Women in todayâs economy are playing an important role in transportation industry.  Even though trucking is still a male-dominant industry, women are holding their own more than ever before. Their numbers may be small compared to male truckers, yet they prove they can handle the job. Women accomplishments and contribution in trucking deserves appreciation and admiration. I mean can you imagine there is almost ÂŒ million female truckers on the road today, and even more are being trained every month?
And still very few of us connects trucking as a female profession. Because of that we would like to look closely and get a real experience on any obstacles and challenges that women in trucking face with today. Thus we interviewed Delicia who was taking her classes to get a certified driving license in Compass Truck Driving School. We asked her about her experience, the process she went through and how she made this brave decision.
Kristina: So Delicia why did you decide to obtain your CDL?
Delicia: Opportunity for financial security. And also I like to do things that people donât usually expect me to do.
Kristina: What did you do before?
Delicia: I worked in retail. Went to college for Business and still havenât gotten my Bachelors because it is very expensive. Now I have to pay off these student loans and you know so.
Kristina: So you find your future career in trucking and are looking for trucking to give you a financial flexibility?
Delicia: Yeah, considering the fact that I donât have children, I am still kind of young I can see myself planning for the future and setting things up so yeah, financial security within that and you know being a team driver makes it better too because then it means it is more income coming to my household.
Kristina: Delicia tell me about the experience you had so far?
Delicia: I notice when I am driving and practicing on the road so many people wave and thumbs up and it is like they get excited when they see me driving so I guess it really is exciting. A lot of people are not used to women in trucking. Although I have seen women drive and I guess it is just something you donât really see all the time or you know compared to me it is not that many women drivers out there.
Kristina: What others say to you about your decision to pursue trucking as a professional career?
Delicia: People that I know or people that just see me? Because people that I know are not used to the idea because I guess it is natural as seeing me as a truck driver they say oh I donât see you doing it. But now that I am doing it people are happier about me, like family and they can see it for me and they wish me a best of luck. As far as people that are out on the street If I tell them I am going to a truck driving school now they are I am happy to hear that, it is not a lot of women out there that drive a truck and else you will be a hot truck driver, yeah you kind of hear quite a few things but I donât really hear any negativity towards it. When It comes from women is more like âYou are not scared to drive that truckâ or âI canât do something like thatâ or âYou have a lot guts to do something like thisâ so I donât know it kind of makes me feel like Ok I am doing something that a lot of people wonât think to do and they are kind of missing out because you get to see the world while making money and earning a living. I see a lot of perks to it, I canât say that it is going to be the happiest goal lucky every day, but I think this is something that I am happy I am getting into.
Kristina: So can you live without a makeup?
Delicia: Can I live without a makeup? Hmmm. I donât really wear that much make up as is but I guess if I am going to live in the truck I will be more so now. I do think that will be a big life changer as far as just being away and being on the road for so long cause you know I am going to be on the road cross country so I know that I am not going to be able to dress up like I normally do or put on my make up or do my hair. It is going to be ponytails and sweat pants for me.
Kristina: What about a day without a shower?
Delicia: Shower? See now that I donât know. I think thatâs going to be kind of hard. I really canât see going a day without a shower.
Kristina: What do you enjoy most about driving?
Delicia: Being the big guy on the road or should I say the Big Girl. I do like the fact of being able to drive something that big and be good at it. For me to be in school still that means that I am still learning and I only can get better and I think this far I am doing really well and I like the fact that I can pretty much drive anything.
Kristina: What do you feel will be the hardest part about driving the truck?
Delicia: I think adjusting by living on the road for so long and also I am a little bit afraid of driving through mountains. Only because I have driven through mountains before in a regular car so driving in a truck I think that is going to be pretty intense.
Kristina: Does people see you seriously when you say you want to become a CDL driver and can you show them that you mean business?
Delicia: People wasnât taking it seriously before when I was just talking about it. It wasnât really serious until I actually start coming to school and then each and every day I am talking about it and my experience so the more I talk about it, the more people believe in me, because it is something that I am excited about and I am not just talking about it just to prove a point, I am talking about it because this is about to become a part of me and I am thrilled. So yes people are taking it more seriously now than they did before. Cos I have been talking about becoming a truck driver for about a year before actually coming to school, before than I had family members saying you are not going to be no truck driver and just go back to school and I am like NO I am going to a truck driving school.
Kristina: Â Are you looking on taking the trucking seriously and to pursue this as a career for the future?
Delicia: Yeah, I canât say how long I am planning on staying as a truck driver because I am a women and I am young and I do want a family and I donât have children now, but I havenât actually got the experience being on the road either, so I say give me 5 years for sure, but past that if I donât like it then I will stop or if I find something I figure it is better for me than I will stop, but If I like it a lot then it might just be what I will stick with. Because I was thinking I can go from driving interstate to driving a dedicated route or something local, you know driving for the city, so is different options in it.
Kristina: So this is what you consider as your future goals.
Delicia: Right, yes, that will be my future goal as far as how far will going. Coz I know some people they love it, some people give up their families for it, so I donât know where I will end up, and I am hoping that I will love it, coz it is a lot of things that I like to do, I like driving, I have always liked the highway, I have always liked traveling, I have always loved money so it is kind of combination of all those things. I donât know but I think it is a very good opportunity. I think it is a good investment in my future.
Kristina: What will you give as your recommendation to other ladies out there that are considering in getting their CDL in the future?
Delicia: Make sure you make your mind about doing it first and once you do donât punk out because a lot of people can get inside of the truck and get feel defeated. You know you have to push yourself because I remember the first time I got behind the wheel. You have to stay in control. Stay in control and you got it. And donât just think about the money that you can make when you are thinking about becoming a truck driver, of course thatâs what you are thinking about but donât be afraid of heights, be like oh I am going to jump of this mountain you know just to push myself if you feel that is something that you canât do but you are just doing it for the money that probably wonât work out the best because if you are the type of person that gets nervous in situations and if you donât know how to get out of them that could be bad.
Make your mind up, make sure that is something that you can do and donât defeat yourself.
We at Compass Truck Driving School would like to congratulate Delicia on her successful completion of the training program and we truly wish you best of luck and success on your future journey.
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