Small, but very dertermined

Couple of women recently posted they're 4'11" and drive big rigs.

 

Go over to a trucking school and ask to at least sit in a truck to see if you feel comfortable accessing all controls necessary, and they are all within reach and comfortable. Lots of different interior styles and adjustable features. Most newer trucks have steering wheel columns that tilt down towards your lap and some tilt down and pull closer to your chest. Peterbilt clutches are old school type where they come out of the floor, others have pedals like newer vehicles that "hang" from the dash. Being somewhat shorter myself, I have gotten used to Peterbilt clutches but have found them awkward at first. Most driver seats are air ride up and down but if you like to "feel" the truck and ride the seat low, some trucks are tougher to see over the dash to the end of the sloped hood like Kenworth T600/680/2000, etc. You pretty much have to use the air ride seat to see safely. I have found that to be a little bit of a problem with the Peterbilt clutch config with the air ride seat in use. Easier to sit low for the clutch, harder to see over the dash.

As Chinatown says, lots of shorter women and men drive trucks. If you are very determined, I don't think you will have problem. Make sure to use 3 points of contact getting in and out of the truck to limit the chance of falling. 2 feet 1 hand or 2 hands 1 foot. It's a lot longer of a fall out of those things then it looks.

 

I can't argue with anything posted so far. I am a large man. I am a bit over 6 2 and played HS football. I always took things about the physical aspects of trucking for granted. However depending on where you land you are going to be called on to pull 5th wheel pins and if equipped trailer tandem release pins. This is something the average OTR driver will do most weeks 2 or 3 times. Some of those pins are recalcitrant. Make sure you have this covered. By covered get another woman (hopefully a trainer) to show you how to get this done. Last thing you want to be is stuck in a drop yard somewhere all alone and can't get a dang pin pulled.

 

Good advice Moose....Forgot all about the 5th wheel pin. I guess small companies are good for something through all the "run it broken before I can afford to fix it" BS. Hate those guys. Anyway, grab a 5th wheel pin puller at a truck stop, they help a ton. If you have done everything else, don't forget that setting the trailer brakes and backing against the trailer just a tad will release pressure usually allowing the pin to be pulled also.

 

A big rig might help your image.

 

At least pretrips will be an easy task under the trailer.

 

I went to school about 30 years ago. My trainer at the time was this itty bitty thing. She'd been driving 20 years at the time, before she stopped to teach. She took me aside and showed me a couple of "girl tricks" to get that 5th wheel pin pulled. Put your knee against the tire and use the leverage. Use the puller. Size doesn't matter so much, once you got a trick or two up your sleeve.