A new initiative championed by the Commercial Transport Academy (CTA) aims to empower almost 1 000 women in the transport sector.

The Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport initiative comprises three structured programmes: CTA Excellence, Run With It and Iron Women.

Supported by the US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), it will train and mentor 120 female professionals, 300 entrepreneurs and 495 truck drivers over a three-year period.

CTA Excellence Programme
The CTA Excellence Programme aims to enrol female professionals.

“The CTA has collaborated with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) to design and implement a purpose-driven training solution that will inspire women to improve their knowledge, learn new skills and advance their management and leadership abilities, with the ultimate goal of remaining in the sector,” explains CTA CEO Nicci Scott.

Successful learners will be awarded the CILT International Diploma in Logistics and Transport.

Run With It
The Run With It programme is aimed at female entrepreneurs.

This programme will take in 300 women who own or operate businesses in the transport and transport business-related services industries.

This eight-month-long programme involves technical and personal mentoring, and will “enable women to develop a growth mindset, execute their business ideas and gain access to market networks”.

The programme has specifically been designed to support the development of women in the supply chain arena for the logistics and transport industry.

Iron Women Programme
This programme aims to upskill individuals who aspire to be truck drivers but do not have access to the financial resources needed to acquire a commercial truck driver’s licence.

This programme also assists new and existing drivers who lack confidence to secure employment, through enrolment in an advanced driver training programme.

The Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport programme is supported by USAID, Hollard, Volvo, Iron Women, Highway Heroes, Ctrack, Standard Bank and Onelogix/Trucklogix.

Academic partners include CILT and Commerce Edge.

“With women making up less than 1% of the workforce in South Africa’s transport sector, initiatives such as these are vital in transforming the landscape,” says Scott.

“For women to thrive, this needs to be accompanied by an industry-supported ecosystem for women in transport.”