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joettanne
Joined: 05 Oct 2005
Posts: 75
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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ladydrifter wrote: I was born and raised an a farm so I was used to hard work an long hours started makin noise about trukin,daddy told me I couldnt well knowin me all I said is watch me :D
That is funny. I used to have people say that to me too, and I like you would say "watch me".
I was raised on a farm as well and not afraid of hard work. I more or less 'stumbled' upon the trucking industry. There were no truckers in my family. My Mother thought that it was improper for a woman to even ride in a pick-up truck. So I bought a pick-up truck, standard at that.
I was working as a waitress in a restaurant, (absolutely hated that ), when a girl I had seen before, came in and said she was driving a gravel dump truck. I thought that was so cool. A few years later, I started driving a school bus. It was a job, not much pay. I met a fellow who was a friend of a friend. He had a dump truck. I hounded him to drive. In between the school bus I drove his truck. ( received no pay for driving the dump truck. I just wanted to learn to drive. At that time no one would let women drive trucks.) I applied at some local trucking companies. They would basically laugh me out of the building. No one would give me a job. I was persistent at one tanker company. Finally after bugging the same company for 3 years, I got a job. being persistent finally paid off. The rest is history. I'm still trucking.
I have only driven locally. There are days when I would like to do long distance. But in a way I have both worlds. I do a few longer runs now and still get to enjoy my horses, dog and home life.
It was hard to get into the industry when I started out. Especially with no connections to the trucking industry. It was a real novelty to see a woman driving a truck, no matter what it was. In a lot of ways in this part of the country it still is not easy. But being determined and persistent will eventually pay off.
Annie 8) |
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slowmoe20
Joined: 15 Jul 2007
Posts: 74
Location: Tennessee, US
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:46 am Post subject: |
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Well here goes....Out of 4 of my living immediate family four of us are truck drivers. My mom, brother, and me. My sister doesnt drive....She gets sick driving her own car...lol.
The first ride I remember was in my Dads old cabover Emryville. I was hooked..every summer, every holiday break I was in my dads truck. One time I even stowed away in the back of his pickup truck on his way to work. Boy was he mad cause he had to take me back home.
My favorite thing was to sit in his rig and play driver or hand him tools while he worked on it. I realize now what a pain in the azz I was cause I always used up all his air pressure blowing the horn and playin in his truck.
I was an office manager for several years. I hated it and loved it. I realized that the career didn't really suit me cause I guess I'm kind of a gypsy at heart. Here I am 8 years into driving and even on the days I hate it I know I could never do anything else. :D |
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bluegrassdeb
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 134
Location: Tiffin, OHio
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| Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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| I knew no one that drove, I never ever had a desire too yet a yr. ago I got my cdl and love it. I did Hair for almost 30 yrs. I do get what made you want to drive a truck alot. Kinda funny I guess. I don't look much like a trucker but that makes it even more fun. The guys are great when they keep you company going down the road. I had some really great exp. so far. |
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RebelDarlin
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1884
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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I've always wanted to drive a truck! My Dad was an O/O and I spent a lot of time (as much as allowed) in the 60's & 70's riding with him. He let me drive when I could reach the pedals, (just around the lot of course). Then life happened, married at 17, five kids, 20 years in corporate America, downsized in 2003. I lost my Mom in Dec. '03 and my brother in March '04. The last thing my brother said to me was "Life's too short, figure out what makes you happy and just do it." (he was 33 when he died)
Trying to make ends meet the last few years as my youngest finished school She'll be 21 in August and I'm going on the road in September!
I'm not naive and expect the 1st year or two to be tough but I believe you get out of it what you put in it. Too many people see it as a get rich quick thing, it isn't. And it isn't for everyone, but I know it's for me. :wink: |
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ladykatrina
Joined: 24 Jul 2007
Posts: 51
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| when I was a kid we watched 'movin on' and 'BJ and the bear' 2 bad shows that featured truckers as the main characters..I used to beg my dad to stop at truck dealers when I was 10-11-12 years old and I wanted my own conventional peterbilt or one of those old mack trucks they used to make with the offset cab...sizzle...your comment about camping has hit home with me...I LOATHE camping...hmmm..more food for thought here...I may be too girly girl for this...I have my tomboyish traits to be sure...I fix my own cars, do carpentry, can do most guy things though I am not into sports at all...BUT...I do love my homelife...I'll have to mull all of this over..Iam so glad I found this site though, you guys have helped me so much! thank you! :D |
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Soladad
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 381
Location: Garland, Texas
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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I went into driving after being widowed. My late husband was a driver for over 30 years OTR and O/O. Since I knew so much about trucking having helped him manage our business and spending some time with him out on the road, a friend suggested I go and get my CDL. I wasn't sure that I really wanted to drive but went into training. When the insurance money was running out I had to find a job. Driving has allowed me time to find myself again and figure out/find a new life. Driving filled the void loosing him and the life I knew. Now that I am closing in on my 2nd year of driving, I find that I am really enjoying the life of the road. The company I am with doesn't pay the highest for someone with 2 years but I am comfortable with the way the company operates so I stay with them. Don't know how long I will be traveling down the road but for the present I am enjoying seeing the country.
Soladad |
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Piece Of Work
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 271
Location: Columbus, OH
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:56 am Post subject: |
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| I think most men hire on for the money, which makes them miserable. Some of you ladfies have great reasons for driving. |
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bluegrassdeb
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 134
Location: Tiffin, OHio
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| LadyKatrina, don't let being femine detour you. Again, I think I mentioned it here on this message board I am very femine. I did hair for 30 yrs. I wish I could get my picture on here but the pixal thing is messed up. I got a new camera and plan on postin my picture on this. I'm not bragging, just want you to know that you don't have to look like a guy to drive a semi. I will say however, as a young girl I liked all the things the boys did. Playing with match box cars was my favorite. No hopscotch for me I wanted to play marbles and did and won alot. I used to love to play war with the boys too. I wasn't the nurse either. Point being don't let being a girly girl interfer with your boyly boy side. It's all cool. Who cares. If you end up doing something you enjoy who cares if anyone says you don't look like a trucker. I love it, actually embrace it when I hear it. It's all to fun! |
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wildkat
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 602
Location: Somewhere on the Alaska Highway, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:52 am Post subject: |
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bluegrassdeb wrote: LadyKatrina, don't let being femine detour you. Again, I think I mentioned it here on this message board I am very femine. I did hair for 30 yrs. I wish I could get my picture on here but the pixal thing is messed up. I got a new camera and plan on postin my picture on this. I'm not bragging, just want you to know that you don't have to look like a guy to drive a semi. I will say however, as a young girl I liked all the things the boys did. Playing with match box cars was my favorite. No hopscotch for me I wanted to play marbles and did and won alot. I used to love to play war with the boys too. I wasn't the nurse either. Point being don't let being a girly girl interfer with your boyly boy side. It's all cool. Who cares. If you end up doing something you enjoy who cares if anyone says you don't look like a trucker. I love it, actually embrace it when I hear it. It's all to fun!
Hear, hear deb! I've been at this nearly 30 years now, and somehow still manage to look like a lady. I am an owner/operator...long nosed Pete :D LOL. Still get those goofy looks when I drive into places & crawl out. I am afterall barely 5', long blonde hair, size 6. Posted my pic once & regretted it ever since...sheesh :( Anyway, my take on it is ALWAYS be a lady, ALWAYS be a pro. LIFE is better that way! |
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