Women in Truck Driving: Closing Australia's Driver Shortage GUIDE

Published: September 24, 2026

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Australia does not have enough truck drivers. Right now, there are about 28,000 driving jobs with no one to fill them.

At the same time, women make up less than 7 out of every 100 truck drivers on the road. That is a big problem, but it is also a big opportunity.

This article looks at why Australia is short on drivers, why so few women get behind the wheel, and what is being done to fix it. It also covers how to become a truck driver, step by step.

Australia's truck driver shortage, in plain numbers

Trucks carry most of what Australia eats, wears, and builds with. Food, fuel, medicine, and building supplies all move by truck, especially in country areas where there is no train line.

But fewer people are choosing to drive trucks for a living. Here is what the numbers show.

26,000 to 28,000 truck driving jobs are empty across Australia right now, based on figures from the International Road Transport Union.

1 in 5 drivers is set to retire soon. About 21 per cent of today's drivers are expected to stop driving within the next few years.

More freight is coming. The amount of freight moved by truck is expected to grow by up to 80 per cent by 2050.

The average driver is getting older. The typical truck driver is 45 years old, compared to 39 across all jobs in Australia, according to the government's Jobs and Skills Australia data.

More freight is coming. More drivers are retiring. And not enough new drivers are joining to take their place.

Women could help fill the gap, but few get the chance

Women make up about half of Australia's population. But very few of them drive trucks for a job.

The government's own data shows women make up just 6 out of every 100 truck drivers in Australia. Across all jobs in the country, women make up 48 out of every 100 workers.

Other industry groups put the number of female truck drivers a little higher, closer to 7 out of every 100. Either way, the message is the same.

Women are one of the biggest untapped groups of workers the trucking industry has. If more women drove trucks, Australia would be a lot closer to solving its driver shortage.

What stops women from becoming truck drivers

A study paid for by Volvo Group Australia asked women what holds them back. The answers were not about wanting the job less. They were about barriers in the way.

They never thought about it. About 76 out of 100 women said they had simply never considered truck driving as a job option.
Getting the right licence is confusing. About 36 out of 100 women were not sure how to get started with licensing.
They worried they were not strong enough. About 34 out of 100 women worried the job needed more strength than they had. Modern trucks and equipment do most of the heavy lifting.
The industry can feel like a boys' club. About 33 out of 100 women pointed to workplace culture as a turn-off.

Missing facilities also matter

The International Road Transport Union has raised another simple but real problem. Many depots and rest stops still do not have proper toilets, showers, or changing rooms for women.

Small things like this can decide whether a woman stays in the job or leaves it.

Getting a licence is only half the battle

Even women who do get licensed often struggle to find their first job. Many employers want drivers who already have experience, but the only way to get experience is by working.

This leaves many newly licensed women stuck, unable to get hired without experience they cannot get without a job.

What the industry is doing to fix it

Groups across Australia are working to get more women driving trucks. Here is some of what is already happening.

Foot in the Door

Women in Trucking Australia (WiTA) runs a program called Foot in the Door. It connects newly licensed women with employers and mentors, so they are not left to find work on their own.

Over three years, the program helped 52 women finish training. Of those, 8 out of 10 went on to get a real driving job.

In 2026, WiTA released a bigger plan to grow this work across the country. It calls for clearer paths from licence to job, better facilities for women, and a new agency to help match women with driving jobs.

Government and industry partnerships

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has teamed up with Transport Women Australia Limited to bring more people, including more women, into the industry. Volvo Trucks, WomenCan Australia, and Wodonga TAFE have also launched a joint program offering training, licensing, and job placement support for women.

Every one of these programs points to the same lesson. Training alone is not enough. Women need a clear path from licence to a real, lasting job.

How TDT helps you get hired, not just licensed

At Transport Driver Training (TDT), we see this gap every day. Plenty of people, women included, want to build a career in trucking. Our job is to make sure your training actually gets you hired.

We teach you the job, not just the test. You will learn how to handle loads and work with different trailers, not just what you need to pass your licence test.
We make the licence path clear. We walk you through each step, so you always know what licence to get next.
We build your confidence. Many women tell us the hardest part is being taken seriously in a male-dominated industry. Good training helps with that too.
We train drivers across Victoria. Our graduates go on to work in freight, buses, and heavy haulage all over the state.

When you train with TDT, you should walk into your first job interview ready to be judged on your skills, not on assumptions about who you are.

How to become a truck driver in Victoria, step by step

Becoming a truck driver follows a clear set of steps. Here is how it works.

Get your full car licence first. You need to hold a full, unrestricted car licence for a set amount of time before you can apply for a truck licence.
Pick your first truck licence. Most people start with a Light Rigid (LR) or Medium Rigid (MR) licence, depending on the size of truck they want to drive.
Move up through the licence levels. Over time, you can work up to Heavy Rigid (HR), Heavy Combination (HC), and then Multi-Combination (MC) for road trains and B-doubles.
Add extra licences if you need them. Some jobs need extra tickets, like a Dangerous Goods licence or a Bus Driver licence.
Get trained for the real job, not just the test. Good training covers load handling and trailer types, not just what you need to pass.
Get support finding your first job. Programs like Foot in the Door exist because this step is often the hardest one to do alone.

Closing the gap helps everyone, not just women.

Australia cannot fill 28,000 empty driving jobs by only hiring the same people it always has. Getting more women into truck driving, with real training and real support, is one of the fastest ways to fix the shortage.

If you are thinking about a career in trucking, TDT can help you get the skills and licences you need, no matter your background.

Sources: International Road Transport Union Global Truck Driver Shortage Report and IRU Newsroom (2026); Jobs and Skills Australia occupation data for truck drivers; Women in Trucking Australia (WiTA) and the WiT Report 2026; National Heavy Vehicle Regulator; Volvo Group Australia driver research; Big Rigs and ABC News reporting.

Frequently asked questions

How many truck drivers is Australia short of?

About 26,000 to 28,000 truck driving jobs are empty across Australia right now, based on figures from the International Road Transport Union. The gap is likely to grow. About 1 in 5 drivers is expected to retire within the next few years, and the amount of freight moved by truck could grow by up to 80 per cent by 2050.

How many truck drivers in Australia are women?

Very few. Government data shows women make up about 6 out of every 100 truck drivers in Australia. Other industry groups put the number closer to 7 out of every 100. Across all jobs in the country, women make up 48 out of every 100 workers.

Why do so few women become truck drivers?

It is mostly about barriers, not about wanting the job less. In a study paid for by Volvo Group Australia, about 76 out of 100 women said they had never considered truck driving as a job. Others said getting the right licence was confusing, worried they were not strong enough, or were put off by workplace culture. Many depots and rest stops also still lack proper toilets, showers and changing rooms for women.

Do you need to be physically strong to drive a truck?

Not in the way many people think. About 34 out of 100 women in the Volvo Group Australia study worried the job needed more strength than they had. Modern trucks and equipment do most of the heavy lifting. Good training matters far more.

What licence do I need to start driving trucks in Victoria?

You need a full, unrestricted car licence first, and you must hold it for a set amount of time before you can apply for a truck licence. Most people then start with a Light Rigid (LR) or Medium Rigid (MR) licence. Over time you can move up to Heavy Rigid (HR), Heavy Combination (HC) and then Multi-Combination (MC).

Is it hard to get a first truck driving job with no experience?

It can be. Many employers want drivers who already have experience, but the only way to get experience is by working. This is why it helps to choose training that covers the real job, not just the licence test, and to look for programs that connect new drivers with employers.

Are there programs that help women get into truck driving?

Yes. Women in Trucking Australia (WiTA) runs Foot in the Door, which connects newly licensed women with employers and mentors. Over three years it helped 52 women finish training, and 8 out of 10 of them went on to get a driving job. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has also teamed up with Transport Women Australia Limited, and Volvo Trucks, WomenCan Australia and Wodonga TAFE have launched a joint program with training, licensing and job placement support for women.

How does TDT help new drivers get hired?

TDT teaches you the job, not just the test. You learn how to handle loads and work with different trailers, and we walk you through each licence step so you always know what comes next. We train drivers across Victoria, and our graduates go on to work in freight, buses and heavy haulage.

Chris Davis

Head of Sales & Business Development

Chris writes about trucking, logistics, and transport industry trends.

Great detail and experience very clear with instructions and rules to follow

Brad

2 November 2026

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River Man

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29 October 2026

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Martin Zigashane

27 October 2026

I had a great experience learning with David Allan for my HR driving licence. David was an excellent instructor who explained everything clearly and made me feel confident and comfortable on the road. He was patient, professional, and supportive throughout the training, making the whole experience smooth and stress-free. I really appreciate his guidance and would highly recommend David to anyone looking to get their HR licence. Thanks, David, for the great training and support! 🚛👏

Brendan Lawler

A big thank you to Tran at TDT Training for helping me with my HR truck licence. Getting behind the wheel of a heavy rigid truck can be pretty daunting, but Tran’s calm approach, clear explanations and practical advice made a real difference to my confidence. He was patient, approachable and happy to go over things until they clicked, with a strong focus on safe driving and good habits. I really appreciated having someone who could put me at ease while still keeping me focused on what I needed to learn. Highly recommend Tran and TDT Training to anyone looking to get their truck licence. Thanks again, Tran!

Jye Murray

26 October 2026

TDT TRAINING MAKES THE PROCESS COMFORTABLE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. YOU WONT FIND A BETTER TRAINER THAN DAVID ALLAN! IF YOU THOUGHT YOU DID, YOU’RE WRONG. GO SEE DAVID ALLAN AND THE GREAT TEAM AT TDT.

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20 October 2026

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19 October 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly Recommend David at TDT Sunshine! I booked my HR licence test through TDT Sunshine, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. Before this, I had never driven a truck, so I was quite nervous about the test. However, David guided me through everything in a very professional, patient, and easy-to-understand way. His teaching and guidance gave me the confidence and skills I needed to pass my HR test on the very first attempt. He explained everything clearly, helped me understand the truck properly, and made sure I felt prepared before the test. David is an excellent instructor who genuinely cares about his students’ success. I’m really thankful for his support and the way he taught me throughout the process. If you’re planning to get your HR licence at TDT Sunshine, I highly recommend booking with David. In my opinion, he is one of the best instructors there. If you want professional guidance and the confidence to pass your test, David is the person to go to! Thank you, David, for your excellent teaching and support!

Saffal Singh

15 October 2026