My Rig and Me - Life on the road as a Lady Trucker by MD

by MD Altman
(Deltona, FL USA)

I have always loved to drive. I decided to be a trucker at the age of 46. At the time I was single no commitment to anyone so it was easy for me to just pick up and go out on the road. I think the hardest part about being out here is the loneliness.

Being a woman it is very hard to find someone just to have a conversation with even over the CB every man out here thinks you are after something. The worst of it they show no respect none I have come across men who flat out say I have no respect for you you should be home taking care of your family not out here on the road.

I think that is the hardest part hearing those words. Then if you are on the CB you are nothing but a Hoe looking for sex. Trust me I am not out here looking for a man nor am I looking for sex. I am out here to make a living just like the next person.

I will say there are times that I do play the lady card asking for help because at that time I do need a stronger person for what ever reason. I ask nicely and always say Thank you and God bless. I do mean that too not just saying because that person helped me.

You asked if women have it harder out here then men, I think we do we have something to prove that we can do the job just as good as men, I do feel men feel threaten by us women.

I just want to be able to share the road with other truckers and make a living. I respect them and I just would like the same respect in return. For all the times I have gotten harassed out here for one reason or another most asking for sex because they only see us lady drivers as hoes and show us no respect it is so sad.

I have a book I write in everyday of the going ons of my day I might not write in it everyday because I am either driving for 11 hrs and when I am done I want to just sleep or take a shower or I might need to do laundry.

Rule of thumb for me I dont walk the truck stops after dark I stay in my rig I have a pee cup I cook in my rig I am also writing a Truckers Cook Book. These truck stops are very costly so I buy my supplies once a week at WalMart and I have a frying pan and a coffee maker. So I just cook my meals right in my rig.

Once in a while I do go into either Flying J or TA to have a meal it is always nice to have someone else cook for you. The best coffee is at Pilot love their coffee.

But anyway Being out here for me is a blessing I was at point in my life that I no plans in sight for what I was going to do I was layed off from my job just broke off a relationship so it was me, myself, I no one else was going to take of me so I decided to go to trucking school met a lot of nice guys there a few of us still keep in touch.

Then I went off to a company to get the experience I need to be a safe and good driver. I stayed with that company for just about a yr. Then I want to experience driving a Refer trailer so I was hired by another company so that is what I do now

I haul refer trailers around the US. It really isn't any different than a dry just have to watch the temp. So here I sit here at the TA in PA resetting my 70. Waiting to pick up load tomorrow Monday 05/10 going to FL lucky for me that is where I live So I get to see my girlfriend after I drop the load.

Yes I said girlfriend I am not only a lady trucker I am a lesbian lady trucker so that makes all the harder out here. Well that part is for another day. It was great finding this site I like it alot, alot of info I have told a few people about it. It is nice that you have a page for the wives of truckers it is a hard life for them my heart goes out them. Well god bless and thank you
MD << friends call me that
MD.Altman1@gmail.com