by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Oct 19, 2016 | BLOG
My name is Sarah Clarke and I’ve been involved in the trucking industry for a year next month. Both my husband and father in-law work in the field as mechanics with Steed Standard and when the position for a truck washer was available I decided to give it a shot. A short year later a position became available in the dispatch office and that is where I find myself today. I am still learning every day and I enjoy being part of a great team and look forward to what the future holds for me in this industry and with Steed Standard.
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 18, 2016 | BLOG
Hello there my name is Connie Phillips and I’m happy to be a woman involved in the trucking industry and here is a small part of my story.
After working in the automotive industry for 26 years, with many of those years in shipping & receiving as both the shipper/receiver as well I was promoted to the supervisor of this department. When the auto industry tanked it was a natural progression into transportation. I’ve been dispatching/customer service for the past 11 years and I really quite enjoy it. It is a very fast paced environment and keeps me busy. This job isn’t for everyone, it isn’t always easy and there are a lot of hurdles to jump over and things change very quickly. I do get the pleasure of dealing with some pretty terrific people including our professional driving team that are the face of our company and do a great job daily, skilled mechanics keeping our equipment running very well, our inter-office team and our customers who are all a pleasure to deal with.
I’m proud to be part of Team Steed and I enjoy my job so I’m happy this is where I landed after 26 years in the auto industry
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
