Women truck drivers on the rise, still face challenges

PHARR, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — The trucking industry is one of the most vital and biggest employers for the Rio Grande Valley.

There is a growing trend of more women taking on these jobs in what is considered a male-dominated workforce. However, Valley women tell us how they still face challenges and stereotypes.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, statistics show women now make up almost 8% of truck drivers – that is up from about 5% a decade ago.

Alejandra Villafan, Ana Rodriguez, Marilyn Rocha and Sarah Ramos, say they are driving the changing trend but face stereotypical speed bumps.

“Even when I’m out there pumping diesel, I get a lot of men telling me comments like ‘oh, you are driving, like really? Like I cannot believe you are driving, are you sure you don’t need help,” Ramosa said. “And, you just have to always remind yourself that you are here for a reason.”

Ramos has been told, she should be at home with her kids instead of in the road. Ana’s brother said driving is a “man’s job.”

Alejandra and Marilyn say shifting mindsets drives them to work harder and make more money.

“I decided that I needed to do something to change my life, my status because financially I had been doing very badly, so I felt that this was a little faster than a normal four year career,” Rocha said.

Truck Driving Instructor Dominic Zarate says women entering the field are ambitious, drive safer and perform better in his classes.

“Every enrollment that we have we have at least one female driver is coming in, so out of four, one is going to be female,” the instructor said.

At Southern Careers Institute – Pharr, they have been working with women students for the past two years. Angela Torres, the CDL senior admissions representative, says she get a call everyday of women interested in getting their CDL.

Torres believes that in a few years women will be the ones dominating the industry.

“The stamina of it being male-dominant is going to be gone by the next couple of years,” Tortres said. “Maybe 30 to 40 percent will be males and the rest will be females. We are going to take over.”

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