Female Driver Discrimination - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

Sacred Feline · **^ Top** #1 10.31.2007

Hey, I am not sure if this is the right place for this, please move if desired.....sorry..~smiles~

I was wondering if any other female drivers have experienced some sort of discrimination either indirect or directly....?

The reason I ask is that my fiance and I have been teaming for a couple of years now and we are currenty looking for a new position. I made contact with a particular flatbed company (will keep the name private for the time being pending outcome) to speak with a recruiter after I made an online application and my finance received an email from the same company.

Well when we phone companies both myself and my fiance get on the phone in a conference call so that we can talk to the recruiter and ask our questions and hear everything first hand, we make the recruiters aware of this.....it works rather well...anyways when I ask to speak to this particular recruiter I get put on hold then I am asked 'who is calling' I tell them then I get put on hold once again and then 'he is not in the office, can i put you through to his voice mail?' It is then that my fiance speaks up and says that he got an email from this recruiter and suddenly out of the blue the recruiter is available to speak to him......hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....???

Well after a short phone converstation he tells my finance that he needs to call him backand he will call back in an hour...my fiance says yeah sure............well it is now midnight and we have yet to hear from him dispite another email my fiance sent.

I maybe over reacting here but it seems that this recruiter does not want deal with or have to employ a female truck driver..????

I know that there are truck drivers out there that still beleive that the only place for a woman is 'bare foot, pregnant and in the kitchen'......and that truck driving is for MEN only...I have seen it and been the brunt of it on occasion, hence the reason I keep my CB turned way down or even off.....

I am just curious to see if anyone other lady truck driver has had experiences simiular to this...

Take care and keep the rubber side down...~s~

bluegrassbandmom · **^ Top** #2 10.31.2007

I do not personally have experience here but have heard on this forum that a certain company (TEEIMSEEEEE) that is all I will say about that, will not hire females unless they team with their hubbies

Sid · **^ Top** #3 11.01.2007

I haven't experienced what you are talking about, but I have experienced discrimination from other drivers. Most drivers are great and nice as they can be. But there are a few that are not. I have been told I need to get back home and get in the kitchen, bed, you name it. I have also had them not let me pass or when I have do all they can to catch up and pass me. Thats one reason I drive at night they can't see I'm a woman. Plus I don't speak on the c.b. unless neccasary. But I do want to say most of the drivers are very supportive. Too bad you can't prove anything against that company.

Etosha · **^ Top** #4 11.01.2007

I havent only had that treatment in the trucking industry. I used to work in mining, and had that ALL the time. There seems to be a lot less of it in the trucking industry than what I remember with the mines though.
Like Sid said, there are the guys who probably feel threatened by us driving and who try to intimidate us. I pity them, but I also have a job to do.
In saying that though, I have had more positive responses than negative responses to being a female trucker, so I try to focus on those.

Sacred Feline · **^ Top** #5 11.02.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid

I haven't experienced what you are talking about, but I have experienced discrimination from other drivers. Most drivers are great and nice as they can be. But there are a few that are not. I have been told I need to get back home and get in the kitchen, bed, you name it. I have also had them not let me pass or when I have do all they can to catch up and pass me. Thats one reason I drive at night they can't see I'm a woman. Plus I don't speak on the c.b. unless neccasary. But I do want to say most of the drivers are very supportive. Too bad you can't prove anything against that company.

Yeah I know exactly what you mean .....but you are right, there are more positives than negatives.

Once when I was driving solo, pulling double trailers, I had a driver come up to me in a fuel bay and ask me if I was pulling those trailers by myself and when I said yes, he congratulated me and said it was good to see us females out there...pretty cool.... Later on when I left the truck stop I heard some drivers on the CB making lewd comments about me (I did not respond) but low and behold the same driver I spoke to in the fuel bay comes on the CB and lays into these guys with support for me.....it made me feel really good knowing we female drivers have the respect of some of the male drivers out there...Thanks to all those drivers.....

Sacred Feline · **^ Top** #6 11.02.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etosha

I havent only had that treatment in the trucking industry. I used to work in mining, and had that ALL the time. There seems to be a lot less of it in the trucking industry than what I remember with the mines though.
Like Sid said, there are the guys who probably feel threatened by us driving and who try to intimidate us. I pity them, but I also have a job to do.
In saying that though, I have had more positive responses than negative responses to being a female trucker, so I try to focus on those.

Yes you are probably right about them feeling threatened and yes we should focus on the good rather than the bad....

It is good advice.

Sid · **^ Top** #7 11.02.2007

I drive at night and one night out in Texas I was running with a group of guys that were so sweet to me. We were talking back and forth on the c.b. when low and behold on comes some guy making lewd comments to me. By the time the guys I was running with got through with him I was feeling a little sorry for him. Like you said it made me feel so good that they stuck up for me. They treated me like a fellow driver not a female and when he came on with his remarks they stood up for me as a driver. So yes we need to concentrate on the positive because you can't change stupid.....

Baack · **^ Top** #8 11.02.2007

I read your post twice
From what you wrote it doesn't seem to be you being female is the reason
Could be one of a dozen reasons
Good luck

Sacred Feline · **^ Top** #9 11.04.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baack

I read your post twice
From what you wrote it doesn't seem to be you being female is the reason
Could be one of a dozen reasons
Good luck

Like I said, I could be over reacting and you may be right......he was probably having a bad day or something like that....who knows. Thank you for your input, always valued...

Sacred Feline · **^ Top** #10 11.04.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid

.......... So yes we need to concentrate on the positive because you can't change stupid.....

I like that.........

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