Driven Women

No one wants a woman

Dear GG,
I have Class A CDL, and I’m also working on my Hazmat endorsement, but I don’t have experience. I really want to be a part of a nice trucking company. Do you have any suggestions on how I can start this process? A lot of companies need drivers with experience, and it looks like nobody wants a woman driver.
     Dorothy, a fresh CDL driver

Dorothy,
If you have a Hazmat endorsement, you should be able to find a job at any company, be you a man or a woman. Unfortunately, the economy has made it challenging for new drivers to find a job.
     My suggestion is to start your trucking career as a co-driver in a driver team. Not only are team drivers a valuable commodity for any company, the benefit of working with a new driver is that the trainer/co-driver can train you to drive and work in their preferred style. The downside for the trainer/co-driver is that they won't get much sleep until they know you won't kill them. 
     You’ll have to figure out what's a good company, based on your preferences. Here are some screening suggestions:
1.   Talk to other drivers in the company and get their opinion – if you talk to one with less than a year to two of experience, move on.
2.   Check out the terminal to see if they provide adequate and nice resources and facilities for the drivers.
3.   Find a terminal close to your home, so that you can get home quickly when you’re off the job.
4.   Make sure that the pay is comparable to that at other companies.
5.   Agree on when the training period will end – don’t let them take advantage of you.
     Let me know where you landed and how it’s going.

     GG

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You can e-mail Golden Girl at goldengirl@otrprotrucker.com or mail your letter to Over the Road Magazine, P.O. Box 549, Roswell, GA 30077-0549.