Is There Sex Discrimination Against Women Truck Drivers?
There are thousands of women across the United States who enjoy the lifestyle of an over the road truck driver. Although the number of women in trucking have virtually remained the same for the past 20 years, there is still a desire in many women who would like to give a trucking career a try.
Recent news of a trucking company out of Pennsylvania who was ordered to pay $2.43 million dollars in a sex discrimination suit, poses the question: Is there sex discrimination against women truck drivers? And if so, how serious is it? With 30 years of trucking under my belt, I seldom, if ever, heard anything about this issue. Until recently . . . and I receive quite a few emails from women across the country sharing their stories of sexual harrasement within the trucking industry.
Are the women drivers making the same amount of money in trucking, as their male counter parts? The answer to this, should be “yes.” Based on what I am hearing, however, there are those female drivers that are coping with much greater problems than the media is willing to be let known.
I would like to hear more from the women truck drivers out there. Is sex discrimination a problem out there for women drivers? Is this an issue that would-be women truckers need to be concerned about? We are preparing to air a show concerning this topic in the near future, on our trucking talk radio show.
Help me out ladies . . . is there a problem? If so, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” will let it be known.
Thanks,
Allen Smith
The #1 Trucking Information Available
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The phrase “Sexual Harrasment” has such a abhorrent label that its mere usage sends people running for the hills.
I wish we could find a new term to deal with this problem.
If you are NEW to Trucking and you do not know anything about it, you will find an attitude of superiority among persons who are your first line of information.
These are often people in support and training positions who will lead you to believe that what they say is “The end all be all”
That is FALSE!
There are GOOD Men & Women who are willing to help, its just hard to get past the “Naysayers” who want you to fail.
That environment is WHY Predators are able to find fertile hunting grounds in Trucking.
Predetors prey on the weak and disinfranchised.
As a single woman looking for help to learn to be a Professional Driver I had to be obnoxciously tenacious to survive my first year because people in charge do not want to know or hear about Women being abused in Trucking.
Still, they are actively recruited and expected to be put in teams with predatory co-drivers or taught by predatory trainers.
There is a disparity between the Women who come into Trucking & leave disgusted.
I know of Rapes & Abuse that goes unreported because they are treated like they had it coming for entertaining the thought of becoming Female Truckers.
Perhaps the most disappointing is that its often other Women in this Industry who do the finger pointing & need serious re-training.
The majority of Truckers I’ve met DO NOT behave like animals. They are thoughful & helpful.
Unfortunately its those 7 or 8 Men& Women I have crossed paths with in my first year that could have derailed my entire Trucking Career.
Thankfully I persisted to find literally 100’s who were the opposite, who want to “Raise the Standards” in ALL aspects of Trucking.
Name Calling & Labeling is just as abusive as the abuse itself.
I owe a debt of Gratitude to Allen & Donna Smith for permitting me to share my story
I’ve been a driver for a little over two years and have been fortunate to have had great experiences. I am not otr primarily but still hit warehouses as well as my regular deliveries. I train female drivers in my facility because some of the males are not allowed to (jealous wives, believe it or not)
I have found throughout my life that “harassment” is often a reflection in personality. I have a strong, friendly, charming personality and I have always found ways to diffuse potential situations.
I have had some of the opposite issues in that some of the men I work with thought I was shown favoritism. What it really boiled down to is, if your dispatcher trusts you, your customers are treated well, and you are respectful and kind to EVERY person you come in contact with in the work day, you wont have to worry about “harassment”
My coworkers watch my back. They have taught me things and stood up for me. I hear jerks on the radio that badmouth women as soon as we open our mouths, and those same jerks are put in their place almost immediately. I have found most drivers are willing to help if you are stranded and have had them sit in their rigs to make sure i recvd help.
Yes, there will always be idiots out there, but thats the way it is for anyone.
I have had to train females with chips on their shoulders and oned who were looking for “harassment” and have seen both sides.
As far as sexual harassment goes, it is in the eye of the beholder. If you dont have a supportive employer, go find another. Male, female, black, white, purple or pink, its in your own power to make your own way.
I see more and more women entering the trucking field every month. The thing that amazes me, the drop-out rate from my women graduates is much less than the men. I don’t know if this is just because a woman that decides to do it is more determined or because, of course, I am dealing with many more men.
Regardless, from my experience, women truckers are powerful, determined and successful. Go ladies!
Drive safe,
Tanya from Eagle