Small truckers?

My wife is a trucker. She's 5'2" and about 105lbs. I think you have watched "Over The Top" one too many times! As a truck driver you really don't need to fight your way across the country.

 

Trucking today is pretty different from say 20 years back. Years ago truckers would have to have a lot of physical strength and mechanical aptitude to work on the truck, change parts, tires, load and unload their trailer etc.

Now a days drivers are prohibited (in some companies) from working on the trucks or even unloading them.

Today the trucks practically drive themselves. About the most strenuous thing a driver does today is drop and hook a trailer, open trailer doors, and climb in and out of the cab a dozen times a day (or more in some cases).

I have seen women smaller than your son that do this job just fine. Heck my wife is 5'2" as well and does just fine.

We have lumper services that unload trucks and service techs that fix the trucks. Your son will do just fine. Relax.

 

Now, that was dumb. Trucks drive them selves? Sit in a chair and look out the window all day?
And you have been driving, what 18 years? You are putting the wrong info. into newbies driver. Dont post something stupid like that. Not going on the attack at you. But the greenhorns, are absorbing this info. Just a bad quote here.

 

That it really doesn't matter altogether. Back in the day, women weren't considered fit for the job either, now there are thousands that do a great job every day. No reason a guy of smaller stature, if he wants to do it, cant do it!

 

I disagree. I drove the Old Trucks, and Now drive the new ones. When you compare the two, These trucks now days; nearly do drive them selves!

 

Used to drive a 67 mack Dumper...... No Air susp. Split rear. had to use two hands to shift. No power Steering, and the list goes on and on.

 

Curiousdude, I'm a gal, 5'2" and rather petite. I handled it, your son can too! Remember, it's the wiry little ones ya gotta watch out for! With the air ride seats, telescoping tilt steering, etc the newer trucks (even back in 1999 when I started) make it much easier for us smaller folks to do the job too!

 

Truck driver's come from all shape's size's type's and walk's of life. As long as he can meet the physical requirments then there's no reason he can't. Beside's, short or tall, a lot of us like to ride with the seat on the floor anyway.

 

I'm 5'6" and I can do it without a problem. Never once felt like I was too short for any aspect of the job.

 

Being too tall is more of a hinderance, I think the guys that design a lot of trucks don't consider people being 6'4" or more.