Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial fleet management and supply chain management solutions, today announced that it has become a gold partner (highest level) of Women in Trucking Association (WIT), a non-profit organization established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry. Ryder Senior Director of Talent Acquisition Patrick Pendergast has also joined the organization as a member of its Board.

The partnership is about finding innovative solutions to attract more women to careers in transportation. By adding women to the ranks of the professional truck driving population, as well as demonstrating the achievements of women in leadership roles within the industry, the industry can help address a significant talent shortage. Doing so can also educate the marketplace about the important role that transportation plays in today’s economy.

Mr. Pendergast, who joined Ryder in 2010, is responsible for designing and executing staffing strategies and overseeing Ryder’s driver and technician recruiting program. He has more than 20 years of staffing and recruiting experience with a diverse background in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition.

“Women In Trucking does a phenomenal job of supporting and educating women in the trucking industry,” said Mr. Pendergast. “Ryder chooses to be affiliated with organizations like WIT because of their mission to attract the best talent to the industry, which is perfectly aligned with our recruiting and retention initiatives. I’m thrilled to be on their Board and confident that the relationship will foster collaboration and innovative ideas for the overall good of the trucking industry.”

With the continuous support of WIT and various OEMs, Ryder recently made available a custom vehicle design specification — the first of its kind in the industry — to better meet the needs of female drivers. The ergonomic vehicle spec includes features such as adjusted height and placement of cab grab handles, adjustable seatbelt shoulder straps, improved placement of dash cluster gauges, and better access to oil and coolant checks and fill ports. Ryder is committed to identifying truck design gaps and influencing improvements in future vehicle designs that make driving a more attractive career option for women.