Tips for Female Truck Drivers from Women Drivers

Posted on August 23, 2018

Female truck drivers are underrepresented in the trucking industry for many reasons. However, this does not necessarily mean that women find it more challenging to drive trucks than men. Many female truckers say that difficulty is relative. Some women may find the idea of driving big rigs daunting, while others see it as nothing more than controlling a vast piece of machinery. A lot of women find it easy to drive big trucks, and driving big trucks may be safer with a woman behind the wheel. Read on to learn why.

Is driving a truck a difficult job for a female?

There is no stark difference in how men and women drive big trucks that will convince many that females perform worse than male drivers. Many male instructors say that women truck drivers are more prudent and careful behind the wheel. They do not carry the egos that most male drivers carry and they are more open to corrections than male drivers, making them less prone to committing mistakes when behind the wheel.

Also, modern trucks come with all the features and powered systems that make them comfortable and even pleasurable to drive. If and when the truck breaks down, truck drivers are free to have a mechanic take over, which eliminates the need for a female driver to be physically able to do the repairs herself. Insurance premiums may also be lower if the driver is female. This means that female drivers may be able to get more comprehensive coverage for potential liabilities compared to their male peers.

Females may find the training process challenging, but this can be said for any trainee who is trying his hand at driving a big rig for the first time. With air conditioning, automatic brakes, power steering and a host of other features that comprise the controls of any rig, driving a big truck is certainly not as hard nor as physically demanding as most people think.

Challenges Female Truck Drivers Face

Of course, female drivers still face many challenges in this field of work. One of the reasons why men outnumber women in this industry is because there are fewer female instructors than male. This means that female trainees may be paired with male instructors for training programs that could last for months at a time. This kind of set-up could be intimidating for a trainee who is new to the industry.

Harassment and discrimination are also not uncommon in male-dominated fields such as this. Verbal harassment is something that many female drivers encounter on the road, whether from fellow drivers, mechanics, or truck stop employees.

Most rigs are also designed to fit the stature of male drivers.

This is something that the industry is aiming to change so that rigs can better accommodate the physical differences between male and female drivers. Safety is perhaps the most significant consideration, however. Experienced female drivers take note of stops that are deemed unsafe, especially during late nights. Taking a buddy along or toting an equalizer such as pepper spray or a gun becomes an option. One female driver keeps a pair of men’s boots visible to deter people. While it is true that everyone is at risk for danger especially in this line of work, unaccompanied female drivers may be more at risk than their male counterparts and therefore should take more and varied precautions.

Conclusion

Driving a truck may not be that difficult for women where physical ability is concerned. However, discrimination and safety concerns mean those female drivers have more challenges to face compared to their male counterparts, and this requires more effort from them if they want to succeed in this industry.

Challenges Faced By Truck Drivers [2018]

Posted on August 4, 2018

The trucking industry is considered to be highly lucrative due to the job security. There is a high demand for truck drivers, and the job is believed to come with a stable income. However, it is wise to ask, what are the challenges faced by truck drivers? Just like any other career, truck driving also has its problems. Before you sign up to be a truck driver, ask yourself, what do truck drivers understand that most people don’t? When you answer this question, you will know whether or not you can handle the challenges that come with truck driving. The following are some of the struggles truck drivers face on the road and in their personal lives.

1. Long Working Hours

The biggest challenge truck drivers face the long working hours they have to endure. Freight usually needs to be transported over long distances. Drivers also have to suffer through the severe road conditions to ensure safe arrival of whatever they are carrying. There are no legislative rules that dictate how long a truck driver should be on the road. For this reason, they are almost always working overtime with no compensation.

There are many risks you have to wade through as a truck driver each time you are on the road. Road accidents involving truck drivers are rampant because sometimes they have to break traffic rules to ensure the package they are transporting arrives on time. Death is always looming as overtaking traffic around sharp corners is extremely risky. Even if as a truck driver you observe all traffic rules, there is still a driver breaking the rules.

You might ask yourself, what do truck drivers understand that most people don’t? One of them is that their annual salary does not take into account their long working hours and the risks they encounter every day on the roads. Even though truck driving has undisputable job security, truck drivers get paid less considering the long hours they spend on the way.

2. Health Issues and Healthcare

Meals truck drivers eat while on shift are not healthy. Foods sold on highways are mostly junk and dessert. Foods high in sugar and calories cause truck drivers to be overweight and unhealthy. An excellent answer to the question, what are the problems faced by truck drivers? Is that they suffer poor health and insufficient healthcare. The foods they have access to do not provide their systems with all the nutrients required. Eating unhealthy meals before bed can be highly detrimental to a person’s health. The poor eating habits truck drivers adapt to have them leading a poor lifestyle and for this reason, suffering from health conditions is imminent.

Sometimes, they don’t get access to food or water, and they have to drive on an empty stomach. Starvation is dangerous for any driver as they can easily cause a road accident. Sitting for long hours without working out or exercising leads to very unfit truck drivers. Many of them suffer from obesity due to the calories they ingest every day.

As a truck driver, the time you are off duty is hardly enough for you to deal with your responsibilities, let alone find time to work out. In case a truck driver is suffering from a medical condition, they hardly get time to make a proper medical appointment. Most of them end up ignoring the symptoms only for them to get worse. Because of their lifestyle, they are at risk of suffering from;

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Depression
• PTSD

Most truck drivers have emotional baggage because they hardly find time to spend with friends and family. Because of these challenges, you see that many truck drivers abandon this career because they are unable to balance between work and their personal life

3. Relationships

It is quite challenging for truck drivers to form meaningful relationships. They are always away for days at a time and hardly get time to catch up on what they missed. People close to truck drivers complain about them not being emotionally available. Those who have kids are merely part of their lives, and these kids grow up without the affection of one parent. Many sacrifices have to be made for a relationship with a truck driver to thrive. You find that the majority of drivers have to quite truck driving to save their relationships.

Conclusion
The trucking industry has seen a shortage of truck drivers as many drivers choose to abandon this career. There are many inconveniences truck drivers have to suffer through, and there is no compensation for any. As a truck driver, you have to be prepared to work long hours and get less pay.