Volvo Trucks South Africa has taken another decisive step towards reshaping the country’s logistics workforce by donating a new FH440 truck-tractor unit to the Commercial Training Academy (CTA).
This vehicle will be used in the academy’s women truck driver development programmes, a continuation of Volvo’s Iron Women initiative that has already trained 556 women since 2019.
The current intake of 14 women is enrolled in a year-long programme covering vehicle operation, load management, business principles and EyeGym, which sharpens brain, eye and hand coordination. Despite transport contributing around 6.5% to employment creation in South Africa, women remain underrepresented, accounting for only 22% of those employed in the sector.
“Women represent a largely untapped talent pool, and since the inception of Iron Women, we have seen that more and more fleets are now actively recruiting female drivers,” explains Onica Ndlovu, Director Commercial Offer at Volvo Trucks South Africa. She adds that female drivers serve as visible role models in communities where girls are often steered away from technical or physical careers. “It shifts perceptions, for employers, communities, and the next generation of girls watching.”
Fleet operator feedback has consistently highlighted that women drivers tend to have fewer accidents, handle cargo more carefully and demonstrate stronger communication with dispatch and clients. “Women drivers have shown to be extremely resilient. They are not afraid to work hard, and often under tough conditions and long hours, to ultimately transport loads safely and efficiently,” says Onica. For many, truck driving represents a path to financial independence that bypasses traditional qualification barriers.
Nicci Scott, Founder and Director of CTA, has long championed women in trucking. “We believe in creating social upliftment for talented women by closing the gap through quality training and practical experience,” she says. “But this is more than just a training initiative, it is a strategic talent pipeline.”
She stresses the importance of industry-spec equipment: “The support from a company of Volvo Trucks’ calibre is vital because it doesn’t help women or the industry to train on equipment that isn’t industry-spec.” For Nicci, truck driving is a high-stakes profession requiring technical precision and mental fortitude. “We are moving past the narratives of ‘male-dominated fields’ and focusing on performance,” she concludes.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the automotive industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the South African motor sector forward.
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