Volvo Malaysia’s Iron Women Programme Strengthens Economy By Empowering Female Truck Drivers

Volvo Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Volvo Trucks) is helping to advance Malaysia’s socio-economic development by empowering women in the logistics sector through its Volvo Iron Women programme. This initiative, supported by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development, aims to develop skilled female heavy-duty truck drivers, and recently celebrated the graduation of its first batch of 5 women as fully certified heavy-duty truck drivers.

“Volvo Iron Women has enjoyed much success globally and we are very excited to see the opportunities it will unlock with Malaysia as a pioneer of the programme in the Southeast Asia region,” said Volvo Trucks International, Vice President, Johan Selvén.

Anthony O’Connell, Managing Director of Volvo Malaysia, added, “The Volvo Iron Women programme is a testament of our commitment to educating women to qualify as heavy-duty commercial truck drivers. We are deeply encouraged by the support of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in partnering with us to advance the Iron Women programme for the long term. Our Iron Women graduates are truly inspiring and we are honoured to play a part in empowering them to provide for their families and contribute as valued talent in the industry.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Hajah Nancy Shukri, commented, “KPWKM’s collaboration with Volvo Trucks through the Iron Women initiative is a shining example of an impactful public-private partnership. I believe we are moving the needle steadily in addressing gender disparities in the workforce. Congratulations to the Iron Women graduates for completing the training with flying colours. Not forgetting also, the support of their family members who enable our Iron Women to give their undivided attention to the training programme.”

She also gave recognition to Taipanco Sdn Bhd which will employ this first group of graduates, for valuing female heavy-duty truck drivers as vital assets. Taipanco is an established logistics company which offers container haulage services in the central region, and owns a fleet of over 200 prime movers.

The Ministry also pledged to continue supporting the Iron Women graduates, equipping them with the necessary skills to navigate a traditionally male-centric industry. This includes addressing gender bias and harassment through counseling and a dedicated hotline, ensuring that women drivers feel confident and supported.

The Ministry also stated it would assist in identifying and recommending viable candidates as participants. By integrating a support system for the women, the Ministry hopes to create a seamless and sustainable transition of more women into new economic sectors, especially one traditionally dominated by men.

“We believe that beyond having a dependable truck fleet, nurturing dependable and skilled truck drivers is equally important to sustain our business growth. Being in the logistics industry for over 2 decades, we see great potential in the empowerment and participation of women to address the industry’s growing demand for skilled truck drivers,” said Taipanco Sdn Bhd, Executive Director, Dato’ Nazari Akhbar.

The Volvo Iron Women programme provides comprehensive training, covering everything from obtaining a Class E license to handling jointed (Bersendi) vehicles. Volvo Trucks also integrated a 3-module course comprising theory, practical and assessment stages which covers all facets of driver training, from compliance, fatigue management, trailer coupling and uncoupling and defensive driving among others.

The first batch of 5 graduates, aged between 27 to 40, and have varying levels of experience in the haulage industry, from brand new drivers to existing Class E license holders for Rigid trucks (Kejur). Of the 5 in this group, 3 are mothers, one of whom is a single mother of 6. They will now be employed by Taipanco Sdn Bhd where they will continue to receive mentorship from seasoned drivers.

The programme will not only help to address the shortage of skilled drivers in Malaysia’s logistics sector but will also contribute to the country’s economic growth. Studies show that women reinvest a significant portion of their income back into their families and communities thus amplifying the programme’s positive impact.

The next intakes for the Volvo Iron Women programme are set for 2025, aiming to train and certify approximately 100 women by the end of the year. The programme duration varies based on the candidates’ experience, ranging from 3 days to 8 weeks.

The Volvo Iron Women is a global initiative launched in 2016 and has seen over 820 women graduate. Its arrival in Malaysia has been warmly welcomed, as the demand for skilled heavy-duty vehicle drivers continues to rise in line with the expanding haulage and logistics sector.

For more information on the Volvo Iron Women programme, contact Geetha Menon at geetha.menon.c@volvo.com.