Drawing Women into the Trucking Industry

what needs to change. how about all the pigs that drive trucks.

 

when you right you are right!

 

Once I start driving I am fairly certain there will be a rush of female drivers. They just can't help themselves. I will probably use some type of disguise, so as not to completely disrupt the industry.

Yes, you may use me as a source.

 

I personally think that women for the most part are more interested in the pursuit of a family atmosphere and OTR trucking will rob a person of their ability to maintain any type of quality family time. Seeing your family is almost impossible for an OTR driver and greedy companies along with unrealistic hours of service make it even worse. If you drive OTR and you put pen to paper or pull out a calculator you will see that after you factor in all of the unpaid waiting that a driver acquires, it could very well equate to less than minimum wage. Most OTR drivers earn 1 day off for every 6 or 7 on the road. If you look at this from a yearly standpoint, the average driver that gets one week paid vacation will get to spend about 55 days out of 365 with their family. A weekend off to most people is Friday night till Monday morning. A truckers weekend off is satisfying the bare minimum of the new hours of service, and then back on the road. When a driver is home it is not usually quality time, because there are other things that a driver must tend to, like household chores and catching up on lost sleep due to stupid hours of service laws. When I was driving OTR I could easily go for 4 or 5 days without even getting close to a shower (Not by choice). There is nothing glorious or glamorous about trucking and It is by far the most under appreciated business on the planet. I do over the OTR route and I am a lot happier not fighting with the DOT clock on a regular basis and not waiting at shippers and receivers for free. You may quote any of this, and I guess I can sum all of this up by saying that the family factor probably keeps a lot of females out of this business.

 

Now ...that's funny....^^^^^^^

But to the OP's question , I don't see too many changes that really need to be made , I think ( my opinion) is the pay scale is pretty much the same , or at least not as disparaging as the difference in the corporate world. The HOS rules cover all drivers with no difference between male and female drivers , I've seen a few in my time , but I can tell you , that most of them have been very , very skilled at their jobs , and some even better than most men...their attention span is better , their eye for detail/ their adherence to safety reg's/ their ability to remain calm in the face of an idiot dispatcher/shipper/ receiver...you know things that most women are just better at than men. I think the biggest and most important thing that we men must do is give them the same respect as we expect as drivers....not just because their gal's , but because their drivers....I'll come down on a "driver" if the need arises in the same way , BE IT A MAN OR A WOMAN....Gal's you need to realize this too...no points for boobs...you want into the industry , great....welcome aboard.....we'd love to have you , only, accept it for what it is...TRUCKING....quote me if you want roadscholar88....

 

Women are either going to wanna pursue this career or not,changes isn't going to make a bit of difference.Women fear of trks being too big,some fear of getting lost,some fear of driving all over alone.Some fear the mountains,not being able to shower at home,sleep in their own bed, gone for weeks at a time.Many reasons why more women won't get into trk driving.Does'nt matter how comfortable trks are or how companies try to make it as comfortable towards women drivers.Not any different then local trk driving,I apply to jobs have interviews and never see another woman applying for the same job.Bottom line is there is far more thin skinned women then men.You really have to have a strong mind and will power to make it in trk driving and sadly enough more women then not just don't have what it takes.Nothing wrong with that they just rather choose a non driving job or career.

 

I agree with all you posted Chim Chim..except the fact that you said you could go 4 to 5 days without bathing , then you put in paraphrases not by choice. I understand an see by your profile that you're a rookie , but you always have the choice to stop and bathe.....always , there is no load , on any trailer , going anywhere , that would /should keep you from bathing...nothing..... no how no way...your CHOICE , to go without a shower for that long was simply your own.....no excuses.....

 

good post pattyj....but ain't nobody ever gonna accuse you of being weak , or say that you don't have what it takes!...OR.....your not "strong willed'....

 

Well, I'm going to try again, every time I try, I seem to get in trouble, BUT, TV shows like "Ice Road Trucker's", Lisa, probably did more to encourage women to get involved. Even though, I believe she quit the show, she did/does make appearances around the country talking to groups about women in trucking. My ex-girlfriend was an OTR trucker in the early 80's and this was a time when women just didn't do that. The stories she told me were just awful. She got picked on, laughed at, no women's showers, although she stuck it out and gradually things changed, and now, women are totally accepted. She still drives to this day, only local work. My only concern, and ladies, PLEASE, is women are much more caring people, and trucking is a loner job. It has long hours, little appreciation, lack of exercise, poor eating, and not the healthiest of lifestyles, not to mention, there are STILL men out there, NOT ME, that feel a woman has no business in a truck, perhaps because it challenges their male ego. Women make great drivers, and more and more are going into it, mostly because, I think, not all women want to wipe old peoples rear ends, and if they don't want to flip burgers either, it's a good way to make a reasonable living, without going to college for 4 years, only to be laid off from an office job. Best of luck to all.