woman drivers

[dianaslovechild]

I would like to address any women drivers out their. I am planning on attending school next year and would female point of view. maybe some stories otL? Or opinions of your driver trainer. Already picked school. no contracts. want to be free agent.All opions welcome. Yes men too. thanks

diana

[frogjumper]

hi,for starters i know the rules have changed in the past 10yrs, i was grandfathered in and so were most of us women 10yrs ago. but as for that. if you know a driver co. or o/o that can work with their company to get u ur cdl permit,then allow u to train on that particular truck,then in 2-3 wks u can get ur cdl. but remember u must stay on that truck,and with that company for 6mos t a year, b4 any other company will look at u. and starting from a school. u start at or below minimum wage for the 1st yr. so get redy for a lot of let downs and some fun. bring extra clothes and sleepin bag,and ur camera. and bring an attitude. outhere u may need it.

[sxsrch3]

first off yes i am a man. i can not talk about the famale point of view or driver trainer events as far as the female looks at it. however i did just get my cdl 2-3 yrs ago. i got it on my own. frogjumper is currect you will need to get about a year in before any well paying company will look at you. however the larger firms do take on drivers straight out of school. I would suggest you to first find out if the school you have choosen is acceptable by the outfit you wish to drive for. i told many other drivers in general that i drove for company A, i got called the nick name for the drivers of the company but all of them asked me how long i had until my contract was up with them. the question was in referance to the fact that these larger trucking outfits say that they will pay for your schooling but in return you must work for them for a year or more with the lowest pay. I found that if you pay for your schooling on your own the larger companies will reimburse you for your schooling. the companies i refer to drive white volvos and company A drives blue trucks and trlrs. I wish you the best of luck in your adventure into this industry and enjoy the ride.

[angeldriver_PREV (deleted)]

Hi Diana,
How are you, Glad you are lookin into driving, I'm not only a driver but a trainer also... not to scare you but this is a tuff job an all the ads for makin big money is a bit misleading, you can make good money but that is down the road a bit when you get your training wheels off so to say( first year average is 20 to 25 G). Although it is easer starting with one of the big companies you won't be happy in the long run. They usully pay 21 to 25cents a mile where as smaller companies will pay in the 30cent range.
I recomend checking into a driving school, although you will have to foot the bill in the begining you wont be under contract to have to work under one company plus most companies now will reimburse your cost as long as you stay driving for them. I highly recomend Roadmaster as a school for 2 reasons, one there a very good school an train you hard on backing ( hardest part of this job ) an two you get a lifetime membership with them in case you ever need refreshing or job placement..
Best of luck an see you out there soon
Debbie
Arnold Transportation
Florida USA
PS my company does take students out of school startin pay when you get your own truck is 34cents a mile

[trucklady68]

`Hello, im a woman truckdriver who went on my own to a school so I can work for my company as a driver. First Id like to say its the best move I made and I also haul steel on a flatbed as well as box deliveries. Im a little over a year driving and the pay keeps getting better and better. I get paid by the hour not mile, im home every night and im regional. Great job, plus union and benefits and id say get a year in anywhere then go for company.

[thelittleguy]

`I got paid to train. Look @ smaller to medium-sized companies, usually close to home.
First, the terminal is near home, not across the country.
Second, get your permit and medical cert.
Third, look at companies with around 300 trucks and usually run regional.
the company I went with paid me while they trained me to get my CDL. They paid me for the 6 weeks that I was out with an OTR trainer. Then, they put me in my own truck @ 30CPM. I had to agree to stay with them for a year, but after that period I owed them nothing. I stayed with them for 2 years and really have nothing bad to say about them. I just decided that i'd found a decent lease-purchase program company and am now owner/op.
My recommendation for OTR trainer is to ask for a trainer that goes into difficult areas. My first 3 weeks out was with an NYC dedicated regional trainer. Sounds scary right? here's the benefit. They are dedicated because they know the area and are experienced at getting in and out of NYC. If you learn scam in and out of difficult areas under experienced supervision, then the rest is easy and you'll be a better driver for it.

[chelle31m]

`i went to school and team drove with my hubby for 3yrs until my girl got sick but i have to say i loved it... i went to school and i was lucky my hubby was my trainer we had r own truck i loved it going everywhere.. when my girls get older we r going to team back up again.... just learn all u can and ask all the ?s u have... if u like to travel and freedom ull love trucking....goodluck!!!

[blastinstar (deleted)]

`good luck with your mentor, he or she will try to drive into the ground, be tuff and stand your ground, speak your mind dont let them treat you like a dog, get your rest and find the time to eat or bring your own food on the truck so if you get a mentor that wont stop you can still get to eat, that truck is your to during the training time when your driving if you have to pull in somewhere to take a break do it, if you get tired pull over and sleep if the mentor gets mad well at least your alive.

[lovepotion]

`First Hello Ladies.... welcome to the world of trucking.. I love it, However I drove with my x-hubby for years...with out a CDL " I know crazy" he didnt want me to get my CDL's,, well after the split..I did went to school all alone but I did it...I have taken a year off to help my Son out Im hoping to get back to the road by the first of the year..I drove flatbed, dry box and over size... Take Care be safe....Gypsy

[longhaul6444]

`as far as not oweing a company a year, look into a school that isn't sponcered by a company. there are schools like cdt roadmaster and a few others. as far as paying for the school , might want to check with the local unempolyment agency, some states will help low income or no income people who want to learn to drive go to school for it. best part is you don't pay anything back and you don't owe a company a year. good luck and be safe

[z71girl76 (deleted)]

ive been driving six years .. ive been around it all of my life so it is something i just knew how to do.. its competative.. and also stressful at times .. ive been hauling commodities for the past 3 years .. for wemon it can be hard as hell... you just need to put your mind to it and figure out whats the easiest way for you to do things... me of course i picked a very labored driving position.. i like that it challenges me .. trying to get the truck into a positon that just doesnt look possible.. just dont let anyone tell you that it cant be done.. still today i go into dairies and the feeder guy looks at me like im nuts lol .. its gradifying when your done with the job and he walks up to shake ur hand letting you know he apreciates your hard work and skill... there will be times when you will want to kick someone in the --- but its all worth it in the end.. deep breaths help alot in the trucking world

[tammylouise (deleted)]

`wow its so diffrent in the us im just starting out but am part of a group called mother truckers we quite a small group but we support each other and there are alot ladies that give me advice i would say its night a job for the light hearted and really work out what you want first this is my life change as use to train horses till i had my son now need to be senasble nice to meet you all men include happy trucking and be safe where ever you are :)

[truckerjerry76 (deleted)]

this is my jaded view,

first of all, pay.
you will likely not see a paycheck of more than $250/week for that first 6 months. after that maybe $400/week for the first year.

second, tuition.
yes, i am well aware that there are some trucking companies that offer to reimburse your tuition after a one year commitment, however, when the time gets near for your trucking company to pony up the dough, you will find yourself hunting for another job............ poof just like magic!

third, hometime.
dont expect to see home for more than 1 or 2 days every month, because no matter what the recruiter told you that trainer that is teaching you gets first priority on hometime.

i wish i could find a way to communicate what i see when a woman driver is walking back to her truck and is mistaken for a hooker, but alas, that one is to difficult.
the waitress at a truckstop wont come by to take your order because she is waiting for your husband to join you.
the security guard calls the police and is getting ready to charge you with trespassing because he thinks your a hooker, AND HE HASNT EVEN SAID HELLO YET!
the other drivers are revving engines and flashing lights because they hope to hell you are a hooker.
at a dock you can expect to be talked about behind your back by other drivers, because they all want to think that they are better than a woman!
you can expect that if you get on the cb radio to ask your fellow drivers for help with anything from a breakdown, to directions, or a weather report, you can expect to hear something repugnant like "you help me i'll help you." and there are many other challenges that face a first year woman driver that i am forgetting to mention here.

BUT ONE NIGHT!
you get to drive east out of the setting sun through the mountains, on a little 2 lane road, no traffic, no people, no worries, good coffee.
listen to the radio as the stars come out to play and ........... HOLY s---!!! THE BIG DIPPER REALLY IS BBIIIGGGG!! it fills your drivers side window from doorpost to over your shoulder, and orion fills your windshield!
and in the end, all the sacrifices, are more than worth it, this is trucking, and you start to feel sorry for the poor sucker that has a 9 to 5 job.