I’ve been absent from this blog for awhile but I felt I should stop by an make an appearance seeing how a few people have been trying to find out what I have been up to. Well, lots of stuff while trying very hard to do less stuff. I’m sure you know how that is.
I’ve been using you tube more frequently to retell my story to a new audience as the “alleged” driver shortage has reemerged with a vengeance and I have begun contributing to other trucking sites such as the “Life on the Road” blog with an introductory piece about being referred to as a “Trucking Whistleblower”. I am also working on some other non-trucking related endeavors.
Over the past few months I have been frequently contacted about this blog and other blogs where I write about truck driving issues for women, student driver issues, crimes against truckers and a multitude of other topics. It’s not been easy for me to keep up with it all because after all I am just one person. I do the best that I can but I think it is important for others who are as frustrated as I was when I began this writing to understand that one person with a semi reliable Smartphone, a annual income of $35,000 or less which was my case for most of 2010 can have a very long reach. What I accomplished could be accomplished by anyone, even if they are driving full or part time. That was part of my social media experiment, to prove that people outside of trucking would care about safety and training issues if someone could effectively tell them what was going on. This is what has not been done by any organization inside trucking who claims they care about highway safety and driver retention.
When I first began this project and started on twitter there was an ex-truck driver/wannabe blogger who has since named himself a “watchdog” for the industry. This person put a great deal of effort into inserting himself in the center of the jealous flames wars that later ensued but one day he blurted out how he hated activists. It was really an odd comment because most of the links he expected me to “ReTweet” for him were trucking issues that required some sort of action from drivers or concerned citizens. Wouldn’t that be considered “Activism”? Here was a guy that was unemployed, unable to drive any longer and had tons of time on his hands. An ideal person to help participate in worthwhile issues who already spent hours on the internet looking up trucking news but unfortunately he was not interested in teamwork. His main motivation was merely jealousy which can actually be an effective tool to spur a competitive spirit but I will write about that another time.
I had not considered myself an activist, watchdog or anything or the sort. I do consider myself a concerned individual and even though I have very little financial means, I did have something to give which was time and ability. A person with time and ability is just as valuable to a cause as a person who donates money but cannot donate time or ability; both require action as opposed to inaction. That is called teamwork. All the money in the world cannot solve a problem if it is not applied effectively, if the resources never make it to the intended recipient it is only waste.
We need only to look at how our ineffective government runs to realize this problem is not isolated to trucking. In fact, it is clear that often an intentional façade is created to make it seem as if something is being done to correct a problem but actually it is only a PR campaign to settle down the “Activists”.
I believe more drivers are beginning to wake up and I encourage them to become involved in Facebook group discussions, letter/email writing, making phone calls and developing a virtual community through social media. There are so many worthwhile projects that need a few good men and women to help contribute knowledge.
If you are a problem solver type personality like I am walking by the 800 pound gorilla in the center of the room that represents a potential solution and having the “rule makers” ignore and disregard it becomes intolerable. After all, the supply chain consists of people who are theoretically trained to efficiently solve problems, correct?
Part of the problem has been overcoming the negative image of truck drivers. Some of this poor image has been cultivated by the industry who are responsible for who they recruit and provide the keys to their 75 feet of equipment. The industry has enjoyed playing out the “rogue driver” image for the public when it suits their needs while parading the “trained performer” like a circus treat for special events and recruiting tactics. These hand selected neutered drivers know better than to introduce sensitive topics for discussion to top industry brass. The job of these hand selected “voices of the industry’ is to give carriers a money shot ad and lead the public to believe everything is hunky dory, one big rootin tootin party with belt buckles and tattoos for everyone.
Outrage was what drove me to write and take action. It seemed like everywhere I traveled in the truck I saw a signs that said “Speak up Desiree”.
One of the places I had to pick up from occasionally was in Delaware and I tried to plan my schedule to pass through Washington D.C. in the evening when there was less traffic. Ironically, my 1st husband, a retired Army Major resides in this area so upon crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge I often thought how different my life may have been had I not left him. Since I was a young teenager he used to tell me how I could never survive without him, that I would never amount to anything, no one would ever love me, hire me or permit me to be admitted into a university. He was the only stability I had in my life up to that time and it was never easy to take action and leave but I could no longer tolerate his violence.
There are many people who look down on truck drivers but I had never felt so proud and patriotic as I had felt when I operated my truck and delivered my load safely and on time. I felt a deep sense of achievement I had never felt before that was related to performing my job. My self-worth was increasing and it was not attributed to how I looked or who I was in a relationship with. I fought back because I loved trucking and I felt like I wanted to live again. I knew there were other people who felt like they were drowning in this screwed up training system too.
The roads in Delaware become very narrow and there are few street lights so it is dark and difficult to see upcoming crossroads. It’s easy to miss a turn and stressful knowing you may get lost on a delicate farm road. I remember driving very slow through a township, and I saw a sign that said “SLOW Blind Child” on a yellow placard sign. I had never seen such a sign but I knew that unique signs existed in different areas. For instance, in Southern California there is a sign with a picture indicating a “Surfer Crossing” and I think most of us have seen the one with the image of the duck crossing or deer.
It was past midnight and even though I was already driving slowly, when I saw the blind child sign I slowed down further and laughed at myself because why would a blind child be out on the street in the middle of the night. A few miles after that I saw another sign that said “SLOW Deaf Child” and again, I did the same thing. The signs not only made me take immediate action, they made me think about what kind of community I had just entered.
This was not a heavily populated area but it was a town that cared and took action. For me, those signs represented a concerned community who took action to correct a problem.
My Mother once said to me “Desiree, why do you care about all these things, don’t you realize people are not like you? You always get your feelings hurt thinking they will care about things like you do!” It made me upset when she said this and I’m afraid at 47 years of age I finally understand that most people are not like me and really do not give a shit and that makes me even sadder.
What makes me happy though is that I am able to say “MOST” which means “NOT ALL” people and it is those who care about being better human beings that I take the time to share my experiences. Activism is how issues are raised for awareness and when food, water and public safety are at risk.
I invite those who want to raise the low standards in truck driver training to become more active, more vocal and demand truck driver training carriers be held accountable to the taxpayers who help fund truck driver training programs.
I will be writing more on the topics of activism on the “Life on the Road” blog, “Real Women in Trucking”, and sharing stories I hope will inspire you take action and stop waiting for things to happen by themselves or from phony organizations that use drivers for a showpiece to keep the heat off of them.
Community is what is lacking in trucking and leadership. This year has been a turning point because of social media activism in trucking. I encourage drivers and concerned citizens to do their part by becoming involved in Facebook groups, Twitter, You Tube, LinkedIn Discussions and start speaking up. Raising awareness to issues outside of the industry and changing the perception of who truck drivers are. This requires your action, your activism.
Desiree,
I too have been trying to make a mark on the internet while working full time as a long haul driver. I just want to thank you for all the work you have done on trucking issues. You have accomplished an amazing amount for “just one person.” People who are not truckers have no idea how much work it really is, how hard it is to communicate in stops and starts while going down the road, all safely.
Anyway, just wanted to give a little acknowledgment.
Lindsay Godfree
National Cross Country Travel at Examiner.com
Thanks you for the comment Lindsay,
Yes it is extremely difficult to keep up with the driving, the logbook and the schedules and still maintain an internet prescence. Many drivers have strong opinions but few are willing to do what it takes to stay focused and committed to a project and this is often why these carpetbaggers emerge to sell the a “Bill of Goods”
On June 23rd Hope Rivenburg in addition to all her othe responsibilites is calling for a National Call In Day to Washington D.C. for “Jason’s Law” H.R. 1803 See “You are Invited! June 23rd national Call In Day for Jason’s Law”
Kylla Hanson has been working ever so hard in addistion to being a school teacher to educate the trucking industry on human trafficking. Today, Lone Mountain Truck Leasing announced they will give $1 to “Truckers against Trafficking” for each new fan they get on their facebook fanpage between now & June 20th. See Lone Mountain Facebook Page
Allen & Donna Smith are hosting the first ever Social Media Convention to Unite drivers who are working toward positive change in the industry. See Trucking Social Media Convention
Then you have this non-profit who has done ZERO for drivers and the President has doubled her salary but she is asking the Dept. of Justice for money see “Conflicts of Interest on Topic of Violence against Women Entering Trucking”
These are the challenges for drivers who have little voice and this is why it is important for them to locate those who are putting forth real effort rather than just creating a show for the public.
I hear people complaining they don’t have time but they are on farmville all day long on facebook so you know I am the last person who wants to hear about the problems in trucking from people who are putting forth effort only to go party at some trucking jamboree but want to be respected when a real issue that requires effort to be put forth.
Good Luck on you endeavors and again I appreciate the comment.
DW
Hi Desiree, My Name is Stephanie… I am new to the trucking industry, so far… its been ALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I am currently a student driver, and was Assigned a horrible trainer & an awful co-trainee (YES 2 STUDENTS IN THE SAME TRUCK) the trainer earns ALL his money from the sleeper. I am so interested in helping your efforts. but first, I have gotta land somewhere that I can actually get trained and on the road! lookin forward to chatting with you~ Stephanie
Hello Stephanie:
I understand every bump you have encountered. It seems like there is no end in sight when you are in that sort of training environment. You can email me directly so I can understand more about your situation. There are some carriers that there are avenues to take to become sucessful and some where you are doomed unless you take initiative to understand their tactics to make you fail and how you can overcome those obstacles.
I have been making videos also on you tube about my training experience and what I learned about this industry. Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/truckerdesiree start at the beginning. Some of my recent videos are more personal because I am taking a break right now.
Here is my direct email truckerdesiree@gmail.com or you can call me on Pacific Time 9-5pm at 760-621-3325 leave a voicemail with your number to call you back if I do not answer. Do not give up and know that many trainers and training situations are ridiculous which is why there is such a high turnover rate in the first year. Think of yourself being on a challenging reality show and you have to figure out how not to be eliminated because that is how poor truck driver training is conducted. like a cheesy reality show. I hope to talk to you soon! Hang in there Gal! Desiree
Desiree
I should probably do in the nursing field for men what you are attempting to do for women in trucking. I responded to a couple of your vids on youtube but this looks like a better forum because I can yap a lot longer. I see some issues you address regarding discrimination, poor training and what is called the “old boy network” and I understand it completely because the same thing happens to men in nursing, not so much the passive men, or the gay men, but regular guys.
I saw a vid where you say a cute woman has to act stupid, and that probably is true, in nursing a smart outgoing guy better act a little less smart and better shut up when a group of females pack up. While we don’t get slapped on the ass (although that’s happened to me) or beat up, the women use the HR departments to exact their pound of flesh and when HR gets involved and you’re a man,you’re talking about losing a nursing license, and having a career ruined because a woman is pissed off at her overbearing husband or boyfriend that day. For every dickhead man out there who has a wife, there’s a wife who might be my supervisor at a nursing facility and women are as abusive and sexist as any man. I trully believe women and men have achieved equality in that area, which isn’t anything to brag about.
I am looking at getting into the trucking industry to get away from the angry 40-60 y/o woman who’s been divorced 4 times, and believe me there’s a lot of angry nurses who are managers out there. Am I going to have to deal with bullshit as a trucker, hell yes, but at some point I won’t have to be in close proximity with any angry person of any gender, that I don’t want to be around. It’s different for me if a dickhead male trainer acts like a dickhead, I’ve worked with dickheads in the trucking industry (warehouse) and in the oilfield, believe me I fare better with them than a woman who is hating men that day, and what is a funny joke one day lands you in front of HR the next day. Living with that kind of psychosis around patients who don’t need anymore drama in their life isn’t my cup of tea. I can thump an asshole male trainer if he pushes it too far, what can you do if a female manager does the same thing?
Bullies come in all sizes, shapes, races and genders, the catch is how society, HR departments and courts allow us to react to the bully. I can’t thump a female, nor file a sexual harassment on one, and you can’t thump a male, but you can file a sexual harassment on one. EEOC doesnt really help they just don’t know how to deal with that. Their usual victim pool doesn’t include someone in my shoes, and like I said in a vid response,there’s no Oprah show that addresses any of the things I’ve mentioned.
For the record I’m married have two grown daughters, five sisters, had a great mom, so I respect women who earn it. I think women are their own worst enemies just as men are their own worst enemies at times, but I prefer dealing with asshole men than asshole women, but life would be much better if all the assholes just stayed home. Well that’s all I have for now.
I look forward to reading more of your blogs, and hope your knee surgery went well, those can be painful
Rasising awareness on mismanagement of labor resources during these very trying times for the working classes is very important in all industries. It is particularily difficult in an industry when the stereotype image differs , that is the challenge in educating the public. To give another face to an industry, to be ridiculed for doing it…and forging ahead because it is the right thing to do…. Thanks for the comment, Desiree