Her Story
About Linda
I've been in truck driving for 36 years. I started in banking, but I'm not good with people, so I decided to go to truck driving school. My friend said that back when we were young, I used to talk about wanting to be a truck driver. I attended truck driving school in Posen, Illinois for about 6 to 8 weeks, where they trained us on everything - classroom stuff, pre-trip inspections, and then driving. I've mostly been a local or regional driver. I did Over the Road for one year when I started, but that was enough for me because I like to be home and sleep in my own bed. My last job was very local, going back and forth from TVS to GM, taking trailers between the two locations. I've also done regional work, going from St. Louis to Kansas City, Indianapolis, or wherever they needed me to go for that day. When I first started, there weren't very many women solo drivers - most women drove with their husband or boyfriend. Women have never been welcome in truck driving, and I've always had to deal with other male drivers being mean to me, like I didn't belong. Now there are so many of us that things are better. I'm very good at backing into a dock, and I like helping new drivers, giving them advice and little tips and tricks.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Linda
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Pay attention to everything, because it's so easy to get hurt. You have to pay attention to everything. And you gotta be nice to people. Even driving on the road, you gotta be nice to people. I've always had to deal with other male drivers who acted like women don't belong. One time early in my career, I asked another driver to help me with something because I'm not a big person, and he said 'well, you wanted to be a truck driver, you figure it out.' Women have never been welcome in truck driving. Now they are, because there's so many of us, but that kind of stuff still happens every once in a while.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
People in cars are so mean, so I gotta deal with that. I've always had to deal with other male drivers, so I have to be nice. They've always been mean to me, like I didn't belong. Women don't belong, you know. A long time ago, not long after I started, I needed help with something because I'm not a big person. I asked another driver one time to help me with something, and he said 'well, you wanted to be a truck driver, you figure it out.' Women have never been welcome in truck driving. Now they are, because there's so many of us. But that kind of stuff still happens every once in a while, you know.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I love my job, and I gotta pay attention. I like helping new drivers, giving them a little bit of advice or little tips and tricks. You gotta be nice to people. Even driving on the road, you gotta be nice to people. I try to be nice to everybody. I'm a very helpful person to even strangers. I don't belittle people. I don't believe in that. Now if somebody's rude to me and I don't deserve it, they'll hear about it. But I just like to be a good person. Kindness takes you far in life. My top values are respect, honesty, integrity, empathy, and compassion.
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