Archive for the ‘Awareness’ Category

Women have proved to be reliable and efficient truck drivers, but recruiting, training and retaining them effectively in the trucking industry offers unique challenges. During the recession, when loads were scarce and the driver shortage mostly vanished, carriers had little reason to rework their employment process in a way that would speak to woman drivers.

Now, however, trucking insiders predict a massive shortage of drivers in the wake of the federal government’s new Compliance, Safety, Accountability safety-measurement program, which is expected to oust low-scoring drivers from the employment pool. That means higher-scoring woman truckers and women interested in becoming truckers will find themselves popular with carrier employment recruiters, who need to do their homework and find out what makes a female job candidate choose one carrier over another.

Women drivers are recruited by some carriers at levels exceeding 25%, but currently comprise only 5% to 6% of the driving population. Unfortunately, few woman drivers are able to withstand the manner in which their training is conducted — and those who do realize quickly that the recruiters played up the romance of the open road and glossed over some significant drawbacks for women.

I believe it is time to fully address these things so the trucking industry can move forward, and my first piece of advice for recruiting women is: “GET REAL.”

This is not a “pedicure and nylons” profession, and the female counterpart to the fabled “Knights of the Road” is not “Truck-Driving Barbie.” Explain the hardships inherent in navigating 80,000 pounds of metal through congested traffic, the danger of sleeping in the cab at unpoliced truck stops, and the sheer inconvenience of not being able to shower every day. Downplaying those things increases driver turnover when the truth hits home.

That is not to say that Pretty Girls cannot drive a big rigs, but trucking is still very much like the wild west & the unsupervised nature of the work presents personal safety issues that must not be glossed over.

Potential and new-to-the-profession women truck drivers need to be able to seek advice from other women in their company, and that support also should be available on an industry level. Perhaps American Trucking Associations and/or individual state trucking associations could provide professional support and information systems for female drivers and direct them to carriers in their area with good track records for recruiting and retaining women drivers.

A vital part of retention is understanding women drivers’ needs and remembering that it’s most often a single woman, not her married counterpart, embarking on a truck-driving career. Things important to a single woman driver differ from those of single male, married male and married/significant-other team drivers. Often as not, a single woman driver not only manages her truck from the driver’s seat, but her household as well — particularly if she’s also a single mother.
Unlike a married man driving solo, a single woman trucker generally lacks a support system at home a phone call away. Indeed, many times she is the entire support system for her family while she is on the road. An employer who wants to retain her services as a driver must understand that she needs to be more flexible when taking home time and might even want to take it at different locations in order to visit grown children, grandchildren or to deal with elderly parents.

Training also is critical for retaining women drivers and should begin prior to the classroom with recruiters giving female recruits an accurate depiction of all aspects of a life in trucking, ensuring that only informed and truly interested women enter training.

Because truck driving is still a mostly male profession, trainers tend to use techniques designed for men. As more women enter training, trainers need to incorporate the cultural lessons of the 1992 bestseller “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.” While women do need the same driving and compliance training provided their male counterparts, they also need gender-specific training on the personal challenges and dangers inherent in life on the road.

For example, being women means we are far more susceptible than men to personal attacks. Carrier trainers need to discuss and address these dangers head on, instead of avoiding the subject because it’s “sensitive.” Night parking in well-lit areas, companion dining where possible, locked cabs at all times and emergency response training all should be a required part of classroom training.

Carriers also must establish supportive policy to protect their women drivers. Unfortunately, the risk of attack for women is not confined to outside sources. I personally know women who were assaulted by male drivers who were their co-workers with the same carrier. This risk is particularly great in mixed-gender team situations. Some trainers & other authority figures will often “show up” at orientation centers to sort of “troll” for incoming single females who are vulnerable & looking for a friend. Incoming women entering trucking must educate themselves on how this can set them off on the wrong foot & derail their long term success as truck drivers.

A company must have a strict policy against sexual harassment that extends to any and all encounters with women drivers who are co-workers. An abuse reporting procedure also must be provided that is confidential, responsive and reacts quickly to investigate and resolve issues.

Too many female drivers are lost from the industry in the first year because of misleading recruiting, shallow training and carrier failure to address personal safety issues. That’s unfortunate because women truck drivers are usually meticulous, safe and take great pride in their work — and because truck driving can be a rewarding profession regardless of gender.

Women who stay in trucking do so because it provides a freedom most haven’t experienced before and an opportunity to take pride in a job that’s critical to our economy. Women can be a large part of the solution to the upcoming driver shortage if carriers are willing to adapt their recruiting and training programs to address our cultural and personal differences.

Until big trucking can free themselves of the denial that is hurting women entering trucking & “GET REAL” I have taken the initiative to utilize you tube for series of videos that use tough talk about real issues for those entering truck driver training. “Advice for Women entering Trucking” is just one of many more to come on this topic to keep women safe by educating them before they are harmed in truck driver training.

Technorati Tags: American Trucking Association, ATA, CDL Training, Harassment, Lady Truck Drivers, Recruiting, Retention, Sexual Harassment, Truckers, Trucking, Women Truckers, You Tube

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Human trafficking means modern day slavery and it is a lucrative criminal activity which exploits human beings for the benefit & satisfaction of another. The victims are often women and children who perform work and/or sex acts against their will by means of intimidation and coercion.

Often immigrants who speak little english who have a dream for a better life are the misled by advertisments promising jobs in other countries. They are abducted and held captive until they are “groomed” or “broken”. Feigned love, deception, isolation & intimidation are other tactics used to gain control of the “target or “mark” which is the naive person who has answered an advertisement or sometimes a runaway who is searching for a safe haven. The method used to abduct such persons can be complex. Sometimes the “mark” was once in a relationship with the person who is now their captor. Never knowing that the relationship was always a front to engange them emotionally in order to control them later.

This is what a Pimp does, another form of Human Trafficker or slaver. This is not glamorous.

Some mistake smuggling people into the country such as illegal immigrants who pay for transport into the U.S.Borders for voluntary work to be the same but this is not the case. People who smuggle people for this purpose are called “Coyotes‘ in the southwest. The people smuugled by a “Coyote” are generally set free but in human trafficking they are not. If you are a movie buff check out the film “Crash ” , there are many elements in this movie about ourselves and the cycle we all perpetuate.

The United States of America is one of the largest consumers of child sex and our country helps fuel the sex tourism industry worldwide. Denial is not a solution for a problem like this, that only helps it get stronger. I have said this before about denial which permeates the trucking industry but now individual truckers can make a difference to show they care by keeping their eyes open and becoming educated on this topic.

The basis of all commodities is their worth and human beings can be sold multiple times. Human beings can be used over and over until they escape or die. In trucking we see many unusual things but at days end we are tired and often look the other way. Once your eyes have been opened to this issue perhaps you might not be able to put it out of your mind if you understand that there are people who are being held against their will, brainwashed, fearful and who are being forced to do things for the benefit of a captor. Abuse to these victims can be both physical and mental so damaged are some of these people that they truly believe there is no other reality except for the one the captor has made for them,

“Truckers Against Trafficking” is an organization dedicated to raising awareness inside the trucking industry to this issue and they are asking for your eyes and ears to report activities seen that indicate behavior related to human trafficking. Wallet Cards provide simple information to help you understand better that what you might view as voluntary prostitution may in fact be trafficking of victims who are being held as slaves. The cards can be downloaded or you can contact Chapter 61 Ministries and they will send some to you. I received a package of them and I leave my tip inside them for the waitstaff when I eat at truck stop restaurants. I have been thanked by waitstaff who said they often see very upsetting things but never knew who to call. A waitress in Arkansas told me she often goes home at night wondering what she could have done to report disturbing things she has seen at her place of employment.  Here is a picture of a wallet card .

The truck stops have not embraced the idea of putting information in the womens restrooms and this is actually one of my pet projects to get them to not only put some help phone numbers in ladies rooms for the National Human Trafficking Hotline but also for National Domestic Violence Hotline .  As we all know, being held in a truck and being isolated from the outside world is a TRUTH in trucking , a real possibility. Using the ladies room or shower might be the only time a woman has a chance to be alone for a few moments.

If the truck stops can sell studded condoms in their bathrooms and cleansing wipes to kill herpes after unprotected sex they can sure as hell put up a flyer to help women who ARE NOT doing this by choice! I want to know why NATSO the “National Association of Truck Stop Owners” has not made “Truckers Against Trafficking” awarenes project a priority! I am personally offended when I am solicited to buy gold chains, drugs & 2 boxes of milk duds when I only want one box but told I am soliciting if I leave brocheres for “Jason’s Law” The Safe Trucker Parking Bill OR “Truckers Against Trafficking” wallets cards by Truck Stop management!

Educating the truck stop owners and management will go a long way but understand the the truckers are the ones on the ground who are using the facilities and seeing the unusual behavior.

When I attended the “Mid-America Truck Show” in Louisville this past March I stopped by to speak to the Chaplin at the Transport for Christ booth who shared with me that crime DECREASES at truck stops where they have a chapel and INCREASES shortly after they have lost their lease agreements.

I agree that individual management is a factor as I stated in Allen Smith’s informative “Blog Talk Radio” on this topic with Kylla Leeburg of Chaper 61 Ministries who joined the program to educate us on this important topic. I have included the archived show so you can listen to the replay.

Technorati Tags: Human Trafficking, NATSO, Transport for Christ, Truck Stops, Trucking, Women

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Welcome to REAL Women in Trucking, this site is to disseminate FREE Information to help keep you Safe and Informed without judging your personal self or lifestyle.

It is the result of a campaign by Industry Spokewomen to cover up, discredit , repackage and take credit for the obstacles that have been overcome by REAL Women Truckers.

At this time, there is No Guidance by Trucking Industry Leaders to make Enforcement of Federal Laws a Priority with regards to Women. At the same time, Women are being heavily recruited into the Trucking Industry and the internet is full of misleading ads, charlatans and carpetbaggers who seek to benefit from recruitment but do not want to address personal safety unless they can make a buck off it.

Change is coming , but until then it’s really up to YOU to know who and what the obstacles are and find your own way around them.  This may not be so easy if you are just entering the trucking industry. The nice lady in the office might not really be inclined to assist you. The nice organization you buy a membership for may not care about little ole YOU. The structure may be so large that even people who want to help are forbidden to share inside info.

Even with all the good and bad advice you can gather, you will have to rely on your own good judgment, and sometimes this might get you in trouble. This site is about telling you the Truth.

Trucking is good if you are adaptable, don’t mind not being able to shower every day, can be away from home for long periods of time.

To survive your first couple years you should have no overhead, no car or rent to pay, otherwise you will be stressed out and that is no way to learn. Do Not Believe ADS or Recruiters, their objective is to get a commission; they could care less about your success. Also, you must realize many trucking organizations exist to further confuse and are actually a front for a recruitment machine and even insurance sales.

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people – Eleanor Roosevelt

The method to confuse truckers and new trucking students is so prevalent that personal attacks should be your first red flag that a collaborative cover up exists. Complacency and vague answers are another clue. Retaliation for speaking out in trucking is legendary.

This is why there are No Memberships & No Forums where you have to include your personal information. This is a place for you to gather information and not be attacked.

We are proud to say we have made the topic of Harassment “HIP” to discuss on many Trucking sites. This is due in part to the Dan Rather Report Series into Trucking. The four part series is based on CLUES Desiree Wood provided to discuss topics she saw as a civilian entering trucking.  Desiree Wood wrote about her experiences from CDL School and as a Student at Covenant Transport. The show titles are “Queen of the Road”, “Truck Talk”, “Mind Your Loan Business” & “Haul or High Water” they can be viewed by going to the iTunes Store and Searching up “Dan Rather Reports”, each episode is $1.99.

 The story is on the web site “Ask the Trucker” and it is called “A Day in the Life of a Lady Trucker”. To read it in its entirety you must first scroll to the bottom of the comments and click the link that says “Read all ### Comments”, then they drop down from top to start the beginning of the post.

The back-story and commentary of cover-up are on the “Trucker Desiree” site.

The desired effect in writing these posts was to prompt action, awareness and it is working as more drivers both men and women are coming forward to talk about this longtime problem which is an abuse of power.

As we come together to form unity among Male and Female truck drivers, it also clear WHO is NOT unifying but rather seeking to divide. This is how we can begin to determine who may benefit from covering up abuse and misconduct.

There are tons of tools for corporate training, certainly no one in the trucking industry needs to reinvent the wheel BUT enforcement is an issue. Retaliation is an issue. The endless articles and media campaigns for solutions cannot fix this problem if there is no guidance at the very tippity top.

That’s where our Media Savvy comes in.

Women Truckers have proven they CAN competently do the job of Trucking for a number of years.  The First Licensed Female Truck Driver was “Lillie Elizabeth Drennan” who received her license in 1929.  Doing the job is not the problem though.

While luxuries such as Private Showers have advanced, some of the situations have remained the same, such as the topics in this 1976 Article in TIME Magazine about “Bitsy” Gomez, The Sexes-Women Truckers

Fast Forward to 2009 when CRST Van Expedited had the upper hand on the EEOC in a case that began with 265 Females Truckers reporting various degrees of abuse. The case was reduced to 35 and then dismissed because the EEOC was unable to file it properly but thankfully the Judge left to door open for an appeal with her comments given in the opinion that the cases have “Meritorious Credit”, some cases were settled out of court by the lucky few Women who could afford a private attorney.

The appeal for the CRST Sex Harassment Cased was filed on November 30, 2009, you can read more about it by clicking HERE , Should this appeal fail the taxpayers will be left to pay the enormous $4.5 Million in attorney fees.

 This should make every American very angry and take action to see these government funded trucking companies continue to do more of the same and use high powered law firms to sweep their dirt under the rug.

Another recent case involves Prime and brings up number of other questions in this debate forum about how far behind the Trucking Industry is when it come to seeing the “Big Picture” ahead as more Women show the desire to become Truckers. Read the Prime Judgment and Opinions HERE

Now that we have Anne Ferro as FMCSA Administrator maybe we can get more people to listen to REAL Women in Trucking and have a shot for a REAL change, not just a smoothed over version.

More Female Trainers is only part of the Solution, better training for all with check and balances to eliminate the abusive system both in-house and inside the industry. Perhaps an aggressive outside Human Rights Group might help the Trucking Industry wake up and smell the Organic Coffee.

I’m inviting you to make your voice heard and if you don’t like change then just sit back and enjoy the ride baby!

REMEMBER: “Well behaved Women rarely make History” ~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

All are invited to Become a FAN of REAL Women Truckers on Facebook:

“REAL Women In Trucking”

Technorati Tags: Anne Ferro, Covenant Transport, CRST, Dan Rather, FMCSA, Prime, Sex, Sexual Harrassment, Truckers, Trucking, Women

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