Female Student Needs Honest Opinions

Welcome to our Hell. You will do well I think, as many have said be professional, don't wear a chip on your shoulder, watch your back when it seems prudent. (just dont be obvious about it) It shouldn't matter that you are a female driver but....it dose, and it will, but sometimes that isn't always negative either. Most of us old hairy men tend to feel protective of ladies.

 

Now wait a minute.........
Formertaxidriver is right in a way......I come from the construction side of trucking here in Alaska. Lot of women here give the hard working women a bad name.
I was a tiny frilly cute gal, flirty too when I started. "Wow all these men" Woo hoo!
I got no respect from the one only other female driver in my area who was 25yrs my senior.
No matter how hard I kept up with her, tarpped, chained, waited till break times to pee, she gave me attitude. I was determined to earn her respect because I respected her so much and what she did.
It wasnt till after 2 yrs of working with her we finally became social to one another and she and I could finally laugh with one another and say we were friends.
Reason being as Ive gotten older and hopefully wiser is most women, her and I have come across women who get their jobs because of their anatomical atributes!
But cant drive for crap! They either get to move up the ladder to cushion type driving positions ( never tarp, never chain loads, or pickup truck expiditing jobs that pay more) while we gals work our darn butts off! These gals never stay very long either due to their driving once the formans see they arent real drivers. They really give us hard working female drivers here a harder time. The men drivers would come to us complaining about them & their driving all the time asking us to go to the formans/ bosses so they dont look sexist.
We do it and we look like we are jealous! No win situation.
Companies here look at females as trouble, not real drivers who pay attention or are safe in this business, and not worth the time. Only reason they do it is to meet their quota.
Then when hard working women go to work for these outfits, we are wroked harder than the guys most times just to see if we wuss out. We constantly have to prove ourselves with new outfits regardless of the 10 pages of experience and references.
Personally, if you can drive I dont care what you look like.
But if your reaching for lip gloss, phone, eye liner when I pass you on ice slick roads, stopping every 30min to pee pee in a warm potty, and every guy is tarping & chaining for you......no respect coming from me either. You got your job because your a woman.
Not because you can do the job, and thats NOT right.
As for "Formertaxidriver" sayn

Thats not right, you dont know this women. She deserves respect as much as you.
Good luck out there "lilsister" ! Im leaving this iced up state for OTR work end of summer.
Hope to see you out there

 

Lilsister, reading your comments here, IMHO, seems that you have very good, positive attitude and know how to deal with the ###**#$ out here.... Stay strong, take it easy.... the rest will come with practice. But stick with it for at least 6 months to see if you really like it.

 

you mean like Lisa from Ice road? just joking...good post squirel

 

Like Lisa? Hell Yea like Lisa!!! But I do have to say the TV show makes her look stupid. Talked to a few drivers who have worked with her and they say shes improved and really serious about what she does. I'll give her SOME slack LOL
I watched the first episode with the new gal they got on there. NO COMMENT! not impressed at all...havent watched since.

 

Really...if you think thats something,go to the truckshow and see how many representives will look pass you to talk to a guy and then there is the scantly dressed women there.I really dont vare but wish they would have the chippendale guys there for us women

 

Your gonna do just fine

 

i have been running solo pretty much my entire career, my advice to you is simple, when i guy looks like he want to devour you and your just not into him, smile be polite and be honest, don't lead him on. (this only leads to trouble) dress professional, no tight shirt, short shorts, heals or hot pants. no heavy make up. if your the type of girl that take a hour getting ready plan accordingly. Loads can't be late because your hair isn't dried or your mascara isn't perfect. don't expect favors like another driver said just because your a girl. in fact expect the exact opposite. the gentleman driver is a thing of the past. there are still a few out there but fewer and fewer each year. don't be afraid to ask questions, your older drivers will be glad to answer your questions. write everything down. keep a book on your trips. I have one with index cards, everything on that trip is on that card. it helps in filling our your trip sheets later and contacting the customer. i keep these cards for a year. i can go back over any trip and tell you if it had a lumper fee, what the trailer number was, its plate number, weight, piece count, seal number and all the information on shipper and receiver. you are perceived on how you carry yourself. remember you are out here to do a job not get a boyfriend. bungalow bunnies only give us lady truckers a bad name. never tell anyone what you have on, where you picked up at or where you are delivering. if someone asked just simply say paper or dispatcher brains. when leaving the truck at night keep your keys in your dominate hand. large key between your pointer and middle finger, holding head of key in your palm and tip between the fingers. always, always check your king pin and hoses if you leave your truck out of your vision for any time. even a quick trip to the bathroom. take the time to check your pin.(flashlight and get under and look) and run your hands on your hoses. (this will ensure no issues later forcing you to stop in a unsafe place) if you are running solo, place seat belt of passenger seat through door handle and buckled into place. this way no one can get that passenger door open even if they manage to pop the lock or break the little window. at night seat belt the drivers door the say way. these days companies don't like to pay for a new lock for each truck so they may have several with the same key. i know a few companies that their entire fleet has the same key lock. i hope this helps you and please feel free to contact me if are in need of answers. I am a trainer and have been for the past 12 years. will gladly help in anyway.