Women in Trucking - A Woman's Perspective

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When working with new and prospective drivers, I am often asked by women newbies about shower facilities on the road. Believe me, for one thing they have come a very long way from what they were when I started over the road in the early 1980s. Back then, a woman was lucky to find a shower for women and, if there was one, it most likely wasn't a private one but rather one in the ladies room like in a gym with a shower curtain to maintain a modicum of privacy. Most showers were in the men's rooms and a solo lady driver would have to hunt for someone to stand outside the men's room door and keep the guys out while she showered.

We lady drivers loved it when plastic sandwich bags came into being because we could put our wallets and jewelry in them and take them into the actual shower stall with us. Back then it was not uncommon to come out of the shower stall and find our things gone through. The same went for the guys too. They often had wallets stolen while they were in the shower.

In today's truck stop world, it is common to find shower rooms with locking doors. A towel or two (you might have to ask for the second one) is provided along with a wash cloth, soap, and some even have bath mat rugs. Most showers are utilitarian with the basics: shower, commode, sink and mirror, and an outlet for hair dryers and shavers.

Some truck stops though have the palaces of showers. Some truck stops offer tubs so you can soak while in the shower room. Others even offer jacuzzis for your relaxing enjoyment-private not communal. One truck stop outside of Boise, Idaho even has shower rooms with bidets in them! You would of laughed at the look of surprise on my ex's face when I showed him what it did! (If you don't know, a bidet is a French commode that is actually a sink that one uses after using the toilet, it shoots water up and washes you.)

Most showers are clean, though don't look in the corners too closely at some truck stops. The truck stop personnel try to keep them as clean as possible, but when you have ten showers that run for upwards of 500 drivers on some days, there is not a lot of time to be too finicky. You can use shower shoes or carry Lysol spray if you are too worried about germs.

Most of the time, if you fuel at the truck stop, showers are free. If you do not fuel, showers will cost between $5 and $9 and some might charge extra for an extra towel. Some larger truck stop chains have driver's cards. Sort of like a credit card where you acquire points for the gallons of fuel you put on along with showers that last on the card for three to seven days depending on the chain. This way, if you are not fueling that day, you still can get a free shower if you plan ahead where you can stop for it.

Showers are free at some Ohio Turnpike service plazas-the newer ones at least. They do not have towels though, so it never hurts to carry a towel or two and a wash cloth to take advantage of those. Also, a few shippers or receivers might have showers in their employee restrooms that they will allow you to use if you have your own towels and promise to clean up after yourself. I used to load at two different ones that would allow me to shower there.

Showers vary widely among truck stops and have improved greatly over the last 20 years. As you move around the country, you will find your favorite truck stops to take showers at and do not discount the smaller fuel stops. Some of them have better showers than the bigger chains. The only real way to see if a shower suits you is to try it for the first time, then decide if you will ever stop there again. I can promise one thing to you ladies starting your trucking career: these days you will never need or have to find another driver to guard the door for you so you can get a shower at a truck stop.

Ya'll be safe out there!