribution to YRC Worldwide female drivers.
-- Outreach to major truck stops on interstate highways to encourage a more female-friendly environment, specifically improvements in cleanliness, safety, and bathroom/shower facilities
-- A continuing spotlight on the achievements of YRC Worldwide female drivers
In addition to the partnership with Women in Trucking, Kissinger added that YRC Worldwide intends to continue and improve support for minorities and veterans as well.
We are pleased to be a part of the YRC Worldwide initiatives to create a more driver-friendly environment for both men and women in the trucking industry, especially the issues that have been identified as priorities for women, said Ellen Voie, President and CEO of Women in Trucking, Inc. These include safety and security, convenience and amenities, but more importantly, these initiatives will help women find opportunities and success in a currently male-dominated industry.
YRC Worldwide has traditionally partnered with grassroots agencies, like Women in Trucking, to further company diversity goals, gain expert perspectives and ideas, and implement programs. One such program, Diversity Days, provides an opportunity for leaders of good faith agencies, like the YWCA and the NAACP, to visit YRC Worldwide facilities, talk with employees and get to know the company before recommending new recruits.
About Women in Trucking, Inc.
Women In Trucking, Inc. (WIT) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit association founded in 2007 by Ellen Voie as a means to encourage women to consider a career in the trucking industry, and to provide a platform to voice the successes and struggles of those women already in the male-dominated field. The organization's 1,300 members include corporations, trucking schools, drivers, non-driving individuals and students. Nearly 14 percent of the members are men. The board of directors consists of eleven women who hold influential roles within the industry.
About YRC Worldwide, Inc.
YRC Worldwide Inc., a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest transportation service providers in the world, is the holding company for a portfolio of successful brands including YRC, YRC Reimer, YRC Logistics, New Penn, Holland, Reddaway and Glen Moore. Building on the strength of its heritage brands, Yellow Transportation and Roadway, the enterprise provides global transportation services, transportation management solutions and logistics management. The portfolio of brands represents a comprehensive array of services for the shipment of industrial, commercial and retail goods domestically and internationally. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., YRC Worldwide employs approximately 53,000 people.