Women in Trucking - A Woman's Perspective

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The trucking industry ought to be littered with signs saying "Caution: Men At Work." Women make up approximately 7 percent of the truck drivers on the road but we work throughout the industry, interacting with male drivers and non-drivers every day. Some women work in shops and supervise male mechanics and there are the hundreds of women brokers and dispatchers that have to dispatch more males than females. Some women own their own small fleets and regularly hire male drivers.

Despite our presence in the industry, how often do you think lady drivers are patronized, insulted, or ignored by the males they come in contact with? More often than some would think. A few weeks ago, I was speaking to a rookie male driver as I was fueling, washing my windshields, and checking my oil. After telling me proudly that he had been driving for a "whole six months" he proceeded to tell me how to "properly" wash all of my windows, check my oil, how a tire should sound when thumped, and how I did not have the nozzle in the tank at the proper angle. With his chest puffed out, he asked the question "how long have you been out of school?" The look on his face was priceless when I told him how long I have been driving.

Back when I worked in the office for a 500-plus-truck company, one of the many hats I wore was overseeing the shop. Guys would try to bluff me over everything from how a bumper got bent to why the fuel pump had been turned up. They just could not accept that a female would know anything. It took me a very short time to change their opinion.

To deal with men, women should remember that both genders are equal. No, I do not mean "feminist" equal, but equal as professionals in the trucking community. Women need to stand their ground firmly, not use feminine wiles to get their way. Do not use some little girl voice or cast your eyes down or men will walk right over you. I do not propose that you stand and argue with some guy over anything beyond reason but if someone is trying to put you in a weakened position, take charge of the situation.

If you are in a supervisory capacity (and this could be as a driver supervising the loading or repair of your equipment), then give direction firmly and concisely. Be pleasant but not over friendly. Listen to advice but make your own decisions and stand by them. Dress appropriately for the job, not in clothes you would go out in. Do not accept excuses for bad behavior or performance, you will not be respected for it. Do not complain about one employee to another, you will be thought of as a gossip and a back stabber. Finally, make sure you are right before making your stand.

I don't want to bash men. I love and respect men but they have been taught for generations that women are softer, weaker, and less able to take care of themselves than they are and so tend to take advantage if they can. By this I mean that little boys are taught that it isn't nice to be mean girls; to hit her, kick her, take her toys or yell at her. Boys are taught that girls should be treated like little ladies in everything. To change that ingrained trait, it is up to us as women to conduct ourselves as equals and meet men on a level playing field instead of acting in a way that just perpetuates the myth that women cannot do anything they set their minds to do.

With a little due diligence on our part, at least in the trucking industry, someday the signs will read "caution people working."

Ya'll be safe out there!