by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Oct 18, 2016 | BLOG
Hello…my name is Veronica Burgess
I got started in highschool. Was with a guy who’s family has a gravel truck company in the town of Russell, Ont. We ran old macks, my first truck was an 1985 Rmodel mack triaxle dumptruck. We did everything, hauled fertilizer, snow, aggregates all over the Ottawa and the capital region. Just last year I was offered a job all on my own driving my present truck 02 Volvo twinsteer, 13 speed.
Mostly I haul Asphalt now, paving roads, parking lots and driveways. Just recently I’ve been hauling the tag-along float, chaining and moving out paver and skidsteer to all of our jobsites ! Would love to hear from other women who haul aggregates too !!
October is Women’s History Month. The Women’s Trucking Federation Of Canada is celebrating this month by sharing stories of Women in the Transportation Industry. If you’d like to share your story please email shelleyu@wtfc.ca . Please include a picture. Thank you 
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Oct 17, 2016 | BLOG
My name is Deborah Gee, I am currently 45 and I got my class 1 in 1995.
I got my class one due to a government sponsored program that sponsored underemployed people through trucking school.
I drove all over north America, sometimes as part of a team and sometimes on my own.
Eventually I ended up subbing in for a dispatcher who took ill. I fell in love with the job. I started taking classes to improve my interpersonal skills, my computer skills and logistics background.
Over the years I have completed my CITT, P-log and RPR certification and now work for the oil and gas industry recruiting drivers.
I love my job, and I love the opportunities it provides me to interact with drivers and people in trucking. I don’t know of any other industry that requires this level of adeptness to change.
October is Women’s History Month. The Women’s Trucking Federation Of Canada is celebrating this month by sharing stories of Women in the Transportation Industry. If you’d like to share your story please email shelleyu@wtfc.ca . Please include a picture. Thank you
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Oct 16, 2016 | BLOG
I started trucking in the late 70’s. My dad was a trucker and out of six of us kids,four of us ended up in the transportation business. Now 35+ yrs later,I’m still at it,part time only.This industry has been a great learning curve for me,ever revolving, constantly learning,as one door closes another opens.I drove coast to coast,and all through the US. Only state I missed was Alaska.I tried it all,from hauling gravel,liquid commodities,flat deck,dry vans to reefers.Taught orientation classes,worked in safety and compliance and then went and got certified as a driver instructor. I took my course in Alberta, and started training students there.Eventually I came back to my home province, and started training with a company here.I trained in the city and OTR,but I really missed seen the country,the freedom, and the people. I’ve met some great people and worked for some great companies.Transportation is a great business,it’s been good to me.There are so many divisions and opportunities with trucking,it’s never ending. I’m not saying it’s for everyone,but if you have the urge to try it,do it,and don’t look back.If you don’t give it your best shot,you’ll always wonder if you could have done it.. Trucking is a professional job,it’s like anything that is new to you,it’s intimidating,but oh my the results are un believable.If I could start over I would have gone into this business probably right out of school. I’d like to encourage anyone who is thinking of going into trucking,that the WTFC has some great people working to give advice,encourage, and mentor you. My advice is the only thing that is stopping you from becoming a professional driver is “fear and common sense”.
Maureen Scott
October is Women’s History Month. The Women’s Trucking Federation Of Canada is celebrating this month by sharing stories of Women in the Transportation Industry. If you’d like to share your story please email shelleyu@wtfc.ca . Please include a picture. Thank you
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Oct 16, 2016 | BLOG
Hi my name is Sally at the age of 40 I decided it was time for a change I always loved trucks and since I was a kid it seemed just a distant dream until I went to Driving School and did a 12 week course which landed me a job with a local trucking company . I was a shunter which I hated but it sure did teach me how to back a truck in !! After six months hauling around trailers I made the journey from my home in Newfoundland to a job in the oil industry of Alberta
I got a job driving a semi-vac on a small oil site south of Fort McMurray doing twelve hour shifts I did this job for two years when I decided to change employers and I began hauling diesel into the base mine of the Syncrude oil Site . After a few cold winters in Fort McMurray I joined a terrific company where I am now the dispatcher and on occasion I still run the trucks when needed , I encourage women to follow your dreams because you never know where the road will take you !!!
Thanks
Sally
October is Women’s History Month. The Women’s Trucking Federation Of Canada is celebrating this month by sharing stories of Women in the Transportation Industry. If you’d like to share your story please email shelleyu@wtfc.ca . Please include a picture. Thank you
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Oct 15, 2016 | BLOG
‘WOW’ what an industry……..it has literally changed my life! Who knew I would go from working for the government in Finance & Administration for over 15 years to driving a transport to ending up as a ‘Certified Director of Safety’, at Larway Transportation in Barrie, Ontario. What a journey it has been. I think one of the reasons why I love this industry so much is the continuous learning, I learn something new every day. It’s in my blood…. I can finally say; I have found my ‘Passion’, and I love it!
I remember going for my road test with MTO back in the 90’s, when women were slowly entering the industry but not truly recognized yet. The MTO officer took one look at me and said; “you don’t belong here”. I thought to myself; ‘what right do you have to judge me’….why, because I’m a woman and take pride in my appearance, you don’t think I belong here? Needless to say I failed my first attempt. That was my first experience with discrimination and it didn’t stop there. My school booked another appointment for me for the following week and I passed. Over the course of the next couple of years, I faced many more experiences where I was discriminated against, humiliated and disrespected, but I never let that stop me. I remained confident, enthusiastic, positive and proud!
After 5 years on the road as a long haul driver, I realized more than ever, how poorly truck drivers were treated, disrespected, under paid, and over worked. I thought to myself many, many times, there has to be a way that I can make a difference. Eventually, the opportunity presented itself and I started working in the office for trucking company in Southern Ontario. I started part-time in safety and accounts payable and within 3 weeks I was hired full-time.
I learned everything I could possibly learn about the industry, from safety to billing to payroll to dispatching to maintenance, from reefers to flat beds to rolltites to walking floor trailers, you name it, I took every opportunity I could to learn and in a matter of 6 years I was promoted to ‘Operations Manager’ and had doubled the fleet size of our fleet. One of the best experiences of my life!
The life of a truck driver is like no other and can be challenging, rewarding, and frustrating all at the same time. For over the past 15 years of my life, I have made a difference in my driver’s lives every day!! I RESPECT them, I don’t JUDGE them, I work with each driver to promote their strengths and I provide them with opportunities to learn and to grow. I believe that success happens where new ideas can flourish in an environment that is rich in diversity, a place where people from various backgrounds can work productively together.
Remember to always; treat your fellow human beings with respect and the dignity they deserve. Treat others how you would want to be treated.
Susan Murphy Bois
October is Women’s History Month. The Women’s Trucking Federation Of Canada is celebrating this month by sharing stories of Women in the Transportation Industry. If you’d like to share your story please email shelleyu@wtfc.ca . Please include a picture. Thank you
