Truckin' with Tamie
From CEOs to mechanics to truck drivers, women are revolutionizing the transportation industry. Tune in to "Truckin' with Tamie" where host Tamie explores the ins and outs of trucking, showcasing how this formerly male-dominated field is now opening its doors to women worldwide. We cover the issues affecting women entering the industry for the first time, CDL Schools and training programs, and adjusting to life on the road. We will interview women in various positions in the trucking industry, and get the real scoop on what to expect as a woman in this field.
Truckin' with Tamie
Episode 5 Unveiling the Dark Side of Trucking: Sexual Assault by Trainers
Can the trucking industry ever become a safe haven for women or will it remain riddled with dangers like sexual harassment and assault? On "Trucking with Tamie," we're confronting these unsettling realities head-on, focusing on how women trainees often find themselves at risk in an environment that should be nurturing their skills. Despite lawsuits against big names like CRST and CR England, too many stories of harassment go unheard and unresolved. Join us as we spotlight advocates like Desiree Wood and organizations such as Real Women in Trucking, who tirelessly campaign for safer, more equitable conditions. We discuss the strides some companies have made, such as implementing same-gender training policies, but recognize that the journey towards comprehensive safety and respect is far from over.
Our exploration doesn't stop at raising awareness; it's a call to action for both the industry and individuals. We emphasize the importance of reporting incidents to authorities and rally for systemic change to protect and empower women truckers. This episode serves as a reminder that no one is alone in this battle and that there are resources and allies ready to support those affected. Through advocacy and a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment, we can reshape the future of trucking, making it a career path where safety and respect are non-negotiable. Tune in, stay informed, and be part of the movement pushing for a better tomorrow in trucking.
Hi, welcome to Trucking with Tammy, where we're going to dive into an issue that doesn't normally see the light of day in the trucking industry. Today we're going to tackle a very serious and troubling issue that affects women across the board the sexual assault of women by trainers in the trucking industry. Of women by trainers in the trucking industry. This is not an easy conversation, but it is one that we need to discuss. So buckle up buttercups, because we are going to deep dive into this topic for about the next 20 minutes or so. Okay, so let's start with the basics. The trucking industry is the backbone of our economy. It's responsible for transporting goods East Coast, west Coast, north and South. But behind the scenes there is a very dark side that many are not aware of sexual harassment and assault, particularly during training. This has been reported for years. During training. This has been reported for years, yet it remains somewhat of a silent epidemic. Imagine being a woman in a situation where your learning environment is also your living space. For many women in trucking, this is our harsh reality. We share tight, confined spaces with trainers for weeks on end. It leaves us vulnerable, sets up an environment for harassment, assault. You can hop on social media and you will see post after post from various women that says the same thing. You know they put this information out there and it gets buried. It's under-discussed, it's not taken care of. Multiple reports have surfaced over time and they all paint the same grim picture. These counts from various women are not isolated incidents. These counts from various women are not isolated incidents. They represent a broader pattern where women are often subjected to unwanted sexual advances, unwanted harassment, unwanted assault, all while trying to learn the ins and outs of our new profession. So you say, well, go for legal action, go to the companies. Legal actions have been taken, highlighting the severity of this issue. In 2015, three women sued CRST alleging they were sexually harassed, assaulted or raped during training. These lawsuits, along with others, have brought some attention to the problem, but not a lot. So I did a search today on the web of all the lawsuits that I could find and there weren't many because most of it's been buried. The CRST, as I mentioned. At least seven women reported being raped by their trainer or co-driver while working. Three of those filed that claim that I said. Another woman, christina, she went and said that she was raped by her trainer. There was a Utah woman who filed a lawsuit against CR England, um multiple. But the number of actual lawsuits and information is just not out there because the women are not reporting it or if they do report it, it's not going past the company. One case that echoes through all of this is that woman who sued Sierra England After she was assaulted by her trainer. She pointed out the company's negligence in background checks and their negligence in how they responded to prior complaints. So these legal battles are illustrating not just the individual traumas that these women are experiencing, but it's also highlighting the systemic failures where the companies have been accused of prioritizing business over safety, where the companies have been accused of prioritizing business over safety, and not just once, not just twice, but repeatedly over the years.
Speaker 1:So what's being done about this? Anybody, anybody know. Well, there's been a push for change. If you know Desiree Wood, a real woman in trucking, I know she has been advocating for change for years. Now Some companies have adopted a few more stringent policies, like same-gender training, though it's not without its own legal and ethical challenges.
Speaker 1:There have been reports of sexual assault from one female to another. The FMCSA it's shown interest. It's planned studies to better understand and mitigate these issues shown interest. It's planned studies to better understand and mitigate these issues, so it shows a shift towards acknowledging and addressing the problem. However, progress is slow. There's a lot of criticism, and I'm right there with it, that the industry's response has been more about optics than real change. The Women Bureau of the US Department of Labor has also stepped up, hosting events and roundtables to discuss strategies for safety.
Speaker 1:But are these efforts enough when the stories of assault continue to emerge? No, they're not. Real change needs made. More women need to come forward, and not just to their companies. They need to come forward. They need to report these incidences, these assaults, to the local authorities where it happened and also to the Department of Labor, because the impact on these women is profound. Not only do they suffer through the trauma of the actual assault, but they also face professional repercussions of the actual assault. But they also face professional repercussions. Many leave the industry, cuts their career short, creates a hostile environment. Then they have to deal with the psychological effects that are long lasting. They deal with anxiety, depression, they can develop PTSD.
Speaker 1:I had a woman that was raped by a carrier that I worked for previous. She needed mentoring after the incident because she was experiencing high levels of anxiety. You know, I went out with her on the road, hung out with her, talked to her, tried to get to the root of the problem so we could get some resolution. The company was so insensitive in their dealing with her that after the incident had occurred they had even left her in the same truck and just being in that same environment was causing her extreme anxiety. You know, things like that need to be addressed. They need to step up and understand what these women are going through and give them more support.
Speaker 1:As I was talking about Desiree Wood, organizations like hers Real Women in Trucking have been vocal advocates. They have pushed for better training, better reporting mechanisms, better workplace safety for women in trucking. They have been very instrumental in bringing these issues to light and supporting survivors. Yet there's still a long, long road ahead for them to truly feel safe and for these women to feel like they are supported in their work environment. Okay, so we hear what's going on. We hear what the complaints are. So what can be done?
Speaker 1:Moving forward, regulation there needs to be a lot more regulation concerning women in this industry. There needs to be stricter regulations from the government to ensure that training environments are safe. Environments are safe. Mandatory background checks should be the norm, especially for trainers. And then they need to make clear protocols for reporting and handling complaints. And if a trainer has a complaint against them, don't put them in the truck with another female. Come on people, pull them out of the training environment until this is investigated and resolved. You know company policies need to be implemented to have a zero tolerance level for harassment and assault. Real consequences for these trainers that are accused or even found guilty. They need to offer more same gender training options and actually promote women drivers to trainers and increase the number of female trainers available, instead of making you wait right. Third party oversight you know, maybe a third party needs to be developed to come in and oversee to make sure women who report assault are taken care of. Better Training and education there should be mandatory training for both trainers and trainees on what constitutes harassment, how to report it and the legal and ethical responsibilities of all parties involved.
Speaker 1:There needs to be a better support system. I don't even think that we should even have to say the things that are needed. I mean, is it really necessary to say, hey, when somebody's raped, they need a support system. Hey, this so-and-so is raped. They need counseling. Duh, I mean, just to put it bluntly there, legal assistance, legal assistance, come on. If somebody is accused of raping someone, the victim needs all these resources that should be available to them. The victim needs all these resources that should be available to them Counseling, legal, career reentry, anything that's going to help the survivor navigate their trauma and potentially keep them in the industry. You know, one bad experience is just like being in an accident, right? So if you are in an accident, the companies have protocols set up to keep you moving forward, to come in and assist you with anything you need to keep you driving. Well, this should be the same. The steps should be taken to ensure that the woman gets all the assistance they need so that they can move forward, and a cultural shift within the industry is needed.
Speaker 1:More than anything, women need to be seen as equals, not targets. I am so tired of hearing oh well, she was asking for it. Well, she's working in this environment. It was her decision to be in trucking. It was her decision to do this. It was her decision to do that. Where's the consequences of his actions? Where is he or she? If the attacker is female. Where is the responsibility for their actions? For being the aggressor? You know there needs to be a complete cultural shift in the mentality surrounding women in trucking. This means promoting more women to leadership roles, fostering an environment of respect, actively dismantling the old boys club mentality that perpetuates these abuses. I myself deal all the time with the old boys club mentality that women do not belong in trucking. We do a damn good job out here. We have earned our right to be here. Women have been in trucking for decades now. There is no reason why we are still dealing with the boys club mentality today. So I will stop from ranting, because we all know, once I get started, I don't want to stop and I'm going to end this on a note of hope.
Speaker 1:It's important to keep talking about this, to keep pushing for change. Stop sweeping it under the rug, stop, stop hiding it. You know it is out there, and it is out there more than you can ever imagine. But it's like judge, judge, let's not talk about it. No, we need to talk about it, we need to fix it. We need to talk about it. We need to fix it. We need to support those who have been affected.
Speaker 1:So if you or someone you know is experiencing this in the trucking industry. You're not alone and there are resources. There are people out there that want to help you navigate through this. And to the industry itself to trucking. Step up man, protect your workforce, ensure that the road ahead is safe for everyone. That's all today on this episode of Trucking with Tammy. Thank you for joining me on this tough but necessary discussion. Remember we will keep talking about it, we will keep fighting for change, but we can't change if you're not aware. So together let's push for a safer, more inclusive trucking world. Until next time, keep rolling safely and let's keep pushing for progress.
