I need a good tax lawyer.

I absolutely argree with Cindy's advice when it comes to the interview process. Especially if its one of these group interviews. If the safety director starts flapping there gums, politely inquire about there road experience and seat time.

 

I do some of the hiring for my little company and got to tell you drivers are a commodity to almost all companies, I can replace a driver within a day and all of it isn't what people think.

Drivers who bring something to the company like spotless record, years of driving, customers or skills that are above the rest are those who are in real demand, I have a pile of apps to go through this morning, I had looked at a couple yesterday and one of them stands out as someone I want in my fleet, years of driving, spotless driving record and has heavy haul skills.

 

I think you'll be fine, just one thing, though, it's not necessary these days to say you are a "female" driver. It doesn't matter anymore, as long as you can do the job, and by the sound of it, I think you can.

 

This is correct.
Half of my drivers are women, and they are as capable as any man. Sure they may not throw a chain as far, but who cares, they are generally more agile and can just hop up on the trailer easily and drag it across if needed.

 

A few years back I had my manager redo the application and I told him to take the gender question off of it. Some of my best drivers are women, i tell them I don't buy the glass ceiling crap and never will.

 

My ex-gf has driven since the 80's and just recently took a dispatch job. The stories she told me would curl your hair. No womens showers, no respect, while on the dock, she'd get "where's the driver"? all the time. She really was a pioneer, and I told her she should write a book.

 

Well i have 35 drivers, 36 if you include me...17 are women...and they are #### good!

 

I read, there's actually a downturn in women drivers of late, almost 20,000 less in 2015 and hasn't gotten better. One site claims they comprise only 5% of all the drivers, and half the tryouts don't last a year. I think with the lack of good jobs for unskilled women, for many, it's the last resort, and find out it's not for them and it's back to Walmart deli, where the pay and benefits are strangely about the same.

 

Once an employer has a few women drivers, it seems that word spreads as well. Somehow other women hear about this good place to work, and the owner is female driver friendly, and they won't be the first woman in the door who also has to battle the "Old boys club" mindset. As a kid my daughter was always hanging the shop, and in the yard with the men. The guys here have always just thought it was normal to see a female at work, and don't have that Old boys club mind set like some places have. So i get a lot of women who apply for work, not just driving either. Mechanics, truck cleaners, office staff, etc. If the men here disrespect the women they would be fired so fast they wouldn't even get a warning, just terminated. Same goes with the women though, if they started to do that girl power #### around here and think that they are more deserving than any man is, they are just gone, no warning. In my opinion they are all equals, and they better act like it to. My daughter is tiny, but I expect her to do anything asked of her, she doesn't have special privileges because she is tiny, or my daughter, or anything else. She can either do the job, or not.
One word about that chain or block or whatever is too heavy for me because I am a girl, will be met with my suggestion to quit then. In fact I am tougher on my own girl than anyone else at work. She wants to be the boss, and someday owner...then prove to me that you have what it takes I told her. She has been doing just that for years. She already is the manager of day to day operations, plus she drives the trucks to. Just like myself, if a trip is particularly risky, she will take it instead of sending one of the hired staff if she can get the time to do it herself, or I go do it personally. A good manager will never ask an employee to do anything that they haven't already done themselves, and would be willing to go do again.
My girl started at the bottom and has done every job here. Chains may weigh more than she does, so she works out to be stronger. She jogs, lifts weights, and while only 104 pounds, don't let her size fool you, many 200 pound men are not nearly as strong as she is. I have two men here who do get a bit special treatment compared to others, but they are older, and the first two drivers I ever hired. Been with me and loyal to me a long time, and have earned my respect, they do get to cream the jobs, pick the truck first they want, trailers first choice. Holidays are chosen on seniority so they get first choice. But they don't abuse their privileges or disrespect anyone else either.