On the heels of International Women’s Day, Travel Centers of America (TA) announced new initiatives aimed at increasing site safety for guests and team members, highlighting the unique challenges faced by female drivers.

Women make up approximately 12% of professional drivers according to the 2023 Women in Trucking Index, and 43% of TA’s workforce. The company’s new campaign, “Inspire Inclusion,” focuses on “understanding and valuing women’s experiences and viewpoints, in an effort to create positive industry change,” said the company in a press release.

“Our sites serve as a home away from home for the millions of professional drivers in our nation and we are committed to ensuring they feel as safe and secure while visiting us as they do in their own home,” said Debi Boffa, CEO of TA. “Safety is our top priority, and we look forward to learning how we can foster an even safer environment for all travelers and our team members, regardless of gender.”

TA also launched a Women’s Safety Advisory Group to bring together trucking industry members to discuss safety enhancements from female perspectives. Though, the company noted, “any feedback and information received will be used to create safer sites for all guests and team members, regardless of gender.”

To experience life on the road firsthand, Debbie Shelton, retail operations support vice president at TA, will road-trip with Violet Helferich from ACE Doran Hauling & Rigging Co., a division of the Bennett Family of Companies, this summer. The two will spend a week driving from Oklahoma City to Brandon, South Dakota to load freight, and then onwards to a wind farm in the southern United States.

In February, TA celebrated reaching the milestone of 300 travel centers.