A question was asked if women were being stereotyped in the trucking industry. Here was my answer.
I remember when I first got in to trucking back in 1990, women were treading in to the male territory. I heard it all over the CB radio. "Go back home, woman, to the kitchen where you belong!" That was probably the most common statement that I'd hear over the CB besides, "Shut Up Stupid." Goodness!
Well, after wading my way through all that mess and years of "proving that I can do it" in the trucking world, I was able to be an Owner/Operator, OTR trainer, Driver Instructor, Orientation facilitator and even a Driver Ambassador.
Women are becoming more and more common in the trucking industry now. Many as team members with their significant others. I've even seen retirees go to trucking so that they could travel and make money doing it. Paid tourists! Now, that's the life, right?
With the industry also leaning towards the automatic transmissions, the influx of new drivers was opened up to new territory. Women, and men, that either didn't want to learn or couldn't learn the gear shift, even in a 4-wheeler, could now join the trucking industry without the fear of grinding gears. They could just put the rig in drive and hang on to the steering wheel and they are in the world of trucking. Who was to know the difference? If those drivers didn't want to be seen driving an automatic, the simple resolution would be to put a plunger on the floor and just pretend! Ha! Now who's to know?
The stereotype I believe is changing more and more. Women probably will never take over the trucking industry, but men are accepting us a lot more easily. Will it cure the truck driver shortage? Probably not since the consumer age will always grow requiring more things to be shipped across the country.
That's my take on it anyway. By the way, loved the shows Convoy and Smokey and the Bandit.
Breaker, Breaker One Nine....what's your twenty?
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