For decades, supply chain, logistics and transport have been industries largely associated with men. That is changing. 

More women are stepping into operational roles, building careers on the road and progressing into positions where they can train, mentor and lead others. But increasing female participation in logistics should not be viewed simply as a representation target. 

It is an opportunity to broaden the industry’s skills base, develop new leadership capability and build a stronger workforce for the future. 

In Women at the Wheel, an episode of the Unitrans Make Growth Happen podcast, #ThankYouTrucker winners Cynthia Thala and Mavis Ndumo share their experiences of building careers in transport and what they believe needs to happen next. Their stories offer a frontline perspective on inclusion, safety, career progression and the changing role of women in an industry that has traditionally been dominated by men. 

Inclusion needs a pathway 

Getting more women through the door matters. What happens after they arrive matters even more. Training, mentorship, supportive management and opportunities for career progression turn participation into long-term capability. 

Mavis’s own career demonstrates what that progression can look like. After 17 years behind the wheel, she has progressed to Master Driver and Driver Trainer, creating an opportunity to transfer her experience to the next generation of drivers. 

Both women also point to the role that structured training and operational support play in helping drivers perform safely and confidently. From driver training and in-vehicle cameras to safety procedures and management support, the systems around the driver matter. 

For organisations, this is an important distinction. Inclusion cannot end with recruitment. Sustainable transformation requires visible pathways from entry-level opportunities to experienced operational and leadership roles. 

Safety is built through everyday decisions 

One of the strongest themes throughout Cynthia and Mavis’s conversation is safety. Not safety as a policy on the wall, but as something drivers take personal responsibility for every time they begin a shift. 

Cynthia describes arriving early to inspect her vehicle, review what is required and plan her journey before setting off. It is a simple routine, but one that reflects a much bigger mindset:

being prepared before the vehicle moves and taking ownership of what happens once it does. 

Mavis speaks about that responsibility in equally personal terms. Following procedures and making the right decisions behind the wheel is not simply about meeting a company standard. It is about recognising that every decision has consequences for the driver, their family, other road users, customers and the Unitrans brand. 

Their experiences highlight an important lesson for the wider industry. Safety culture is ultimately built through thousands of individual decisions made every day. It is choosing to complete the check properly, follow the procedure, plan the journey and resist the temptation to take a shortcut when circumstances become demanding. 

Technology, procedures and training provide the framework for those decisions. But systems alone cannot create a strong safety culture. People bring that framework to life through their judgement, discipline and willingness to take responsibility for doing the right thing. 

That is why developing capable, accountable people remains fundamental to operational excellence. When safety becomes something employees personally own rather than simply something an organisation requires, it becomes part of how the business operates. 

Building a stronger industry 

The future of African logistics will require skilled drivers, experienced operators and capable leaders. Broadening participation gives the industry access to a wider pool of that talent. 

For Unitrans, creating opportunities for women in logistics is therefore about more than representation. It is about developing capability, strengthening the talent pipeline and creating an environment where people can build meaningful, long-term careers. 

Cynthia and Mavis’s journeys demonstrate what that can look like in practice. From entering an industry where women remain underrepresented to building respected careers, earning recognition and helping others see what is possible, their stories bring the bigger conversation about inclusion to life. 

But their personal journeys tell an even richer story. 

In the full Women at the Wheel episode, Cynthia and Mavis share what first drew them to driving, the people who inspired them, the realities of life on the road, the challenges they have faced, how they balance demanding careers with family life and the moments that have made them most proud.

Listen to the full Women at the Wheel episode to hear Cynthia Thala and Mavis Ndumo tell their stories in their own words and discover what their experiences reveal about the future of women in Africa’s transport and logistics industry.