Comments for TruckerDesiree

Comment on On The Road Again with the Women Truckers Network by truckerdesiree

truckerdesiree — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:19:12 +0000

Hi Joyce,

I apoligize for taking so long to reply. I have written you a private email so we could talk more because your questions will take awhile to answer appropriately.

In essence though,
The steps you need to become a REAL WOMEN Truck driver are patience and eagerness to learn. There are 2 training carriers that emerged from a recent blog talk radio program we had where our female guests identified a carrier named H.O. Wolding and another gal identified Halvor Lines as good options. To begin with though you need to get your CDL and there are lots of ways to spend a whole bunch of money needlessly for this. Check out community college programs first. Read the post called “Truck Carrier Warnings” on the http://www.REALWomeninTrucking.com blog. With regards to taking care of your family on this income, I would not count on that. I thought I was going to have a 401K and good benefits when I entered trucking and I found myself having to call my ex-husband to ask for help a few times just to eat food. The first few months you may be surviving on as little as $250.00 a week. In the first year you may make $37,000 but that is with all things being perfect. Some students report making as low as $25K because they lost bonuses for fuel efficiency or had a fender bender that took their safety bonus away. Abosolutely DO NOT believe trucking recruiters that tell you that you will be making $45K in your first year, THEY ARE LYING TO YOU!!!!
The CDL school portion will take 3-4 weeks but you are better off to find a 8 week community college program because one you go to the training carrier they will put you out with a trainer and expect you to be running team miles when you have really no grasp of what handling the truck means.

You asked: What can I expect as a new driver? Low pay, Poor conditions, Poor communication, poor support. You will need to ask for help. Do not wait to have it provided to you. You must be adaptable and not get caught up in the romantic imagery of trucking. This is hard work for low wages and there are plenty of ways you can get taken advantage of if you do not research every CDL school you are considering and training carrier you are considering.

You should start by googling the word “complaints” after the name of each CDL school and truck driver training carrier you are thinking about signing on with. That is the best way to start and decide what you can personally tolerate.

Good Luck!

Desiree

Comment on CRST by How Do You Support Women of the Trucking Industry? | TruckerDesiree

How Do You Support Women of the Trucking Industry? | TruckerDesiree — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:44:06 +0000

[...] Here is a comment I moderated on a very old blog last week from a women attempting to enter trucking. (Click here to read the post) [...]

Comment on Tao of the Folgers Pot by The Tao of the Folgers Coffee Pot | Project World Awareness

The Tao of the Folgers Coffee Pot | Project World Awareness — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:42:36 +0000

[...] Thanks, Coffee Pot …. [...]

Comment on CRST by truckerdesiree

truckerdesiree — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:01:17 +0000

I am sorry to hear about your experience with this disgusting carrier who has yet to be punished for the climate they have. We have started a women truckers group through the site http://www.REALwomenintrucking.com for women seeking support. Are you still driving? I would like to talk to you more. My cell is 760 975 6868 and direct email is truckerdesiree@gmail.com its too bad scum like him is allowed to disappear back into the population but that is the way it is thanks to companies like CRST

Comment on CRST by robin

robin — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:38:25 +0000

I was a female driver with CRST 12-14-12 thru 1-6-2013. My co-driver attempted to rape me. The company made us share a motel room when the truck broke down. I ask for my own room and was denied. The company was on his side. Not only did he attempt to rape me, he made very bad choices as a driver, was involved in a hit and run, pulled the tandem bar on me while I was under a Hazmat load, etc, etc. After I reported, he was allowed to run Solo. CRST is a team company. Great reward for him.

Comment on On The Road Again with the Women Truckers Network by joyce randall

joyce randall — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:56:49 +0000

My name is Joyce Randall and I have loved and traveled by road since childhood with my mother and six siblings. I was the youngest who would just gaze out the window at the warm homes at night, the lakes and ponds, the wildlife, and tall trees. It was all so exciting to me, while everyone else was bored this was how I passed my time and time we travel the same road I could always find something different. I am 49 years old and I am unemployed after 9 years as a director at a women’s homeless shelter. I helped women who were coming out of prison, coming out or going into rehabilitation, women who are working with children services to get their children back, and other women raw right off the streets to begin the process of rebuilding their lives. I was also a client in this homeless shelter and this meant so much to me because I was able to help the women better because I possessed some of the same breakdowns. I was physically assaulted by my supervisor on this job and was eventually fired after I reported it to Fair Employment. I had planned to retire from the shelter and live happily ever after but this was not the case. I won my case but I was devastated and suffered a mental breakdown from depression. The thought of how I was going to pay my bills, my medical bills, how was I going to live, and in the mist of all this my 29 year old son passed away, my fiancée a professional truck driver himself left out on me because of all I was going through and I was forced into homeless. I relocated from CA to Miami Florida taking that long journey by myself I gathered my TA, Pilot, and Love’s books and stayed at every truck stop where I felt safe and was safe. Every day and every night I would see the women on the road and at that time I made my mind up with what I wanted to do in my life but I needed to get to Miami. I made to Florida to only witness my daughter living in depression because of her brother and when I saw the living conditions that my grandchildren was living in I knew I had to get back to work, I knew I wanted to do something meaningful, something I love doing and something I can do well and the only thing I love is the open road. My daughter and grandchildren is all I have left in this world and want to make a good life for us. The REAL WOMEN Truck driver stories inspired me to satisfy this adrenalin rush that I have when I think of this is my time and I want it!

1. What steps I need to take to become a REAL WOMEN Truck driver.
2. What are some good companies who hire women?
3. Are there good insurance plans for my family?
4. Can I support my family off truck driving?
5. How long are the schools?
6. What can I expect as a new driver?
I am so exicted about the career change where do I start?

Comment on Women Truckers Network Replay Archives by 1st Trucking Radio Hosted by Real Women Truckers | TruckerDesiree

1st Trucking Radio Hosted by Real Women Truckers | TruckerDesiree — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:04:00 +0000

[...] Women Truckers Network Replay Archives [...]

Comment on FAQ by truckerdesiree

truckerdesiree — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:29:00 +0000

I am sorry to hear about the sexual assault that you experienced. There are many women out there who just walked away from trucking because they could not trust the employers who lack accountability. I would like to talk to you more if possible. My direct email is truckerdesiree@gmail.com and cell is 760 975 6868 . I have just invited a researcher to join us on our ner internet radio program to discuss her findings in interviewing women truckers , the industry as a whole & some who simply left because of what you experienced. Thanks for commenting and I hope you will contact me privately.

Desiree

Comment on FAQ by Lee

Lee — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:54:42 +0000

Hi to WTN and TD,
Add my story to the pile about abuse and harassment of women in the trucking industry. Bookwork and exam in Phoenix, then out to Werner in NE for OTR training. Experienced a sexual assault at hotel. Got back on bus to Phoenix. 10 years later, never got to drive but still have CDLA, and would love to drive. Glad I found the blog. Keep up the great work.

Comment on On The Road Again with the Women Truckers Network by truckerdesiree

truckerdesiree — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:54:18 +0000

Sweet! , most of my immediate family lives in san diego county. I spend part of my hometime there. I am aware that USA has a hiring area and California is unfortunately a state where many carriers either hesitate to hire from or will mislead you. The reason is that they say they cannot get you hometime but as a team that shouldn’t be an issue as plenty of team freight comes out of the state.

A few other carrier names to check out are ROEHL, Schneider National and you can email me directly at truckerdesiree@gmail.com I will give you information to the best of my knowledge.
Check out “The Truckers Report” for carrier warnings and recent reviews
Take care,

Desiree