by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Jun 16, 2018 | BLOG
Ester Rony
I joined the trucking industry in 2010, by that time I was pregnant, here when you get pregnant after high school you become a disgrace in society, I was 19 and naughty as any young teenage girl would be, I was told to get out of the house by my Dad who was so angry about me getting pregnant, I wasn’t annoyed at all because that’s how any parent would have reacted, I was strong yet I had nothing, but I don’t know where I got the courage to move out, the father to my pre born baby was a high school sweetheart so he couldn’t do much.
So I went in an abandoned house and started a life, let me get to trucking now.
Esther Rony
Female truck drivers face a lot of challenges in my society, its a job of single mothers, orphans, drug addicts and any bad behavior you may think of, so the public talks poorly about anybody in the trucking industry, I joined the trucking industry, at first I approached a female driver and asked to be her helper, I told her my story of being a single mom and she took me in, we started traveling together from Kampala heading to the east to the border in Malaba then crossing over to Kenya which is another country.
She didn’t know my intention was learning to drive, but I helped her whenever she needed my help, as time went on, I learnt routes, how l am supposed to behave on the road, she became my friend and she taught me slowly how to drive, how to identify problems and fault, how to handle simple mechanical problems , we got along well.
Esther Rony
I finally got in to business, started getting money and applied to a university where I pursued a degree in information systems, I got my father’s attention and other family members back, it was through a lot of hard work, toil and sleepless nights that I achieved my degree, I started talking to different female drivers whenever i met them on stop overs, they thought they are doomed, I started empowering them and I told them we also are needed in this society, if we cut off supplies of food the society will lack. I used my opportunity of being exposed and we formed a women’s committee in a big Association called Uganda National Lorry drivers and Transporters Association.
Written and submitted by :
Esther Rony
Uganda East Africa
Spokes person of Uganda National Lorry and Transporters Association
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | May 31, 2018 | BLOG
Since I was a teenager I had it in my head I wanted to be a truck driver.
I’m not sure where it came from. At 19 I got my licence. A friend of my dads, who owned a self loading logging truck let me go to work with him and he would let would me drive.
I’m not sure where it came from. At 19 I got my licence. A friend of my dads, who owned a self loading logging truck let me go to work with him and he would let would me drive.
I loved it!!!! At 20 I got a local job hauling freight. Flat decks, B trains, vans, I drug it all around. It was great experience. About a year and a half later I started driving logging truck and haven’t looked back. I drovehighway log trucks all over B.C for 6 years. 
I’ve been driving off highway log trucks for 8 years now. Same awesome company for 8 years. I’ve learned to run all kinds of equipment and do a lot of low bedding. Most of my closest friends I’ve met in this awesome industry.
The first year of logging was a little tough. I had to prove myself and toughen up a bit. “Fit in or f**k off” they told me. They would of treated a 20 year old guy the same way though.
I can only remember a couple guys who tried to run me off. The rest treated me great! Long days and hard work in the bush but I love it!
I can only remember a couple guys who tried to run me off. The rest treated me great! Long days and hard work in the bush but I love it!
I’ve made well over a million bucks with my $1200 ticket.
Work your butts off ladies!! Ain’t no mountain you can’t haul off????????
Jill Telosky
British Columbia Canada
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Apr 5, 2018 | #BeTheException, BLOG
In December 2002 I finished my driving school education. May 2003 I started driving for a small company out of Orangeville Ontario, running from our yard to Montreal QC and back, 3 times a week. I did that for the first 4.5 years till the rates changed. Then I was asked to run USA & that’s when my pay per miles went up and my career changed, along with my personal life. For 6 months I continued to work for the little company until I was informed the trucking company filed for bankruptcy & my 10 year marriage had ended with no children. So I went on the search and in the final two weeks of work I found Titanium Trucking, where I made it my new career.
4 years ago I realized I hadn’t explored the other options within the industry and I took a short 4 month leave from long haul trucking & Titanium. Going to the oil patch out west in Alberta running tanks of liquid nitrogen into Fracking sites. As much as I enjoyed that experience, my season was shortened & I had to go back home for personal reasons. Back in the Titanium driver seat I wanted more. So I went internally & decided communications was lost in so many ways for drivers. I started a unofficial Titanium truckers lounge Facebook page. Where for the past almost 4 years, any and all drivers can converse in just another helpful way for all, not just within the company but also publicly.
After the FB page became noticed as a positive thing, Titanium asked if I wanted to be a part of the health & safety committee as the drivers representative, there I’ve been able to provide support in the needs of all 450 plus drivers. In addition to this position, I am also the Drivers Contact, answering questions and talking about concerns they may have. The less important but still willing to add to my plate was the position as the Rep on the company Social Committee where we come up with ideas & events that can bring everyone together doing something fun.
My future will not end in the driver seat, as much as I enjoy the job but I feel I can help out in other areas of the industry. I do feel that at this time there could be a better foundation for woman drivers to stand on more firmly. There’s many ways to do that, it’s just a matter of finding out what I can do for the future of all. I’m not perfect in any way & have made mistakes, probably still do, but hopefully I’ve learned, evolved and developed a better sense of what is needed of me to do and what I’m able to do in the future.
In my career of trucking I have been able to adapt the day to day needs as a woman into my routine of being a long haul/over the road driver. It’s been trying and I’m just thankful that I’ve been given the Opportunity to do what I’ve been destined to do.
My first truck as a company driver 14/15 years ago.
My first brand new truck with Titanium and had light pink decal that didn’t last long.
All clean in the spring season with a new bright pink decal. Same truck 2014.
You can follow Casey Sarginson on the unofficial Facebook page Titanium Truckers Lounge at https://www.facebook.com/TitaniumTrucking/
For more information on Titanium please visit their website www.ttgi.com
