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May 08 2025

More women behind the wheel: Türkiye’s road to change

With driver shortages looming large, Türkiye’s trucking industry is hitting the brakes on gender imbalance.
Türkiye has 93,000 unfilled truck driver positions (17% of total positions) and only 1.4% of truck drivers are women.

 

What is being done to attract more women and tackle the shortage?

We asked Elif Nuhoglu, Chairperson of IRU member UND’s Women Working Group.

What is the role of Türkiye in global transport logistics?
Türkiye's central location links Central and Far East Asia, the Middle East and Europe, making it a vital transit route and playing a key role in the development of international transport corridors that pass through it.

However, Türkiye, like many other countries, is facing a chronic shortage of drivers. In this context, boosting the representation of women in the industry is key, not only for the advancement of the logistics sector itself but also for contributing to Türkiye's broader economic development.

 

How can we attract more women to the profession?
In May 2024, we established the UND Women Working Group, under the leadership of our Board of Directors, to underscore the vital contribution of women in logistics.

We have interviewed 18 female truck drivers since June 2024.

The insights shared during these conversations demonstrate the positive aspects of the profession, highlighting the inspiring narratives of resilient women who passionately pursue their careers.

The discussions also underscored significant challenges, such as long waiting times at borders and the lack of facilities for women in parking areas. Read more

 

Source: IRU