By ATS Containers

At ATS Containers, we’ve noticed something remarkable happening in our yards. Every week, more and more of the drivers pulling in to pick up container orders are women. In an industry historically shaped by men, these women aren’t just driving trucks, they’re driving change.

For decades, shipping containers have been the backbone of logistics, construction, and infrastructure projects across Canada. Yet the people behind the wheel, operating the machinery, and managing the yards have largely been men. That narrative is shifting. The sight of women behind the wheel of tilt-bed trucks or cranes is no longer a rare exception, it’s becoming part of the everyday rhythm of our business.

Challenging Industry Norms

The container industry, much like logistics, construction, and heavy equipment, has long been considered a male-dominated space. For years, cultural expectations and a lack of representation meant women were rarely seen in frontline roles such as transport drivers or equipment operators. But times are changing. Across Canada, women are pursuing commercial driving licenses, running logistics businesses, and leading construction projects. National associations have noted a steady rise in women entering the transportation and logistics workforce. While the numbers are still catching up, the momentum is undeniable.

When we see women backing up a flatbed to load a container or maneuvering skillfully through our yards, it’s a visible reminder that talent knows no gender. These women are breaking through barriers that once limited opportunities and in the process, they’re reshaping the future of an entire industry.

What We See at ATS

As Canada’s largest supplier of new and used shipping containers, ATS serves thousands of businesses and individuals each year. Our yards, spread across Ontario, Québec and Edmonton, are bustling hubs where containers are constantly being moved, loaded, and delivered.

What stands out to us is the steady increase in women drivers arriving to pick up orders. It’s no longer unusual for a day at our yard to include multiple interactions with women behind the wheel. From independent operators to drivers working for large logistics companies, these women bring a level of skill and professionalism that is both inspiring and encouraging.

For our team, it’s more than a trend, it’s proof of an industry in transformation. Each interaction tells a bigger story of progress, women stepping confidently into roles that were once out of reach and thriving in them. This change also resonates with our own company culture. Over 80% of our staff at ATS are women, leading the way in operations, marketing, administration, customer service, and quality assurance. For us, supporting women in the industry isn’t just a value, it’s how we operate every single day.

Why Representation Matters

Representation isn’t just symbolic, it creates real change. When women take the wheel into container logistics, they don’t just redefine what’s possible for themselves. They create a ripple effect that encourages others to follow.

For younger generations, considering careers in logistics, construction, or operations, visibility matters. When a girl sees a woman confidently driving a container truck or managing a busy yard, it expands her sense of what’s possible. Suddenly, careers that once seemed closed off are within reach.

Beyond inspiration, representation strengthens industries. Diverse teams bring new perspectives to problem-solving, customer service, and innovation. At ATS, women have played a key role in pushing forward new approaches, whether it’s how we communicate with customers, how we design modified container solutions, or how we participate in community projects. Empathy, creativity, and collaboration are woven into the way we do business, thanks to the women who make up the majority of our workforce.

Stories That Illustrate the Shift

The best proof of change comes from real-world stories. One of our yard managers recalls a recent morning when a woman driver arrived to pick up a 20-foot container for delivery to a construction site. The driver navigated the busy yard with ease, loaded the unit with precision, and drove off within minutes. For the staff on site, it was routine, but just a few years ago such a sight would have been rare.

We’ve also seen women drivers handling some of the most complex orders, moving oversized containers, working with crane deliveries, or coordinating multiple pickups in a single day. These examples demonstrate not only competence but also leadership, proving that women in logistics are more than capable of tackling the industry’s toughest challenges.

Building the Future Together

Containers themselves are symbols of adaptability. They can be transformed into mobile offices, community spaces, storage solutions, or even creative builds like kiosks and pools. In the same way, the industry surrounding them is evolving, shaped by people who bring flexibility, resilience, and vision to their work.

At ATS, we believe women are central to that future. With the majority of our staff being women, our company culture reflects the very change we see unfolding across the industry. From the drivers who move our containers to the staff who manage projects and support customers, women are shaping how containers are built, moved, and reimagined for modern needs.

And it doesn’t stop there. Community impact is another area where women are leading. Our team has been instrumental in projects that use containers to give back, from donating to Tree Canada to plant over 50 trees for National Forest Week & National Tree Day to supporting the North of 60 Project that delivers containers full of donated goods to remote Arctic communities. These initiatives are proof that containers aren’t just for business, they can be tools for building stronger, more sustainable communities.

Looking Ahead

The shift we’re witnessing is only the beginning. Industry data suggests that women will continue to make up a growing share of the transportation and logistics workforce in the coming years. As companies like ATS Containers embrace inclusivity and celebrate women’s contributions, the opportunities for leadership and advancement will only expand.

For us, the road ahead is clear. We will continue to support women at every level of our business and celebrate the women drivers, contractors, and operators who are helping reshape our industry.

Driving Change, One Container at a Time

Every container delivered tells a story of a business growing, a community building, or a project taking shape. Increasingly, those stories are being driven by women.

At ATS Containers, we celebrate that change. We see it in our yards, in our workforce, and in the broader industry we’re part of. Women are not only driving trucks, they’re driving progress, innovation, and opportunity. And the road ahead is wide open.