Heavy Lifting, Higher Aims: Women Leading the Logistics Revolution: Women Logistics Heroes

In a world that is run according to the whims and fantasies of men, we are often unable to record and celebrate the wins of women. In a highly patriarchal society, some women are breaking stereotypes and leaving their imprint on the world. Women have mainly found it challenging to find their forte in specific industries more than others, one of the most important being the logistics industry.

The logistics industry has been, for the longest time, associated with men, and there have been very few stories about women entrepreneurs or women leaders in this industry. But, this dynamic has been massively changing in the last few years, with women’s names coming out in large, shiny letters in the logistics and transportation business. Heavy lifting or work involving the movement of heavy items has been considered to be the forte of men. But, a silent logistics revolution has been taking place around the country now, when we are able to witness more and more women come up and reach for these highest aims in heavy lifting and the logistics industry.

The Stories …

When it comes to the story of truck drivers, one might have hardly heard stories where women are the ones behind the wheel. In a region like Kashmir, where conflict and unrest have become the norm of the day, stories led by women like Rabiya Yaseen shall make one believe that there indeed is light at the end of the tunnel. Belonging to the Pulwama district, Rabiya Yaseen is a truck driver and has traveled within her state and Telangana, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar. In the business of logistics, trucks are often 

She is traversing the dual roles of motherhood and a truck driver in a region where the names of women are hardly ever mentioned in the transport industry. Rabiya has found a significant amount of support from her husband and mother-in-law, who ensure that she can fulfill her dreams without any hassle. Rabiya is defying gender roles, wherein women are prescribed to follow certain occupations only, and a way of life has already been designed for them. She is truly an icon in the logistics industry for everyone to look up to. As a woman, it fills one with joy when stories of women defying the odds come up.

Another inspiring story about a woman defying traditional roles and making a mark for herself in the logistics industry is Srirmoju Radhika from Warangal. Radhika belonged to a village in Telangana, where she heard of specific vocational training being given to women in GMR Varalakshmi Foundation. She had to travel a long distance to reach the Foundation on a daily basis. Initially, she had joined the Foundation with the idea that she would pursue tailoring courses. But, once she was a part of the Foundation, she knew she wanted to be a part of the logistics department. Being supported by the organization’s founder, Radhika took up a three-month course, after which she took up the job as a Junior Excavator Officer. Pursuing a job that men have traditionally dominated, Radhika faced objections from various sections of people in the industry, but she chose never to give up. 

Even though others would not believe in her ability to manage heavy weights, she shone through despite everyone’s disbelief and very little faith in her. Eventually, she landed a job as a Forklift Operator at GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo. She stands as an example and beacon of hope for millions of other women who want to enter the logistics business but are not able to due to the traditional roles that have been assigned to men and women.

Even as the logistical industry still ends up hiring women, there are few stories where women end up taking roles as heads of companies. But, the inspirational story of Ramona Hood stands as  an exception, who is the President and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical.

She had started off as a receptionist at nineteen years old in FedEx. FedEx is one of the most trusted and reliable e-commerce companies all over the world today. When Ramona joined the company as a nineteen-year-old, she did not have any idea that she would one day be rising up the ranks of this company to lead this conglomerate. She took up the role of CEO just weeks before the pandemic hit and ensured that the company had a smooth and swift transition, even as the deadly pandemic broke out. In a business where hitherto the names of female CEOs had hardly been heard, Ramona Hood stands as an example of a woman who refused to give up. Even as she had found it difficult to rise up the steps, she did so gracefully and now leads one of the world’s largest e-commerce and logistical companies.

These examples and more worldwide testify to the fact that women can take up the same amount of work that men can. The logistical industry, which has been associated with men, is gradually witnessing a shift as more and more women are becoming a part of its workforce.

Thus, this signals a new change – where women are both leading and are a part of the heavy logistical industry!

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