Question for Women Drivers!

I am female and I get a bad comment every now and then. At my previous job, I drove solo and I was hit on at the fuel aisle a few times. Sometimes you get the asinine remark implying female automatically equals lot lizard. Just ignore and go on about your day. The people who hang out at truck stops acting like trash and treating others like trash are losers who gave up on life. They aren't worth your time. The biggest problem I've ever run into with other truckers is pissing off a super trucker who decided I wasn't supposed to park next to his truck. He was one of those types who parks his '84 Camero across four parking spaces. My truck threatened his real estate value, I guess.

 

All been said here. And in other threads.

My wife's 2 cents - she hates 2 things she observes in other female drivers.

1. "I need to dress, walk, act, and behave butch to compete with or gain respect (?) from male drivers."

2. "I need to dress like a lot lizard to get attention from male drivers"

She does her job, wears mainly uniform, keeps as clean and tidy as the job allows, and has no problems. For almost 9 years now.

 

I am currently a female in CDL school and scheduled for advance
training as the company I want to work for requires it. Then I go to
the company for company training and then I can solo driver. All through my process of
setting up training and in my job search I have only been treated
like a person. I haven't been given any special treatment or had
any discrimination. There is a shortage of female trainers, but they will work with you.

In class the other students treat me just the same a the person sitting next
to me (I only have a problem with one guy and he's an ##### to
everyone). I don't try to be one of the guys and they don't treat me like a girl.
I follow the curriculum just like everyone else. We all encourage each-other as we are just learning.

My instructors in CDL school are always supportive, educational, and have realistic
expectations of our learning level regardless of the student. Some of
the guys are better than others – I'm in the middle of the class
not the best but not worst. There is this one guy in class that we
all thought might not make it, but he is doing much better now. It
just take some a bit longer to learn the skills.

You need to pay attention to everything. It's hard at first teaching your body
to do new things like double clutching and shifting 10 gears but fun
at the same time.

 

Great to hear NW, you'll learn even faster when you're in the seat. I don't want to confuse you, but take it from an old timer, double clutching gets old real fast. Once you get the hang of it, you don't need the clutch, except to stop and start.

 

Thank you, I have found out how not to use the clutch ( on accident was much easier, the instructor teased me and said your driving like a trucker now, but lets get back to learning to pass the test), the state testing says I have to double clutch.

 

Turn off the CB when at a truck stop. Man-pig CB Rambos thrive there and if you don't have thick skin you'll get VERY irritated at the BS, undeserved, commentary as to your dairyaire etc.

Apologies in advance on behalf of my gender and idiot brethren.

It's gonna be fine, though. You'll find the groove just fine. Let the crap roll off you like water off a duck's back.

 

Thank you, for your advice and your apology in advance is excepted.

doing purple proud...

 

i dress according to the weather, but when its hot out, there's nothing better than wearing a pair of short shorts and a tank top and has nothing to do with trying to get attention from male drivers lol.

 

Dear, you are flirting with disaster if you dress like that. While it may be comfortable, you fail to realize that some men fantasize about stuff like that, and I'm sorry,(hate to father you) but you are asking for trouble. I don't think some women realize that. Once on CL under WFM, a girl posted a very provocative picture and then said they weren't looking for a 1 night deal. I told her to get that off her posting right now, or you are looking for trouble. That same day, it was gone. I don't think women realize the fruitcakes that are out there. Sorry, but even NWroads Avatar pic is a little risky.

 

Back in 1975 when I got my licence even the tester was a bit of a ### giving me grief that men are truck drivers not women. He didn't know I was a farm girl and had been driving equipment that he could not since I was 9 years old. Truck alone when I was 12 that was back when you didn't need a licence to drive a farm truck. We supplied the truck for testing a 1965 twin stick Pacific P500. I showed that dumb ### that women can drive truck just as well as any man can. A lot has changed over the years attitudes being one thing but trucks have change alot as well to say they are more user friendly would be an understatement, but with that also means you dont have to do your own fixing as much. You wont see any drivers today pulling the head off an engine because of a dropped valve, on the side of the road while waiting for the mechanic to show up. Been there done that. You get back what you put into it like any other job, do the work and you will be treated like any other driver. Remember dress in a manner appropriate for the job and the fact that you are the face of the company on the road. What you do each and every day reflects upon the company you work for. Dont be afraid to ask for help when needed but dont use that as a daily procedure, and you will do just fine.