Support from Women in Trucking
Ellen Voie of Women in Trucking Revokes My Membership
As I mentioned before I had been in a brouhaha for months while I was a Member of “Women in Trucking“. ( that link will direct you my my other “out of line” posts on WIT) As many may have read in “The Trucker” my membership was revoked by Ellen Voie. The letter to the right was dated October 20, 2009 and reads as follows: “Enclosed please find a check in the amount of $25. This is a refund of your membership dues. Our Organization is dependent upon our members who support our mission so your membership privileges have been revoked due to you actions that contradict our goals. Sincerely, Ellen Voie President/CEO Women in Trucking, Inc.”
I was a member for about a year and a half and in that time I was privileged only to be berated on a regular basis with Ellen’s seeming approval. Although privately she admitted she had to often moderate Sandy Long aka “Lady Godiva” (read link) for her conduct on WIT , she did not seem to want to be involved with any of the actual Women Truckers.
It seemed like anyone who joined was promptly made to feel unwelcome and then disappeared from the forum. On most forums there is always that one person who has to put their two cents into every single comment, usually adding some snarky remark, but based on the Mission Statement I kept expecting Ellen Voie to pop in and sort of take control of what was going on. That did not happen.
In my thread ‘My New Experience Might Help You” which has now been deleted from WIT but had over 3000 reads , some poorly planned remarks about the Dan Rather Report and the US Express Incident which I will write about shortly, I came to see that there was a pattern, perhaps even an intent to chase women away from WIT who asked real questions about violence during the training period.
In addition to entire threads being removed I had also noticed that individual posts were disappearing but the number of posts made was staying the same. That indicated someone was removing items, things were being moderated away but it was leaving a trail. Another item was that when a topic such as harassment toward Women was mentioned there was a flurry of new posts made immediately afterwards which pushed the harassment posts down and out of sight.
Because I had been labeled a troublemaker by the HR Lady at my company and been called a “Radical Feminist” at WIT, I decided to conduct an experiment of sorts by reviving these “Forbidden Topics” regularly to observe the usual suspects come unglued. It seems silly I know but this entire thing has been sort of a Human Study while I was in my training and with Social Media.
When the antics on the WIT Forum had gone so completely out of control as I mentioned before, I did call Char Pingel and then emailed Ellen Voie. I had also been listening to a driver CD from my company that kept using voice tracks of Ellen’s that seemed to be some sort of endorsement from WIT. I wanted to know why she would let her trademarked name be used when the sort of conduct that was happening to me was also happening frequently to many others. The portion of the recording that bothered me was that the industry statistic of Women Truckers stood at 5%-6% BUT at Covenant Transport it was more like 15%, which meant they were actively recruiting Women with NO clear Policy to keep them safe. I was seeing it with my own eyes.
So many times I asked “Is there any Women I can team with?” There was no network in place for me to meet other Women for the team phase of my training BUT I knew Women were getting off trucks at all of our terminals for the same reasons. The question was WHY don’t they let us network and team up? I met a few Women who were at their “WITS END” (No Pun Intended but if the shoe fits). These competent Women Trucking Students just walked away, they quit because our company had pushed them too far and placed them in too many situations that affected their learning and safety.
I told Ellen that the CD seemed to “Imply” she endorsed my company and given the situation I wrote that she should be concerned that they were using her trade marked name without a clear policy to protect the Women from the unsafe “team business model”. Ellen returned my email with this response: “Since our interviews go on every company’s audio magazine, it’s not an endorsement at all. Do the drivers also think that the entertainers and performers are endorsing the company? The CD is for entertainment purposes, but the carrier specific content is to inform drivers. I think that the exposure is beneficial for Women In Trucking. ”
I thought that response was a little crass and she seemed to miss the point. That being, Women are facing many Obstacles getting through their training at my company. To hear a CD provided by our management with her as the Women in Trucking Cheerleader was sort of a slap in the face.
I began posting other topics in the WIT forum like “The best CEO’s” and other items hoping she would come back down to earth and read her own Mission Statement. I am very proud of the postings I made on WIT and I received a great deal of positive feedback by Women who sought to find me off of the forum where they would not be attacked and berated. I have copied those posts but I expect Ellen is desperate to eliminate my contributions to her forum but utilize the information for her own purposes to promote herself.
I have mixed feelings about this because I offered to help Ellen on many occasions promote HER agenda which was definitely not sexual harassment but I was clear that I would not use my gift to drive traffic to her unless she dealt aggressively with the epidemic I was watching in trucking. I would get this “We are quietly working behind the scenes” which is a total BLOW OFF and really means, “Maybe if we be quiet and be nice polite girls people treat us better out of the goodness in their hearts“. Just like my HR Lady telling me that “Maybe if I got along better with my Co-Drivers…” which translated to me as: “I should have Fucked Him so I’d have Job Security” is that the answer? If I let my Co-Driver take advantage of my person and Human Dignity it makes me a better Truck Driver?
At that time I had also been observing Ellen on Twitter, she never followed anyone back even though people were following her. On Twitter, that shows arrogance. Twitter is interactive, it is not all about YOU, it is about sharing and exchanging and spreading the word or “Paying it Forward” so to speak. If all you do is talk about yourself and you don’t interact or show your personality, people lose interest in you. You are irrelevant.
The other thing that was odd was that what Ellen was tweeting on Twitter, she never mentioned on her WIT forum and it was very telling, especially when her only friend was the ATA @TruckingMatters which to Truck Drivers is not your ally. I also observed actual Women Truckers trying to communicate to Ellen through Twitter and she ignored them. At first I assumed she didn’t know how to use it and I offered to help but she ignored me. Now I know she does know how to use it and “Borrow” her inspirations.
Back on the forum, Sandy Long aka Lady Godiva who as it turns out is a lifelong OOIDA Member (supposedly the anti-ATA) seemed to dominate everyone and everything that was WIT, more so than Ellen who simply popped in once in awhile to ask for advice on topics and products. It seemed to me that what Ellen was doing was using the Forum only as her own personal marketing focus group, she would throw out a question, gather data and utilize it for her purposes to market items and write articles. It was almost like she didn’t care about any of the heated exchanges that were going on. She only cared about whatever it was she was trying to market at that particular time, but it was never clear if those items that were developed with the ideas from the women on the forum benefited WIT. Does WIT only provide salaries or is there was some sort of program to help Women overcome obstacles in the trucking industry?
As I mentioned before, my first online stalker originated from the WIT forum, under the Twitter tag of @FreightLady1966 a “Gloria Torbich”, I recognized the name right away when I received an email on my Twitter account that said “Gloria Torbich is now following you on Twitter @Freightlady1966”. I had privately emailed Gloria also when it seemed like Sandy Long was becoming overly agitated by my participation on the WIT forum. Ellen was well aware of it and read posts made by Gloria from Twitter and from two other sites. In an email, Ellen Voie indicated she knew some people had more than one online identity and despite the fact that again her trade marked name was being used, she seemed unconcerned.
One thing I have mentioned in my story time and again is that it was actually other “Women” who were the biggest obstacles for me in becoming a truck driver. My Trainer, The Team Coordinator, The HR Lady, and Drivers like “Lily” in my story that make new Women Truckers “Guilty until proven Innocent”. My next obstacles were the Women at “Women in Trucking” and that was because they really didn’t seem to like other Women. Ellen seemed to be more interested in promoting WIT but she was completely disinterested in helping Women in the Trucking Industry overcome existing obstacles.
I watched several new Women begin to post and right away the snarky snide comments would begin to basically run most off. These were ladies who were asking simple questions on how they can best prepare themselves to be successful as truckers. My perception was that with returning veterans coming home soon, many would come to trucking, more Women also who had gone into combat would look to a job that gave them independence like trucking. I proposed on my very popular thread called “My NEW experience might help you” that maybe WE could lay the groundwork now to make better policies, clear strategies to help these young ladies have a smooth transition if they did so choose the Trucking Industry. Especially NOW while the economy was crumbling it was the perfect time to effect change.
What I got was a TIRADE that goes as follows: (Note: What I wrote was taken apart and is in normal print, I have bolded the response to see how Sandy Long reacts to my post)
Subject: Women In Trucking: Reply posted to topic: My new experience in trucking might help you.
New message has been posted to forum Advice to New Truck Drivers, topic: My new experience in trucking might help you. by Lady Godiva on 11/28/2008 at 12:04 PM.
Message: Desiree…I am sorry, I have to disagree with some of what you said…respectfully of course…my comments will be in caps…I am not shouting tho.
Quote: Actually, the current economical crisis has presented us a golden opportunity to seize control as companies are going to be in reorganization.
SIEZE CONTROL??? THIS DOESN’T SOUND TOO GOOD DOES IT…AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SIEZE CONTROL OF ANY SITUATION IN A COMPANY REORGANIZATION? ARE WOMEN GOING TO WORK CHEAPER THAN THE MEN? ARE WOMEN BETTER DRIVERS THAN MEN OVERALL? DO YOU THINK THAT A COMPANY SHOULD ONLY LAY OFF THE MALE DRIVERS AND OFFICE PERSONNEL?
(** note that nowhere have I mentioned Women taking Men’s Jobs from them or anything of the sort that implies Women are better than Men)
Women are growing in this industry at a significant pace. It is to the benefit of the company to recruit them and therefore it is up to us to demand now we expect to not be isolated purposely to intimidate us, badgered for sex by our teammate/trainers, purposely misinformed by other females who have a personal axe to grind, humiliated, violated or physically abused.
THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN AS DRIVERS IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY HAS REMAINED FAIRLY STAGNENT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS RUNNING BETWEEN 5-7%, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN WOMEN IN EXECUTIVE AND SUPERVISORY POSITIONS IN COMPANIES THOUGH DUE TO MORE WOMEN GETTING DEGREES IN AREAS CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION AND WORKING THEIR WAY UP THE CORPORATE LADDER. AGAIN, WHY IS IT BENEFITIAL FOR A COMPANY TO HIRE WOMEN OVER MALES?
IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT ANYONE BE HARASSED OR INTIMIDATED (THOUGH PERSONALLY I THINK THAT IF SOMEONE IS INTIMIDATED THAT IT IS MORE OF A PERSONAL PROBLEM), BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DEMAND THAT NOT HAPPEN? SHOULD COMPANIES PUT VIDEO CAMERAS AND VOICE RECORDERS IN THE CAB OF THE TRUCKS? HOW ABOUT INSTEAD OF DEMANDING, WE WORK WITH OUR BROTHER DRIVERS TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT HOW TO INTERACT WITH US AND WORK WITH THEM TO GET BETTER TRAINING/TRAINER REGULATIONS PUT IN PLACE.
I HAVE NEVER MET A FEMALE DRIVER THAT MISINFORMS ANYONE ON PURPOSE…THO THEY MAY DO SO DUE TO LACK OF THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.
INTIMIDATION AND HUMILIATION ACT ON INDIVIDUALS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, HOW IS THIS REGULATED? WHILE I MAY FEEL A LITTLE HUMILIATED BECAUSE I CANNOT BACK INTO A SPOT, IT IS BECAUSE OF MY PERSONAL FEELINGS, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT SOMEONE HAS DONE TO ME. I WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW A TRAINER MIGHT HUMILIATE SOMEONE OR INTIMIDATE THEM…OR HOW A DISPATCHER MIGHT INTIMIDATE SOMEONE INTO DOING SOMETHING UNSAFE OR ILLEGAL. THESE THINGS HAPPEN TO OUR BROTHER DRIVERS ALSO BY THE SAME PEOPLE…IT IS NOT ONLY A FEMALE THING.
OF COURSE I TOTALLY AGREE THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE ABUSED AND/OR VIOLATED. BUT, THERE AGAIN THAT IS A LOT OF THE TIME IN ONES PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS GOING ON. i THINK THAT ANY TRAINER OR PERSON IN A SUPERVISORY CAPACITY THAT FORCES ANYONE TO HAVE SEX WITH THEM SHOULD BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW…BUT THEN AGAIN, I THINK THAT ANYONE THAT ALLOWS THEMSELVES TO BE FORCED INTO HAVING SEX TO KEEP A JOB OR TO ADVANCE OUGHT TO HAVE ENFORCED COUNCELLING TOO…WE DO HAVE CHOICES TO MAKE IN LIFE AND OPTIONS.
Students and CDL mills may not be able to pour into industry for a period because loans for school are harder to get. Less students, less government subsidies and tax credits makes companies look to their current structure to turn a profit.
THOUGH I AGREE THAT THERE WILL BE FEWER LOANS PERHAPS FOR STUDENTS TO ENTER THE INDUSTRY, I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS WILL BE THE CASE FOR VERY LONG AND THOUGH SOME OF THE TRAINING COMPANIES HAVE PUT A FREEZE ON HIRING ANY DRIVERS, THERE ARE STILL SOME THAT WILL HIRE A STUDENT OVER AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER DUE TO COST OF WAGE DIFFERENCIAL. HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT WOMEN DRIVERS? AS I SAID ABOVE, DO WOMEN DRIVERS WORK CHEAPER OR DO A BETTER JOB THAN MALES?
We can do that by reaching out and communicating and networking with companies WHO WANT to benefit from the growing demographic of QUALIFIED women.
I THINK THAT COMPANIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO BECOME FEMALE FRIENDLY AND GIVE WOMEN A CHANCE TO WORK FOR THEM AND ADVANCE SAME AS THE MALES. I THINK THAT FACILITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE FEMALES IN TERMINALS AND WAREHOUSES. I IN NO WAY THINK THAT IT IS OF GREATER BENEFIT FOR A COMPANY TO HIRE A QUALIFIED WOMAN THAN A QUALIFIED MALE, I PERSONALLY DO NOT THINK THAT GENDER SHOULD ENTER INTO HIRING DECISIONS IN ANY WAY…THAT MY SISTERS IS EQUALITY AND WHAT MYSELF AND MY SISTER OLD HAND LADY DRIVERS HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR.
The only stupid question is the one you do not ask… (this is the real tagline, I kid you not)
WOW! Talk about communication breakdown, the first thing I thought when I saw this was how do you conclude that I’m proposing that Women are out to take all the Men’s jobs by asking for clear polices? One of the problems I have seen is that nothing is defined. You have people from a variety of backgrounds and education levels with very little support or guidance whose lives are being managed by a 20 something who is not trained to understand or recognize that a “Situation” is occurring and action must be taken NOW!
This sort of conduct went on for months on the WIT forum until I went for broke and tried to introduce a girl I had come in contact with who was allegedly raped by another driver. WOO HOO, FIREWORKS!!! Even Ellen posted that time, that was the day she made posting rules that no company names could be mentioned. When I met her in Las Vegas she said, “We can’t say company names, they might be our Sponsors” … My thought? “UH-Okay….Certainly don’t want to mention Rape when money is involved.” That comment was not an isolated either, Ellen did not seem to really understand what she was implying with that remark and it she repeated it to me on other occasions.
This is bringing me up to the “U.S. Express Incident”, which will be my next post. These are very importent items to understand how it is that my participation in the Dan Rather Report has inspired Ellen Voie to suddenly have a new priority. that’s right…. She’s got her “EYE” on Harassment.
Interestingly she felt a female member “Overreacted” to a Canadian Trucking Magazine Incident and did not see the validity of the U.S. Express Booth in Vegas passing out her brochures until photos appeared with an article more provocative than the attire.
To have your “EYE” on Harassment, you must understand it and Ellen Voie does not seem to understand that working around lots of Men in a management capacity brings lots of flattery. Perhaps even a false sense of the real world for Women who may be hyper-sensitive from traumas they have endured in the past.
To say a Women Trucker “overreacted” when you do not know about her 20 year history in trucking, or have ever bothered to inquire why she may have reacted so strongly is in poor form. This is not a polite topic, it’s not for the weak at heart. But the time is NOW to FIX it and it ain’t gonna be pretty.
The upcoming Solutions Show on “Ask the Trucker” with myself, Tom Hansen and Tracey Hamm formerly of CRST are meant to help Solve the Issues with people who truly care to make a BETTER Trucking Industry by raising the Standards. This will help all Drivers overcome obstacles.
Make sure you check out the Co-Driver Nightmare Video and Comments from @NJKatwoman I have posted on this site to get and Idea of how complex these issues are. This is not something that should be thrown together.
We need to see that perhaps some organizations are not really in it for the GOOD of others, and this is a very serious issue.
Desiree,
I know the frustration that you felt while posting on WIT. So many times I witnessed your words and motives being twisted, altering what you were saying. I myself was a target of verbal attack over there and had to assertively respond, giving it right back to them. ( Sandy Long/Lady Godiva) I soon became disgusted and didn’t want to post any more. I believe my experience transpired also on the post that was removed from the forum.
I did speak to Ellen about all of that and she did apologize to me for how I was spoken to. At that time the forum rules were changed to only have members post. Actually, it was the members who were most aggressive.
We all know first hand what is going on within this industry as far as harassment towards women in trucking is concerned. There can no longer be an avoidance but rather an exposure of these tragic incidences that are occurring. They are now being addressed openly….thank God!
I think I was most disappointed when I met Char( from WIT) at GATS. I introduced myself and left off some flyers for them for Jason’s Law and our TRUCKER iPhone App. We began conversing about the problems going on within the industry involving women being harassed and so forth. Her response to me was that we shouldn’t be talking so much about it because it could stir things up more. My response was, “we should talk about it so we can resolve the problems and that not discussing it will not eliminate or solve anything. I walked away sad that day thinking, “we’ll have to fight this battle without them”
Now, I will say that since the Dan Rather Exposure there has been a much more positive approach over at WIT. It appears that there is an effort to now address these problems and issues concerning women being harassed, threatened, raped, intimidated, bullied, etc…
I was happy to receive an email a few weeks ago from Ellen telling us ( Allen and myself) that she would be happy to clarify or address any questions we had about WIT and assuring us that she is addressing the harassment issues. After we responded back and forth a few times( I wrote an exceptionally long email stating my concerns) I finally wrote this in reponse to a question that Ellen asked me and made the following suggestion.
“”In all accounts however, I believe that the number one thing that you
could do is make a post/statement, telling everyone that if they want to
be a sponsor, they will need to adhere to the strict protocol that YOU
create, and define the criteria they need to conform to.
I truly believe that this needs to be done. WIT needs to dictate to the sponsors a clear and precise action which will be enforced protecting the well being of women in either a student or a company training situation.
As far as the industry goes, this same action, and set of rules if you will, should be enforced and incorporated within every trucking company. It should be included on orientation day of training and handed out and signed by every trainer prior to their training responsibilities. Awareness to problems in itself is enough to greatly reduce incidences from occurring.
As Desiree mentioned, we will be having a show on Thursday, Dec 3rd at 7PM and we will be discussing SOLUTIONS to PROBLEMS.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/truthabouttrucking/2009/12/04/truck-driver-training-solutions
We intend to define the problem and then give our solutions. We hope all those who have their own well though out solutions, to please call in and share your thoughts and ideas. Please join Allen, myself, Desiree, Tom Hansen, and Tracy Hamm and share your thoughts and insight with us.
The Women in Trucking forum was not a very friendly place so I did not stick around. I found Desiree and Donna on Twitter along with many other great supportive truckers. When we were discussing the half naked girls at the US Express booth Ellen Voie was no where around that I knew of. She was there at the truck show, I met her there. She was selling her book and handed me literature.
I was told later that she took credit for US Express changing their advertising. Here is the article and our posts on the matter;
http://www.truckdriversnews.com/women-in-trucking-are-truck-drivers-too/
If she took credit for changing the way US Express used scantily clad women to recruit drivers, where is the evidence that she acted on it? Did she write about it like I did? Did she take pictures like Desiree and I did? Did she discuss it like we did? If so, where’s the evidence?
Wow! This is a real eye opener for me! I was referred to WIT by a ladytrucker from Canada, and I had heard of them from someone else. I was under the impression that they exist to HELP women truckers, to be a source of support, encouragement, assistance, knowledge, and truth.
Why is it the men have that “good ol’ boys club”, and there are so many women who don’t have that same sense of “sisterhood”. Good grief, we are all in this together! The denial of atrocities has gone on long enough.
I’m going to read your article again, TruckerDesiree, and again…I want it to really sink in…
Then just what IS WIT’s intent? How will anything ever change for the better if the truth isn’t exposed, talked about, brought out into the open?
Oh…I get it. We women aren’t supposed to be “difficult”, is that it? A great article I read was called “In Praise Of Difficult Women” by Elizabeth Wurtzel. I had clipped it out of the newspaper, and it stayed on my refrigerator as a source of courage and inspiration until it finally disintergrated.
Along with reading your article, TruckerDesiree, it may behoove WIT to read “In Praise Of…” also.
My G-G Grandmother was a suffragette. We owe those “Difficult” women like her for our right to vote. We can also thank those two “difficult” women, Margaret Sanger and Katherine McCormick, for our reproductive freedom when the birth control pill was formulated.
So, according to WIT, you are being “difficult”, TruckerDesiree. lol! KUDO’S TO YOU and keep being “difficult”. It seems that problems get solved, mountains get moved, people’s comfortable little worlds get shaken, truths are exposed, and things only get better by the workings of “difficult” women.
Now I feel so stupid for even including them in my latest video….Obviously they are NOT where I would want to steer our ladytruckers to, if they are not going to be told the truths as to what really transpires in the trucking industry, or not have WIT stand beside or behind them in support.
Working conditions HAVE to change for the better, and only education and exposure can make our hopes become realities.
Dear Christy:
I found your new video with me on it by accident & I was so touched.
Funny that this post went live around the same time.
I’m less concerned anbout that & more concerned about what you said about your situation & the DAC.
This really bothers me & I’ve heard so many drivers who find themselves is a red tape mess because something on the DAC that should not be affecting their carreer. Also, the delay with New Jersey Benefits that is jerking you around.
I want to know more so I can see if this is another pattern I have been hearing about lately.
This web of mess is meant to confuse drivers but I’m not confused, I see what they are doing & I mean to keep exposing it in words.
I will contact you today & hope we can talk more by phone.
Love,
Desiree
PS: Thanks for your kind words on that U Tube , you are a very sweet women
WIT needs to re work the organizations mission statement if they really want to help women.
I also saw that Sandy Long attacked Desiree which made me wonder ‘why’ Sandy belongs to WIT…..obviously Sandy’s mandate is NOT to help ‘women in trucking’ but to support the growing attitude of the men in the trucking industry to keep women OUT of trucking.
Desiree has been courageous,putting herself ‘out there’ to tell the story of how women are really being ‘handled’ in the trucking industry and with the Trucker’s Rottweiler aka Sandy Long helping women leave the industry….WIT needs to look at who is representing the organization if WIT is truly ‘helping women’ to train and stay in the trucking industry.
LadyTrucker
Wonders why Ellen is on the Jason’s Law fanpage on facebook if she is not supporting???? Why the hell are they blocking everyone? I can’t wait till that cult crumbles, I mean cookie.
How can a woman that has never ever been a truck driver have other truckers follow her, I mean seriously. \What the hell is the point of the Women in Trucking anyway to earn money and get a name for themselves?
I never was a fan of the WIT group something just never seemed right with them and I have better things to do than promote some office chair jockey sitting behind a desk eating bon bon’s, sippin on bottle water taking money from women who actually work for it.
If I am not mistaken she USED TO BE married to a driver….. And allowed pedophiles into the Trucker Buddy Program…. http://crimeshots.com/PEDOPHILES.html
I just read the Pedophiles CrimeShots Post where Ellen Voie had removed someone from a Forum who was asking questions about why she had such a person on Trucker Buddy OMFG!!!! I had heard this Rumor and I have seen the 990 which are the Non-Profit Filings when she worked for Trucker Buddy where she drew an enormous salary.
Ladies we are being FUCKED here and it’s not by any Men!
Also, in Response to your ‘Jason’s Law” Question, As Donna Smith Mentioned, She took Petitions and Brocheres to Ellen’s Booth at GATS in Dallas but we found that they put them under the table.
When I took Filmaker Beverly Petersen to her Booth Later who Interviewed her for the “Bully in the Workplace” Documentry which shows Ellen basically saying that Women Truckers bring it on themselves (The Video Link Is here on this Site and it astounding) I asked Ellen Where the Brocheres were. She and Char looked at each other and Char said “I think they got under the table”
Did they walk there?
I mentioned this in the Dan Rather Post also that I confronted Ellen on this topic and she said “There was no room on her table (BULLSHIT) and it was none of my Business BUT she did hand out a few I just didn’t know about it”
At this point, it’s sorta hard to believe anything Ellen Voie has to say.
I’m unclear if Sandy Long and Gloria Torbich are aware of these items. I do know that Sandy Long does moderate anyone who she cannot control with an Iron Fist on the TTT site and talking about Harrassment is a big No-No.
I am told the theme is “Women are Whores and Deserve what they get for wearing Pink PJ Pants with Bunnies on them when the walk from the Truck to the Shitter.”
I’m not diplomatic today unless you can’t tell.
This is part of the problem also though, it’s not my job or Sandy Longs Job to dictate how a Woman should dress. I don’t think it’s right to go running around in a tube top at a Truck Stop but it’s none of my fucking business either. This ain’t fucking Afghanistan!
A Man told me the following. A Trucker:
Even if a Woman is walking down the street completely naked, no one has any right to Rape or beat or harm her.
The remarks Sandy Long made following the post about the Serial Killers makes me wonder what in the World she is doing giving guidance to anyone.
Keep up the good work you are doing Desiree.
Leadership: When what used to control us becomes controlled by us, it is the beginning of a new part of our life.
Each progress leaves behind a broken barrier that we have conquered; each conquered barrier is another step to our greater selves.
Arthur F. Carmazzi
Every organization must be prepared to abandon everything it does to survive in the future.
Peter Drucker
Managers think about today. Leaders think about tomorrow.
Dan McCreary
Good leaders put out fires. Great leaders prevent them.
Amanda Maxine Hageman
Leaders manage change. Managers control process.
Anon
We must be the change we wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.
James Baldwin
Desiree, you have leadership qualities which will lead the trucking industry to the change that needs to happen in order for this industry to change and survive. Thank you for leading.
Integrity
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters.
Albert Einstein
Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing.
Warren Bennis
Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
Peter Drucker
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.
Ray Kroc, Founder of McDonald’s
I just spent some time reading over at WIT, just can’t deal with them. WOMEN putting other women down IN TRUCKING.
We have progressed way beyond “she asked for it”. My gosh one was making fun of another woman trucker’s size! Ellen fishing for ideas on “new harrasment guidline”
Desiree they don’t get it.
I am adding the new @NJKatwoman link here because there is so much confusion.
Ellen generally only cares if someone is talking bad about her so I know she won’t watch @NJKatwoman Co-Driver Nightmare Post and see all the REAL Women Truckers unless someone makes her.
She will utilize what she can get her hands on and take credit for it though and there may not be a way to prevent that unless we start a letter writing campaing to her sponsers.
The first You Tube by Christy @NJKatwoman talks about her Co-Driver and the comments of support here on this site explain how complax this issue is and how well covered up.
I spoke to Christy and Jan @KeysTruckerGal yesterday and WOW! there is so much more going on with the level of corruption in this Industry and it really points to Ellen being in cahoots with some real scum.
Not to mention the Pedophile coverup at Trucker Buddy that is detailed is the above post called “Crime Shots”
To add to the confusion , Christy thought Ellen of Women in Trucking was actually trying to help when she made this You Tube
Watch by clicking HERE
and read all the comments.
This is what Ellen Voie does, she will use others to stick their neck on the chopping block, even cover things up … and then when she shes an opening, repackage it and sell it as her own.
The YRCW Issue, The US Express Incident, The CRST Sex Harrassment Case , the DOT and Ray LaHood saying it wants more “Women in Trucking” and now my appearence in the Dan Rather Report make Ellen Voie appear relevant by the way she reformulates the package to suit her.
If you research her though she seems more like an ambulance chaser, esspecially after her Video of the “Bully in the Workplace” where she was asked questions that were not part of her usual script.
She’ needs ideas on solving harrassment because she has none and she doesn’t believe it. She says as much in the video.
But NOW that it is going to be a potential moneymaker to promote herself, well that’s different.
She is reading this because she refollowed people on Twitter shortlty after, unfortunately she doesn’t know who is who and that also says a lot.
Twitter is transparent , who you cavort with and avoid EVERYONE can see so if you are a phony and only interact with liars, they see that also.
We will be nipping at your heels Ellen to keep you honest because your obviously need guidance in that department. READ UP and take LOTS of Notes… Git’er Dun
This was on a Forum about Ellen Voie covering up on the Pedophile at Trucker Buddy written by the Mother on a fairness.com
On Nov 24 2003 10:10:00, Colleen Morse wrote:
Life can be very unfair. When I informed the Executive Director of
Trucker Buddy International that one of their drivers who was a
Trucker Buddy (a trucker who voluteers with a classroom of kids) had
written my 12 year old son an email saying, “I want to cuddle and
snuggle and be sexual with you,” and indeed sent her all the emails
where this man admitted that he fantasizes about kids sexually, she
decided the emails did not constitute formal proof. She further told
everyone that what I had reported on my website regarding pedophiles
was not factual. Why would anyone stick up for a pedophile rather than
the children? The man needs help, not encouraged to continue
volunteering with kids.
We should probably note here that Trucker Buddy did expel this guy the moment this accusation was made, and is running background checks on EVERY person who applies. They told the guy at the time that they would not take a chance on a single child being harmed. I just wish they had told this mom that. … It would saved her some unnecessary heartbreak.
Also, this is something like four executive directors ago … New folks running Trucker Buddy now, and even the suggestion that someone is involved in this crap is enough to get their butts kicked out.
That’s not a defense of the particular person who is the aim of this thread, but just to bring us up to date on an organization.
Dear KCGuy:
Thanks for clarifying that information. The above post was made by the concerned Mother in 2003 & the mention of the Trucker Buddy Organization in the Pedophiles Crimeshots Post mentioning Ellen Voie specifically seem to indicate two things.
A heightened awareness & knowledge that certain persons will gravitate to positions where they can be with the prey they seek. Whether this be Children, Women, Power Etc.
The other thing is that I see a pattern by one specific person to dismiss & make light of the concern when the evidence need not be any more overwhelming.
I love the Mission of Trucker Buddy & think it is a wonderful program. I encourage participation.
I’m concerned by the pattern by Ms. Voie.
The remarks made in the “Bully in the Workplace” Documentry, the emails I’ve received trying to keep me quiet, the online Cyber- Stalking from WIT members with a sort of “tongue in cheek” response for over a year with comments in writing like
“Ouch Desiree that hurts” by Ellen Voie rather than nipping the situation in the bud show that this is not a person who intended to be a leader.
This is a character issue of a person who is potraying theemself as an advocate for a group who needs one & that harms the entire mission.
I am advised that there have been phones calls made to have a You Tube removed now & a New One made in regards to this Organization.
The questions still remain on the Integrity.
You can never move forward if you continue to cover up & conceal.
I’m hoping this won’t be just a publicity stunt with someones life.
I’m glad Trucker Buddy was able to survive & move forward after this event & its a shame that this man slipped through to tarnish a worthwhile endeavor but as the Mother states above, he is sick & needs help. What is disappointing is when you seek assistance like she & I both did from the person who represents the Organization & you are treated the way we were.
It seems that no lesson was learned by Ms. Voie from this 2003 incident & continues to conceal rather than correct.
Trucker Desiree,
Great job on your rants.Many companies put no effort into matching drivers that would make for a team.Smokers/Nonsmokers, type of music,single/married,religious/philopsophy etc. If there were efforts through surveys and interviews to match teams, the idea of being a team would cause alot less problems that companies so often pretend is not there.This is a lack of management.Great Job.
Hi Lightweight:
Yes the way they team pople up is ridiculous & they manage to dupe you into being responsible for the choice but providing no access to moe appropriate choices.
With regards to trainers I can’t ttell you how many racists ended up with diverse ethic studentd … is it any wonder the student didn’t learn anything having to listen to a bunch of ignorant diatribe all day.
One Woman I met was assigned a trainer who was just jilted at the altar, a Mormon gentleman. Here she was trying to lean to drive & for a month had to listen to this man say how he hated Women.
This stuff happens from Greed to plump bottom lines. Thanks for stopping by….
Desiree
Dear Desiree,
It continues to be interesting and inspiring to follow all of this. It gets to the heart of improving the way we support each other as human beings, how we create community and build relationships in the workplace. Keep focusing on a conversation with a center rather than sides even though the issues by nature encourage polarization. The fact that other formerly resistant voices are speaking as advocates shows progress is being made in bringing things to light.
love and peace
max