Do lady drivers face different challenges than men? A lady driver from Clarksville, TN loaded in Louisville, KY for Chicago. It was noon before she got loaded and she knew that she would lose a day, but it removed the pressure for delivery. She stopped at a truckstop in Lebanon, IN to fuel and to spend the night. She found a spot on the next to the last row and parked her unit.

 As she was walking to the restaurant she met another driver who was going to eat and they started talking. They enjoyed dinner continuing to talk of experiences they had driving. He seemed like a nice person and was pleasant to be around. It was getting late and she informed him that she needed to get some sleep. He agreed to walk her back since some truck stops have rules about women being alone.

 Arriving at the truck, she climbed in and turned to bid him good night only to find that he had climbed in behind her. She resisted his advances. He realizing that he had misread her became violent, overpowered her and forced himself upon her. When he left, she pulled herself together and contemplated what to do. She was not about to get out of the tractor again. The next morning, she called the police. The driver was caught still in his tractor as if nothing had happened and was arrested. He was eventually convicted and is now serving 2-5 years in a correctional facility.

 Male drivers need to understand the role of the lady driver in the industry today:

    1.    First, it is pleasant to have them with us. Remember when all you had around was sloppy-dressed, dirty, foul-mouthed, unshaven men in drivers' lounges.

    2.    However, their role is not to service male drivers. Participating in a traditional male role in no way warrants liberties with lady drivers beyond social and criminal standards.

    3.    Thirdly, they deserve our respect. They have proven they can do the work and we need to acknowledge their accomplishments.

 That's the way I see it - Bob Hataway - TransAlive.