LGBT Folks in the trucking industry?

You never looked at my profile page on Let's Truck or my site? It's there, not highlighted, but there. One of the reasons I don't get along too well at BCOforums, too many phobes. I just do my job and live my life and not worry about it. Life is life and goes on.

 

On the whole, this a valid statement. The majority, i.e. more than half, of all dispatchers, fleet managers and company HR people won't care. The problem with that statement is that you aren't going to be dealing with most of them. You're going to be dealing with one or two particular individuals. And if one of those individuals you end up having to deal with happens to fall into the smaller group that DO have a problem with it, then you could be in for a rough ride.

Now obviously this is true no matter what career field you go into. But I've worked in quite a few different and somewhat diverse fields. And I can say without question that trucking far and away has the highest percentage of people I've seen who are openly homophobic, racist, sexist or otherwise unashamedly hateful toward people who differ from themselves in some way. And just to be clear, I am not talking about just other drivers here. I'm talking about everyone you're going to encounter in the industry. Drivers, office staff, company owners, shipping/receiving clerks, forklift operators, mechanics etc. This doesn't mean that you're definitely going to suffer because of the issue. You may not suffer at all. But IME there are a greater number of people who might be likely to cause you an issue in this industry than in many other industries and I think it would be in your best interest to at least be aware of that going in. You're not stacking the cards in your favor with this career choice.

 

Well... nobody seems to care that I'm a lesbian in a man's body, I don't think anyone will care about any others.

 

Okay DAD

lol

 

Hey Six9GS, congrats on your transition and I hope everything works out for you. I'm a recent graduate and I will be going over the road soon. I had some reservations about trucking as well because I'm a gay, black male from the south but the desire for a career change and to just make an honest living like everybody else far exceeded my expectations. I think this may be one of the best opportunities for me because I'm single, no kids, not partnered and I've always been an introvert and a loner so I'm looking forward to the solitary lifestyle of being a trucker.

 

just present yourself "as is". my partner has been a truck driver for years and sometimes men treat her "different" for being a woman, black, or perhaps because they sense that she's a lesbian. who knows the real reason. also, going into predominately rural areas you can almost always guarantee to get stares. Just be yourself.

 

I just keep it to myself, don't ask me and I am not telling. Now if it come up and I am talking to another "family member" then gurl yes let's talk. Out here in the trucking industry I just keep to myself, if people suspect it cool and if not then ok. Long as I keep to myself don't cruise up on another man then I am cool. Yeah sometimes it's a lot of eye candy out there but as long as I look and don't touch I won't have to fight, I am just out here trying to make another dollar.

 

Just curious, would you request a male or female trainer? I know some women on here have said they wouldn't be comfortable with a male and vice versa, but I've also read that sometimes the company will just put you with whoever is available.

 

Just keep in mind, the folks here are the best in trucking. They are here to help, have fun and make friends.

They are definitely not a cross section of truckers as a whole.

Maybe that did not come out right... I know those here have seen way more than I. But I have seen and heard some very rude, hurtful and ignorant opinions from the lower end of the truck driver scale.

Mikeeee

 

I think it has been said on here already... Life is too short to worry about such things. You have to do what you have to do, just like everyone else. This line of work is often looked at as being harsh on LGBT, but we have all seen it...everywhere. It comes down to common respect, there is just very little here in this country. I think the lack of respect for people's needs come from the leaders we have had. In the political world they have to walk that tight rope or stradle a fence to make two sides happy. Whenever I hear the word "toleration" instead of "respect" it makes me pull my hair out. To me toleration means, I do not agree with you, I hate you, but I will tolerate you. If people would respect other people instead of tolerating we wouldn't have problems with race, sexual preference, sex, age, and the list goes on. Well...we have come a long way, still have a long way to go, I still think this country is the best in the world. Trucking is an interesting and exciting job, beats the hell out of standing in a factory all day or flipping hamburgers...so enjoy, relax but stay vigilant, stay safe, transition to where you need to be and get the job done.