A Day in the Life of a Lady Trucker
10/19/09 One Year Exactly from the original post of TruckerDesiree and 130 posts later!! From that scared and frantic student contacting Allen for help, to one of the most determined and influential women in trucking today…offering advice and empathy to all who need it.
**YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!**
If you would like to read Desiree’s Journal from the beginning, please scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN to the bottom of the page.
Click on the Blue Words at the bottom of this page: “30 Old Comments are not displayed, Click to display all comments. ”
If you don’t do this, you will miss the first few months of the journal. Thanks, Donna
This Journal will soon be available in book form. We’ll let you know when it’s complete
10/19/08
Allen and I have the honor to communicate with so many people every day. Although we haven’t met the majority of them, I feel a comradery between us and them just the same. Trucking can be a lonely lifestyle in itself, but our websites, truthabouttrucking.com and askthetrucker.com, have introduced us to some of the finest human beings around. We receive letters, gifts, prayers, and friendship from many of our loyal subscribers.
Recently I started communicating by e-mail with a woman by the name of Desiree. Her e-mails describing her life as a truck driver were so detailed and graphic, I felt like I was living the experience right along with her. Her stories were those of courage and integrity and Allen even used one of them in his new version of “The Truth About Trucking“ 4th edition.
I invited Desiree to post some of her stories here, and I hope all of you find them as intriguing, entertaining and fascinating as I did. These stories represent similar experiences that so many other woman truck drivers have lived.
Some of her stories can definitely give you some insight on how trucking companies “value” women truckers.
When I asked her to how she would like to share some of her stories here on our blog, she answered with this reply,
“Well I’d like to start, by starting from the very beginning and navigating my way thru the trucking
school scam and thru the individuals that I teamed with and was trained by, because there
are already tons of funny stories… but great learning experiences. From weight
management to hygiene I’ve been collecting and fine tuning this lifestyle to make it
work.”
Okay, Thanks Desiree. It’s all yours now!
Donna
© 2008 – 2009, Allen Smith. All rights reserved.
Tagged with: Lady Trucker • The Truth About Trucking • truck driver • trucking • trucking companies • women truck drivers • women truckers
Filed under: trucking life • Woman Truckers
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Just one simple question How long are companies and or trainers suppose to hold an adult male/ females , student/rookies drivers hand? I would really like to know the answer to this question is it 5yrs or 3yrs or 15yrs what is it?
Bravo!!! Hey “Greg” I had a beer once or twice before I was 21. Take a rest man.
Greg, There’s nothing wrong in asking questions, when it is written in question form. Assumptions, and accusations of those assumptions, are totally different and appear to be written in a way as an attempt to discredit the writer.
If indeed you believe that you have important information that can add to the truth, then I believe you should contact Dan Rather Reports, as both we, and they (Dan Rather Reports) have requested.
The “Truth” is what we are all seeking, and if you can offer that info we suggest you do so.
Again, questions about the post are welcome, along with Facts. However, hearsay and accusations are not. We do hope that Covenant has contacted them also.
If you have a discrepancy in something written in this Post, please refer back to the authors statement, copy and paste it in quotes, and then comment.
As far as the Texas Rape Legislation, there was a major write up about it. I believe the Wall Street Journal also had a write up recently. Donna
Dear Greg:
I drrive almost every day because the dedicated account I am on stays steady.
This story has links to my site & relevant articles all over & throughout the “Ask the Trucker” websppace so saying you can’t find something means you are too lazy to look or you are continuing to imply doubt.
This could be for two reasons:
You ae representing the company to be a troll OR you have something to hide.
Your conduct & your status as a Master Tainer & representitive of the Safety Department are only serving to strengthen my point that that being a Trainer does not mean you can Teach.
A Trainer at the time I was trained spent about 35 days with the student. That first 2 weeks I needed her to teach mme & then I needed her to help me perfect what I was taught so I could do it alone when she was gone. That did not happen.
I went with a second trainer who helped me get through the loose strings & between him & a nice guy in the Safety Dept. who helped me more I was able to learn things my trainer FAILED to teach me.
I never had someone to call for questions but I met helpful folks along the way who let me fine tune things.
Your conduct here makes me feel compelled to say I would NEVER ask you forr directions to a toilet let alone for assistance becoming a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER.
Here is the Wall Street Journal Article it is about a 20 year old cold rape case solved in Dec 08 & it also spawned online trolls who wanted to insert themselves into my story. I am heading for hometime & will meet these Ladies while I am there. http://mobile2.wsj.com/device/article.php?CALL_URL=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125167372604370775.html?
(Desiree) First I don’t apprecaited the personal attacks on me. I have not attacked you personally nor have i discredited you, if you feel that I have it was unintened and I apologized. I am not a troll and I do not speak on Covenant Transport behave nor have I ever stated that I was. You made an assupumtion that was lazy. I google your name and texas rape legistation only it didnt bring up any
testimony that you gave that is what I was asking about I am very intersted in how legislation is passed. Please be more specific and give examples of how my conduct was inappropriate. ” Your conduct & your status as a Master Tainer & representitive of the Safety Department are only serving to strengthen my point that that being a Trainer does not mean you can Teach.” Well if a post I had made had not been deleted I stated that I have been training for 7yrs. Also as a Master trainer I am part of the Saftey dept never said i was a representive. I also have nothing to hide. I train students to the best of my capablities. I also tell them which is a true statement that the majority of the things you learn is on the job training cuz even after 14yrs driving over a million safe miles I still learn new things everday.
Donna I would be more than happy to speak with Dan Rather reports but I have no way of contacting them
You can reach the Dan Rather group by writing viewer@hd.net. We have it posted in our articles in this blog and many people are replying.
Have you been reading the articles pertaining to the video? There are 2 main ones concerning the video.
Really thats awesome dude did you drive also after those beers. I am on a rest right now cuz I am on my 10hr dot break
Dear Greg:
This is how a Bill is Made
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dVo3nbLYC0
and Please Support “Jason’s Law” for Safe Trucker Parking
http://bit.ly/KC7L3
You Can Help Pass Legislation By Getting Involved….
Call Your Representitives
Everyone has a voice, many just don’t use it
A driver should not violate policies or reg’s. Too many variables that cause this to occur however. Of course I have . . . not intentionally, but due to all the circumstances that drivers face . . . it happens . . . here you go again “shooting at the stars” – safety is always priority . . . as a “master trainer” you should work towards preventing the constant battle between Safety and Dispatch – dispatch pushing drivers to pull loads that they cannot do legally and safely, and Safety coming back on them . . . I’m sure you know what I’m talking about . . . you have the opportunity to discuss more if you care to on our show 11-4-09 – http://tinyurl.com/yj2gs8q —- There are plenty Safety advocates out there . . . My main focus are the scams of the OTR industry …. thanks for the post —- Allen
YESTERDAY AND TODAY I, KC, AND SEVERAL OTHER HAD A NICE CONVERSATION WITH XXXXX AKA TONY! HE ALSO TOOK THE TIME TO READ SOME OF YOUR VERY ENTERTAINING STORY AND FOUND IT TO BE VERY AMUSING!. I WILL SAY HE DID SAY SOME THINGS THAT YOU SAID WERE TRUE BUT NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH. HE DID AGREE ON THE FACT THAT NO HE DIDNT COME ON TO YOU, BUT THAT IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE! HE REALLY COULDNT BELIEVE THE THINGS YOU SAID BC YOU DID GO TO SCHOOL TOGETHER AND OTHER THAN NOT GETTING ALONG WITH JJ, THE REST OF THE CLASS PRETTY MUCH GOT ALONG.
I WILL HAVE TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL LATER FOR I HAVE A LOAD TO GO DELIVER THEN GET HOME! I WILL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED AS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE “TONY” STORY FOR IT IS VERY INTERESTING! THATS ONE CO-DRIVER DOWN A FEW MORE TO GO!
I have removed the name you placed in the story instead of “Tony” I was curious of why you or this person felt it was him in the story? By doing so, doesn’t that show that he fit the character? Kind of like the old saying, “If the shoe fits, wear it”
Again, this is the writers story of her accounts and perspective of her experiences during CDL school and Company Training.
You are a third party trying to expose the characters in this story. Do these people know you are trying to put in their real names and in doing so associating them as the character?
Also, you can not speak for these people. If these people want their comments and opinions posted, then they must post themselves. After all, you could be saying anything….anybody can do that.
WHILE EVERYONE SITS AND CONTINUES READING YOUR INCREDIBLE STORY THEY MUST ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR STORY IS ONE SIDED AND THAT THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE NO GIVING THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY. SO BEFORE EVERYONE PASSES JUDEGMENT ON THESE PEOPLE PLEASE LET THEIR SIDE BE TOLD. THEY ARE ALL JUST NOW GETTING INFO AS TO WHERE THEY CAN READ ALL THIS AND IN DO TIME EITHER WILL POST THEIR COMMENTS OR AS xxxxx (Tony) DID WILL LET ME TELL THEIR VERSION OF THE STORY. MANY OF YOU HAVE NEGLECTED THE FACT THAT ANOTHER ONE OF DESIREE’S CODRIVERS HAS ALREADY POSTED AN REMARK & ITS SEEMS SHE ALSO SEES HOW CREATIVE DESIREE HAS MADE HER STORY: AND YES I COPIED AND PASTED CC’S POST SO EVERYONE COULD READ IT AGAIN.
“”2009.10.22 23:27, cc said:
I’m very happy for you Desiree… Your accounts of these events are a little over the top but that’s ok… There are a lot of good lessons here and I hope you ladies get what you need. You should really write a book girl because you have a great imagination. I thought I’d be upset about what was reported to me but if it’s not the truth how could it hurt. It’s too funny absolutely funny… One more thing you should really take something called self evaluation. You are too much… wish you the best girl, keep on trucking and stay safe.”"
I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT BECAUSE YOU FEEL THAT A COMPANY TREATED YOU UNFAIRLY DOESNT MEAN THAT IT WILL TREAT OTHERS THE SAME. WHAT GOES FOR ONE PERSON DOESNT GO FOR ALL!
WILL CONTINUE LATER!
Dear CC:
I’m glad you have been here and wondered if you stayed trucking. The last time I spoke to you you said you were thinking of going home. You also shared some of your training experiences with me and the guy we met at Carville shared some of his reminders when he was present at youe test out.
There is no way I could write all of the details, the good the bad then fun the drama with the amount of time I did all this in and complete my driving schedule.
Yes, this is my perspective so of course it’s one sided. I am a serious person. I like to work and I don’t like baloney. When it’s time for fun, I like to have fun. When I get focused on a project I zoom into it like Lion and I go for it.
I can be very short and impatient with people who are not as focused as I am when I am working on a project. I am competitvie, I like to win but I am not a sore loser.
I sit back an observe a situation before I attempt to attack it and I generally size up how everyone else failed before me before I make my strategy.
I am sometimes assumed to be aloof or a snob because I am very much an observer, I also do not socialize very much because it does not benefit anyone and wastes time.
I do try to listen to people who need someone to vent on, I do not have many solutions for them but I see that sometimes just listening to them helps them to blow off steam.
I do wish I had solutions though and that is the reason I wrote this story. I enjoyed meeting every single person and I had good days and bad with every one of them.
I wish you all the best.
Dear Cherie:
Donna did not want to moderate your comment because you are trying to take third hand comments and state them as facts. This is precisely why many of these occurrences are so intertwined it is because of the never-ending gossip mill.
So, already you are validating my story by associating who you believe fits the character description. The Rumor Mill, Junior High School He Said/She Said climate that our company conducts its training under.
This Student Trucker Story was written on a PDA 1 letter at a time over the course of a year and after I had sent over 88 emails of correspondence to the company documenting to superiors what was happening as it happened.
This story is a story from those documented events and because I wrote it on a PDA so there is a lot of information that is not included and I feel confident in saying “Tony: would not want all of those things published.
The story is meant to be both entertaining and informative to show the variety of personalities a prospective student will encounter in a “Team Business Model” Training experience and they should take that into account knowing that their crucial first 2 years will depend on getting through the training and the 6 month of team requirement.
You seem to be missing the entire point.
Also, as I said in my story, they were some posts that were lost because when I was trying to post with my PDA it crashed out and those posts were lost forever, some of those were about “Tony” who I named because of his manner. He seems to pride himself as being a very tough over dramatic “Tony Montana from the movie “Scarface”. He is cartoonish in his over dramatizations of events and he likes to make lots of grandiose statements.
I spent a good deal of time with “Tony” we went to school together and we lived in a truck together. At our CDL School as I said in my story, I had two friends I rode the train with everyday and we were called “The Three Musketeers”, “Tony knows that.
He also knows we all had a great camaraderie at CDL School; he was the only one who engaged “JJ” who was a freak. “JJ” actually was kicked of the truck during our final testing day at our CDL School by the instructor. “JJ” did not complete his test that day but was given a certificate anyways and landed up at our company.
There were 5 of us I think who came to our company from that class. When the administrator from our CDL School came to the course to schedule us for Orientation in Chattanooga we ALL asked to go the following week so we WOULD NOT see “JJ” again. Our administrator commented to me when I made the same request that I was the 5th person to say the same thing about “JJ”.
I have kept in touch with my 2 friends from CDL School and one of them saw “Tony” a few months back in Wyoming and said he did not stay to talk to him.
The reason is this, at CDL School and at Orientation we all were like Brothers and Sister. It was “Tony” who told me to get off the truck with the first guy who asked if I was a “Rasist” for resisting his badgering for sex. I teamed with that guy to accommodate “Tony” for his time off.
It was “Tony” who interviewed this guy with me before I got on the truck with him and it was “Tony” and another guy from my CDL School who carried my bags that night when I got on the truck with that guy and told him again very firmly “She’s here to WORK, she’s like our sister “.
The other person present that night was a guy named Oscar who also went to our CDL School. He suffered a severe concussion and would never drive again because his trainer at our company had him driving nights in winter with his little bit of experience and he hit black ice. That little bit of experience that Oscar had was less than the experience “Tony” ad I had. “Tony” is a good driver albeit impatient at the time. I was also a good driver despite I learned not nearly as much as I should have from my trainer. “Tony” was more advanced.
Oscar knew enough to pull over when he slid but another truck rear ended him. Oscar’s driving career was over just a few weeks into his “Finishing School” training at our company. Ask “Tony” about Oscar.
Also, I am not sure “Tony” knows he was on TV? By the craziest coincidence the Dan Rather Cameramen were filming at our CDL School in Miami when “Tony” was on the property with his new truck.
Even a funnier side note, I was also in Miami going to a shipper just down the street and passed “Tony’s” house and saw his truck parked in front of his place very close to the Shipper I was going to. After I picked up my load, he flew past me on I-95 going north.
I am not clear why he was at our CDL School in Miami when his house is just a couple miles away and he can park there, unless he was recruiting for our company. We had been offered that opportunity when we went to CDL School to be paid $75 to come to the School after and show new students our truck to help encourage them to come to our company.
I did not ever say that in CDL School or at Orientation we did not get along. To the contrary, we all watched out for each other.
When we arrived at the company for orientation we were very popular and had quite a bit of fun. I did not participate in all the night time fun with ‘Tony” and the gang but I was one of the group and we all kept in touch by texting during our training.
“Tony” had a good trainer, I did not. Still, “Tony” did get into it with his trainer and had to go to the Hutchins terminal to “Work it out”. I say “Good” as in he was through in training “Tony” all the “ins and outs” perhaps more so that “Tony” wanted to know and it rubbed him the wrong way.
On a personal level though they did not mesh and this was the source of their “blow out” The bottom line with my experience with “Tony” is this:
I knew him better than perhaps any other person. We had mutual friends, we went to school together, and he drove all of us at lunchtime in Miami. He told me about his Ex-Wife, his Kids and talked to me about the girls he liked, even one from orientation who I thought was pretty cool.
“Tony” and I experienced a lot together; we had some good days and bad days. I had a crappy trainer, he did not. I made special accommodations to team with him and tried multiple times to wriggle out of it because of his temper & his smoking and I was concerned that he did not pass his blood pressure check first go round. I think that is fair to say as I had no experience and we would be teaming in winter and I would be sleeping while he drove. I don’t know his entire medical history and seeing him fail that test made me worried. Especially when I saw his temper and his smoking.
“Tony” knew I was top in our CDL Class, he knew I was smart and capable but he has his own issues with letting himself relax with a “GIRL” at the controls capable or not, it freaked him out.
He is a highly excitable person. He is a huge component to my story because despite the fact that we were friends, he was quick to throw me under the bus when he feared I might tell on him that he wanted to roll on ice, not ONCE but Three times.
The truth is I never ran and tattletale on him that and MANY other things he did BUT HE did begin trying to lay a path to discredit me right away and I was not aware of how low he would go.
That is why our other friend from CDL School did not want to talk to him. That is why our friend in Michigan was disgusted that “Tony” who was part of a big group of friends who kept in touch and watched out for each other would throw me under the bus and try to paint a very different picture of the truth to cover his butt.
There are a number of eyewitnesses to the scene “Tony” made in Sacramento and in Pomona as well as emails I exchanged with our dispatcher and “Sam” while “Tony” was trying very hard to create a drama to cover him.
I was later apologized to by our dispatcher who admitted he made a mistake. “Sam” knew from before I got on the truck with “Tony” that I was trying to wriggle “out of” teaming with “Tony” because of his temper.
The spectacle “Tony” made in Pomona left many grown Men embarrassed for “Tony” and the way he behaved BUT something good came from it. I made some very good friends and it was at this time I knew a few good people to call for assistance as I forged ahead.
“Mag” was someone I had been trying to Hook “Tony” up with because they both lived in Miami but neither of them would have it. My objective was to keep rolling. I wanted to work. I did not know that at the time “Tony” and I had our Blow Out that “Bella” had just had one with “Mag” or I would have never gotten on his truck.
“MS” did know and did not do anything to prevent me from getting into a potentially violent situation.
Also, “Tony” had stayed in touch with “JJ” who had bragged about raping his girlfriend on his time off from our company. “Bella” had suffered a heart attack while teaming with “JJ” and she was then on a Truck with “Mag”, I am unclear all of what transpired and it is none of my business except that both “JJ” and “Mag” were known by “MS” to be potentially violent and she alone could have prevented me from getting on that truck and she did not.
There is so much more good and bad I could tell but the point of the STORY is to talk about the “Student Trucker Industry” you already have your information garbled by trying to recount what “You Heard”.
NOW, if “TONY” himself wants to go toe to toe, eyeball to eyeball on facts….. That will be something I will look forward to doing but I don’t think our company or our CDL School would appreciate it too much.
I am not trying to paint my self as some kind of Snow White which many people try to label me with. I can definitely hold my own verbally and physically. I don’t take any crap off anyone and like I told one of our management… “You poke me with a stick long enough you are going to meet someone you really do not want to meet”
Any of my Ex-Husbands will atest to that
Dear Cherie:
Once again, you are skimming into a story based on event with characters are making them facts.
I will say that I did not see CC’s post until now and I am glad to see it.
Still, it was me and CC there not you and it was me and “Tony” there and not you.
You keep wanting to go on a fact finding mission from a story BASED on events NOT from the actual dated documented details.
This story was created to help new students THINK about personality differences BEFORE they choose a company and get into a “Team Business Model” experience PLUS raise other questions.
I am not offended in the least. I like CC’s comment, I liked CC, there were things I liked about everyone and things I learned from everyone.
You are doing something I chose NOT to do in this story and that is name names because these are all characters meant to keep the readers interest AND paint a picture interesting enough that someone like Dan Rather would want to Investigate the REAL actual EVIDENCE that I collected and documented at the time this was really occurring.
You have actually printed peoples real names and tried to make this story thefactual document as though it was to be entered in a courtroom and it is NOT, it is the basis of other documents that are not public but have been provided to our Company and Dan Rather and the other Documentry Groups uncovering the Student Trucker Industry.
This story is also for prospective students to help them collect notes on what might help them make better decisions before they make commitments.
From CC’s post, it seems like she see’s that. No one wants to be immortalized without their input, thats why I changed the names, they are my opinions, you are trying to makes these images more than you should.
No one like a picture of them published without final approval.
I think you are trying to make something more REAL from a story rather than see what the moral of the story is and that is. Perseverance against all odds either real or imagined
Good news, Cherie! Other sides of the story can be heard! Tomorrow, 11-4-09 at 7PM EST – Our Blog Talk Radio Show – http://tinyurl.com/yj2gs8q – 90 minute show to give everyone a chance to give their side of the story!!!!! — Show call in number: (347) 826-9170
I’ll be looking forward to your call – Allen Smith
It would seem that someone that has multiple degrees in various disciplines where they would know the consequences of posting someones real name without permission must have an agenda that they would like brought forward. Seems the best person to tell ones side of a story is that person themselves.
Dear Mick
Yes I agree & I know there are personal agendas , the point of this story seems to be entirely missed by these few people but it is also an indicator of what goes on at my company.
This IS the climate & it is normal there unless one removes themselves from the daily gossip & strives to get a clear icture of ALL the trucking schools, training Companies, experienced companies, O/O & the major governing organizations like the ATA & OOIDA uon examining all of this you see this story simply was a catapult into a lager topic that many people in student trucking companies are not meant to ever understand.
Thus the Gossip Mill is encouraged & even longtime veterans engage in it
Dear Cherie & Greg:
Here is my personal Rape Story which includes some of the online stalking I have experienced since I began writing this story & some other information about how this crime played into my student trucker horror story.
There are links in it to look at the final legislation & the Wall Street Journal Article after the Texas Bill was passed.
“Tony” was the only one who knew I had a rape in my past & may have had some renewed trauma from being on that first truck.
“Tony” was my friend from CDL School we confided in each other many things.
This story is not about “Tony” but he is important because even someone who you have been friends with will change once they are put in a stressful situation.
Here is my Rape for your reading pleasure:
http://truckerdesiree.com/2009/04/21/texas-bill-hb-2932-sb-1558/
Alright truckers, I’m coming to this post because it seems to be the most frequently read on this page!! I’m going to post a link below and I really and truly hope that we can get some positive from the truckers in the country who read this. This young boy (senior in h.s.) was injured pretty badly in his last football game of his h.s. career! It’s questionable if this young man will ever walk again! He can use as many prayers as he can possibly get at this point!! Thanks in advance!!
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/korywiita/journal
I know this isn’t trucking related, just trying to get this young man in as many prayers as possible!!!
Never underestimate the power of prayer! Take one moment from whatever you’re doing for this young man….Allen & Donna
Thanks guys! Appreciate you approving this even though it’s not trucking related!
Let me start by saying I am a 29yr driver who has seen firsthand exactly what you describe. My wife was a trainer for a large carrier in the ’90′s. She told me about one of the male trainers touching her and then acting like he did nothing wrong when she decked him. HE was the injured party! Found out he was routinely giving his female students the “option” of the easy plan or just be a student. He was also involved with one of the female dispatchers and he was married.
Of course, my wife had to deal with female students who did not want to learn how to drive, as they were intended to be an extra logbook for their husband/boyfriend. One actually took a swing at her!
The company we were with would not allow male students to train with female trainers, but female students could go out with male trainers. I thought that was silly. But, not as silly as two newbies trying to learn together. Or as silly as trainer/students running team right out of the box. How do you teach from the bunk? How do you learn when you are exhausted? The politicians will tell you truck driving is an unskilled job anyone can do. I once tossed my keys to a state congressman with a challenge to get it out of the parking lot bobtail. He declined.
Not everyone understands the trucking industry, even the people inside. Companies have been using college-educated dispatchers for years, not always to good effect. Trucking is not like any other industry. Driving is not like any other job, the reason few people are suited to it. And a former driver is not necessarily a good dispatcher, nor a college-degree holding otherwise smart person.
As you might have guessed, I am not enthusiastic about our future. This industry has problems, no doubt. Allowing criminals to prey on unsuspecting people, male or female, is unexcusable. Allowing inexperienced people to train the needed new people is simply stupid. I personally will not ever turn a blind eye to sexual abuse or physical abuse. Bullies get no free pass. I always treat everyone I come into contact with like I would like to be treated. I never yell at dispatch or receivers or shippers. Sometimes, that isn’t easy. Trucking isn’t easy. And I have no easy answers. But I admire Desiree’s courage. She is remarkably similar to my wife.
Dear Christie:
I have taken the link you posted & put it on Twitter with a #Prayer Hash tag
There are lots of groups of people in Twitter who “RT, ReTweet” or forward and continue to circulate info… I find this caring circle of activity to be healing for my soul. Finding others who care about strangers from around the world has been the greatest gift I have gained from this writing experience.
Dear Rick:
Thanks for your comment. In a nutshell yes these are frequent well known problems but that the Trucking Industry has failed to take initiative to implement training & self-policing to correct.
Rather they spend more effort to cover it up & even this “Women in Trucking” Organization seems to be intended to facilitate the cover up by having a forum but actually its meant to corral & censor complaints much like an HR Dept. Operates.
Many of these situations require further training like as you would see from law enforcement investigators who PROFILE behavior.
That is costly but for a “team business model” you are bring this liabilty on yourself ( I mean the companies) because you are actually inviting the misconduct from poor support & training.
Tracy Tuttle-Hamm of the CRST Sex Harrassment Case joined us on the Blog Talk Radio show & expressed the idea of a watchdog advocate. This is a great idea & NOT a PHONY ADVOCATE like Ellen Voie or Sandy Long who are wanting to accomadate Men to “Fit in” & moderate posts by Women who seek support & berate them for seeking help.
Tracy posted on facebook she was disapointed our radio show was consumed so much we could not tap into a solutions debate & I was also bummed as well as many listeners who emailed me afterwards.
Hopefully we can have another show very soon for REAL SOLUTIONS …. in the meantime Both Tracy & I can be found on Facebook (its easier that Twitter) and we have got lots of Male & Female Truckers finding us & Supporting this Wave that is building for CHANGE in the Trucking Industry
If you actually go on the website, the father keeps a pretty frequent update going on his condition, some happy some sad, but very informative on his condition!!
Just think.. I passed my cdl permit with hazmat endorsements, DOT exam for Schneider, then their school went out of business a scant two years later. It would have taken over two years to pay off the exorbitant amount for the trucking school, and would have likely had to endure the 6 month otr with complete stranger as a partner. Think about this, people.
My grandfather was a trucker’s partner way back in the 40′s and 50′s. We heard the stories growing up, even then! He did not drive, he did all the heavy loading and unloading on a local route.
Just going to make a short comment about the CDl schools that are done in house at some companies……MONEY! not only are they making money off you, but they also are recieving money from the govt as re-imbursement per student, upwards of 6 grand per student. So,IMO it is a racket
Yup, you got it. We’ll be writing a post about it soon.
I voiced my opinion in a new blog at my site. Women, in fact, have been treated badly in just about anything considered ‘man’s world’ although things have actually improved over the past 20 years or so.
I think attitude carries a lot of weight and hope I can help women in the trucking arena.
Hi Judy, Thank you for posting. If I’m correct, you’ve been driving since the 70′s. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of stories to tell and we wouldn’t mind having you on our Blog Talk Radio Show to share with the many women followers we have. I’m sure Desiree would love to be on that show also, as well as quite a few women we know in trucking.
Thanks again for your comment and we’ll be sure to re-visit your blog again.
I am a woman that is sincerely looking into trucking as a profession. I hate to hear all the horror stories, and there is plenty that I am wondering about. I am just looking for a position that I can do my job and do it well, without all the BS. I just came from a company where I was the only female in that part of the company, and many of the guys didn’t like it. I have been yelled at, and told not to touch that because I was stupid. There was equipment that they refused to let me learn about, and the supervisors were in on that. That was thier problem, and I didn’t let it become mine. I did my job to the best of my abilities. I admired them for the knowledge and experience they had, and worked very hard to keep it civil. Some of the guys were great, and wanted to share everything they knew. I think trucking will be about the same, I just hope there are more good guys than jerks this time. If not, well, to bad, I am not a quitter.
Hi Lisa: There are “horror” stories for many industries and OTR trucking is no exception – for both men and women. There is no doubt that many newcomers to trucking still have to “pay their dues” in this business, and the ones who make it are those who stick it out and have the attitude that you have … “not a quitter.” With all the recent insights about women trainee harassment, etc., I can understand your concern. Just keep in mind, that there are thousands of women drivers who are driving successfully and enjoying their careers. You have the right attitude . . . with the right cdl school and the right company, you can make it work.
I am a lady driver that has lost my job do to a Federal felony hit and run. I like you Lisa heard the horror story’s but that did not keep me from it. I was born to drive. What i mean is that i was born in a Peter built on the side of the road and my hole family were at one time driver. I love been OTR, i could not get enough of it. hell you get payed to travel who could ask for a better job then driving.
I have meat some ppl when i was OTR that would make you question your self but with the right frame of mind any one can do it. If i could find the right company to go back OTR i would do it in a heart beat. I miss the road a lot. Its always nice to hear from other lady drivers out there and to see that i was not the only one that had to put up with the harassment from ppl. I could sit here and name names but i will not for each and every one of them know how they were.
be safe out there every one
Hello:
I paid for my own cdl. training, I did not go to a company school I did alot of research and found a very good qualified school in my area. I enjoyed the training of my instructor… I made it fit what i needed, I even took two extra weeks because I wanted to have extra time to be comfortable backing up. We as ladies and gentlemen have more control and influence over our training and our JOB! Yes some want to continue to live in the dark ages…. but we are not in the dark ages!!!!! My codriver and I work for a great company out of Bryon center, MI. We are treated as the same, get the same pay which is good and are made to feel valued as a person, driver and team member. I say if you are being abused move on to a better company!! they are out there. I do agree document every thing…. it is better for you as a driver if a question does ever come up you can look back at your records by date and load numb. and give name, numbers and important info…. We have a copier scaner in truck and use it alot. To any Ladies looking in to driving otr it is a tough job, but if you are cut out for it well worth it if you get with a good company!!!! I have had a few macho additudes but I rise above it and allow them to look stupid. for the most part I have had very positive experiances and I love my JOB choice : )
Got to go drive in the sun now, Be safe and GODS SPEED!!!
First of all, any driver that has 2 years of over the road experience only getting a mere 27 cents a mile is ignorant. I have 13 years over the road and have been a trainer for a lot of the time. 90% of the trainers in the industry today are about the money they get from training. They are not about actually training the person to actually drive the truck correctly. As far as training goes, no trainer should release a student until they have endured every type of weather condition and every type of terrain in a truck. I have been a master trainer for more than 9 years now and I refuse to train any students anymore since the companies think they should be trained in a few weeks. I am sorry but when I was trained, I endured 12 weeks of training from coast to coast. The only weather I never endured was winter, but have mastered winter weather since. I will never chain (throw iron) for any company. The loads are not worth my life, if they want me to chain then they can come get the load.
As far as Covenant goes, I will not degrade them, but I will never work for them since they have their heads in their butts thinking the trucks getting better fuel mileage at a slower speed. I have been running a Freightliner Classic with a 13 speed, 500 Detroit and 3.55 rear ends for 5 years and I get better fuel mileage at 72-74 mph. I will not work for less than 40 cents a mile as a company driver either.
Every statement is a true that Desiree about trainers is true being that I have been a trainer. I know first hand, anyone that disagrees with her is evidently not a very good trainer and can not take constructive criticism. I have had trainees that have begged me to train others they knew, but that put too much strain on me to constantly be gone from home trying to train all I could the correct way.
I can assure you that Trucker Desiree is not ignorant. Even though she may be at .27 CPM, she has remained with the company in order to build the required experience needed.
With all the crap drivers have to go through, why would you start off by calling her ignorant, and then agreeing with her that everything she states is true? Owner Operators who takes a load from NY to Ohio for $417 . . . are they ignorant too? Or is everyone just trying to do their best to make ends meet these days? Ignorance is all of those veteran drivers who have kept their mouths shut for all these years, allowing this crap to continue on and on.
Veteran drivers have always been comfortable just sitting back and whining about the issues among themselves, but never stepping up and working to bring it out publicly … much easier to just “complain” among themselves.
It took a one year rookie who had the guts to speak out to bring attention to so many injustices within the industry, while all those big-time veterans kept their mouths shut and continued to post the same old “blah, blah, blah” on the meaningless trucking forums out there, achieving nothing.
And now, driving veterans want to ride Desiree’s shirt tail exclaiming, “Look at what I’m doing for the industry!”
I have more respect for this 2 year veteran working for .27 CPM than I do for any of those hot-shot veterans who have kept their mouths shut for 20-30 years.
Allen Smith
Most of the guys were really cool in my class. Two of the guys & me became very reliant on each other., we were called “The 3 Musketeers”
There was one guy who was esspecially beligerant and alienated himself from our class, was kicked off the training truck during his final but still given his diploma and went on to be recruited by Covenant Transport where he went on to cause more trouble for his trainer, and the charachter “Bella” in this story.
I refer to him as “JJ” He was one of the two people in my CDL class who got Hazaradous Materials Endorsement when we got our permits which I thought was very odd.
One guy was a former Drug Trafficker “Tony” in this story and “JJ” who had obvious “Issues”.
He is not longer at Covenant but he is out there somewhere with that endorsement.
I believe he thought by berating me he elevated himself but he actually polarized the rest of our group against him, except for “Tony” who enjoyed egging on his bad temper for entertainment
I was the only girl as well. I had four in our class and then it thinned to three. We got along pretty well and were called the three musketeers too. Then we added our instructor so I had to become 3 musketeers and Princess Leia.
I have been reading your entries right through my morning holiday, and I will have to admit the whole article has been very enlightening and rather well written. I assumed I would let you know that for some reason this weblog does no longer view smartly in Web Explorer 8. I want Microsoft might prevent converting their software. I have a question for you. May you thoughts replacing weblog roll links? That would be in point of fact neat!
Hi Desiree. I am a male, but thank you for your excellent information on YouTube. I am currently in Truck Driving School (I’d love to mention which one because they are suppose to be so good). Anyway, I’ll try to make this short as I really respect you. I did great in the classroom and written test. Received all endorsements. On the range, I am having trouble with the offset parking and a little trouble on the road. Actually, I think I’m a better driver than on the range. My biggest point is; I’m not improving like I should because all they do is YELL at you when you make a mistake on the range. Maybe that works for some; not me. I’m very educated and have even taught before. All this yelling and non constructive criticism has zapped my confidence! Now, I get so nervous on the range; not due to my performance, but the verbal abuse. It is very disappointing and even failed my first driving test. Any thoughts, suggestions? Thank you so much. Greg Simmons