Welcome And Series Purpose

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What's going on, everyone? Welcome back to That's Deliver Podcast. I'm your host, Trucking Ray, and today we got another important conversation as a part of Women in Trucking Series. This month we're going to be doing a special series featuring women that are connected with, working alongside with African American Women in Trucking Association, also known as ATA. The purpose of this series is to highlight voices, experiences, and journeys of women in trucking, while also encouraging more women to, especially African-American women, to consider opportunities in transportation and trucking. Today I'm joined by Claudette Hart. Claudette is an experienced truck driver in the trucking industry and is also involved with Ada. The organization is focused on supporting and uplifting and creating opportunities for black women in transportation. Today we're going to talk a little bit about trucking, safety, wellness, and challenges that women face out there on the road. The importance of community and mentorship within the industry. Claudette, we want to thank you for coming on the show. Claudette, how are you doing? Thank you so much for being on the show.

SPEAKER_01 1:11

Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

Man, it's a real honor to have uh someone like yourself come on the show and tell us about yourself and how you got into trucking. Tell us a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

Well,

Claudette’s CDL Path And First Jobs

SPEAKER_01 1:23

it would be a long story, but I'll try to keep it as uh short as possible. I I actually went to trucking school in 2019. Uh, got my CDL license from a from a third party actually, uh at Advantage uh School of Trucking Alvin Jolia, Illinois. And then from there, the journey began. Uh, the first company that I actually worked for in January of 2020 was uh Dot Foods. So I'm pretty much familiar with uh drive in and refrigerator freight. That's a short synopsis of pretty much how my career got started within the trucking industry.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

Drive in, and you're doing a refrigeration, that's hard work. You got the uh two-wheeler or carts that you're using.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

You know what? I actually uh I've only done uh uh well I've done touch and no touch freight. So uh with dot foods, it was pretty much uh you could be a touch driver or no touch. I was no touch, so I pretty much just uh bumped dot. But uh during my training, during my training phase, uh the trainer that I went with, he actually uh unloaded his trailers. So uh you know how they pay you uh per mile and by the piece. So uh once I got on my own, it I just pretty much uh bumped docs. So dot foods, which uh I still love dot foods to this day, they they were uh mainly like uh where you go from DC to DC and then they had their own customer base. So they had probably about um now they probably have about 13 facilities. So if you were a nuts to no touch driver, you would just go from DC to DC, and then they would send you to whatever customer base that they would have, which was some which would most likely be like uh uh we're talking about dry food, something like a skinny pop, or if you're talking about refrigeration, uh Cisco food, since everybody knows us.

unknown 3:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

What originally

Why Trucking Looked Like Stability

SPEAKER_00 3:26

attracted you to the trucking industry?

SPEAKER_01 3:28

Uh you know what? Yeah, but prior to this, I was doing um, I was an independent contracting work. So um, and I had a I did have a cargo van, a cargo van or two at at one time. And then when that, you know, pretty much when that when the bottom fell out, you know, I just was like, you know, uh coming from corrections, which provided a stability career, I was like, you know what, I I if I did do something else career-wise, it would be something that you know I could have forever. Like you, you, you never, you know, they're already they're always gonna need truck drivers. So from there, I was like, you know what, uh, I'll get my I'll get my license that way. If anything were to happen, I would always be able to drive. So that's pretty much how I got to do that.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Yeah, you did a great, you made a great decision. Did trucking turn out to be what you expected it to be from the first start? You kind of had your expectations. What would you say? Did it change?

No Roadmap In Trucking

SPEAKER_01 4:30

You know what? To be to be honest with you, come coming in because you know a lot of us just dive in first. So, you know, we we dive in and then we decide to swim, decide to swim later. So I definitely wish a lot of the resources that I know now, um, that I would have known, I would have known those resources coming in because you don't really, you know, trucking is one of those things. You you you come into it and like you said, you get a skill set, but there is so many ways to scan a cat when it comes to transportation and logistics that you will get lost out here if you don't have some type of uh some type of guidance. So I'm kind of somewhere, I'm coming somewhere in the middle where uh you don't know anyone with uh with a trucking background. So you just come in, you get your license, and you and you become a company driver, and you don't really know the the ins and outs of the of the industry, whether it be you know what you're supposed to get paid, you know, um how to run your clock, you know, just how you're supposed to be safe on the road, maintenance, you know, like how a breakdown can, you know, a breakdown stops your money. You're not really thinking about all of that when you when you go to school. You're not really thinking about like how you know what I'm saying, how the pay structure works. And a breakdown, you know, when you're a company driver, although they get the truck back up and running, that takes away from you. That takes away from your paycheck, you know. And then there's you know, with trucking, there's so many different divisions. So if I had known, you know, that you know, coming in, you just thinking drive in a refrigerator because that's what that's what you see posted up. You know, get your get your license, get your license, get your license in two weeks, three weeks, but nobody ever tells you, you know, what happened once you get your experience. You know, you don't really have a roadmap. Trucking doesn't provide a roadmap. So I I would say that's that's that's one thing that I learned. That it doesn't provide a roadmap. You gotta get it how you live, and you kind of you're you're learning as you go. And if you so happen to run across someone like yourself or uh you know, women and trucking or African-American uh women trucking association, you should be appreciative of those resources because you know, you can't do it by yourself. Uh just understanding the ins and outs.

SPEAKER_00 7:13

Absolutely.

Finding AWTA And Community

SPEAKER_00 7:14

I like the way you put that. I mean, we need each other. I mean, Ada, the connection that you're able to build with them. How did you first get connected with them?

SPEAKER_01 7:22

You know, um, honestly, I think um a lot of people don't uh I don't really I won't say a lot of people, because that's you know, when people listen, you know, that's probably like a vague, a vague statement. But honestly, I think a few maybe three years ago, um I went to an event. I meant well I went to an event, and I think they they were there alongside uh she trucking. And at the time, I still was I still was kind of new in the industry. So you you know, truck drivers, we have big trust issues, you know, because somebody can say something today and they could totally go left tomorrow. So you kind of like you kind of you know go into the door, but you don't really know what to what to expect. And then um years later, I saw that um they were having a trucking event uh in that I think it's uh I don't want to say the the wrong city, but it was like 30 minutes outside of Atlanta. So I just decided like, hey, you know what? I'm gonna I'm gonna go I'm gonna check the event out. And uh it turned out it turned out nice. You know, you get to meet different people and learn just you know what what they're doing within the community. So uh that's that that's where I'm at now, just trying to, you know, learn other things about uh truck and besides being behind the steering wheel. So I like that they have um, you know, they have four aspects to their community, which you know, they are, you know, you learn how to drive, you know, they have the back office. And the the best part that I like is that they're working with the youth. So because you don't hear that, uh, where they're where organizations are working with the youth and getting them up to speed of what's going on when it comes to transportation and logistics.

SPEAKER_00 9:20

Right. Yeah. Yeah, it's tough. I mean, what what brought you to get out of your comfort zone and go to those those shows? What do you remember? Um, what you what you decided?

The Truck Fire And Mental Health

SPEAKER_01 9:32

You know what? Um when I initially got my license and I was working for Dot Foods, uh my first year, you know, uh you're you're probably gonna be the first podcast that I'll ever tell the story to. But during my first year with Dot Foods, my truck, it it caught on fire in the parking lot. It burned from all the way to the it burned all the way to the ground. It had uh it had all of my things in it. So right after that, you know, I kind of, you know, I didn't know, you know, I was still new. It was it was my first year. So I kind of was like, you know what I'm saying? It was totally like uh unexpected. And um the from there, you know, my relationship with Dot Foods ended because you know, like they didn't really take into consideration like um your mental space. So I really think like you know, mental health is a big thing because being new, I you you know, you had a new driver and your truck just burned from off in the parking lot. You know, I'm just going, I'm just doing what I normally do. You know, I did my pre-trip um prior, and you know, I was telling the mechanics, you know, like, hey, I was just telling them I thought something was wrong with the truck. I wasn't 100% sure, but I was like, hey, I think something wrong with the truck and the after the third time. By the time we came to the parking lot, you just heard a big bang, and then my truck and the truck next to it and someone's car, you know, it caught on fire. And from then, I just knew like, you know, like uh something else needed to be something else needed to be done. Like who who helps, you know what I'm saying, when these situations happen? You know what I'm saying, especially when you're when you're new, like like me, you know what I'm saying? I went through that, I went through that little phase, you know, on my own. And then from there, I just you know, um started like a journey-based, a journey-based book. Because when I first started trucking in uh in 2020, you know, I wasn't going around with my camera and stuff because that wasn't a thing. Like me, I'm you know, I'm kind of old school. So when you with your trainer, you with your trainer, and you trying to learn the ins and out. I I wasn't, you know, following around with a camera. So everything that I learned, I took notes, and then I end up, you know, completing when I had the time off after the fire, I end up completing completing my book. So that's what uh you know, that's what propelled me to, you know, start to try to reach out to other uh organizations. I didn't even know that that they existed. I just started, you know, doing um research. And then once you come upon them, you gotta reach out. But uh it's a hard transition because you know you still gotta work. So it's not easy like trying to get out the truck and be at a truck and show or be at an event that's going on. So I just try to do it. Uh I try to do it when I can.

SPEAKER_00 12:37

Wow, you and I got a lot in common. I mean, uh to be able to be an advocate for the industry, uh, to not give up on it, you know, that pain that came from the fire. I mean, you could have done something totally different. Um, but you took that pain and you turned it into power. So I'm really proud of you. Um, that's amazing. Um, truck fires happen all the time. I mean, that's uh a common occurrence. Um now you're in the industry, you probably see that more than more than anything. It just so happened to happen to you.

Breakdowns, Downtime, And Carrier Size

SPEAKER_01 13:06

Yeah, now uh because actually when I went to I was probably at my third company by then, and I actually was going down, I think I was headed towards um maybe like Virginia. And no, I was going from I was doing uh car parts or auto parts from St. Paul, from Joliet to St. Paul, Minnesota, and actually en route one night, um I saw someone truck. It caught on fire, but I pulled over. Uh I was team driving at the time, so we pulled over and we actually went to make sure, you know, to try to see if they needed any assistance. Even though the fire was going on, you know, I stopped because I just I just always remember, you know, I'm saying when my truck caught on fire in the parking lot and there was nobody, you know what I'm saying? Like no, nobody was there. It was just one person, maybe. I think he he had came through and he was like, hey, is that your truck number such and such? And then I was like, Yeah, and he was like, Well, you know, I see a spark coming from up under the hood, and then I went back into the mechanic shop, and that's when we came out. And the only thing the mechanic asked me at that time is, do I have a fire extinguisher? What? Do I have a fire extinguisher? Like, it's in the truck, you know what I'm saying? By the way, but when I saw that those two gentlemen went up, you know, headed towards my route, I saw that they truck was on fire. I actually did stop and try to make sure, you know, like, hey, at least you can get you guys can get everything that's in the truck. But whatever's in there, shit, like let it go. You know what I mean? Ain't nothing you can do about it. And I think that they're um, I don't know what happened. We just made sure we called 911 and you know, help them get further away from the truck. But yeah, like now being, you know, now it being, you know, six years later, like you said, uh now you see that that you know it happens often. You know, break fires, fires, breakdowns. You know, it's the same thing with breakdowns. Breakdowns can be mentally exhausting depending on the area that you go with. You know what I'm saying? So you have to learn that, you know, you really have to do your research when it comes to um you have to understand the mega carrier, a mega carrier. You have to understand what a medium carrier is, a small carrier, because mega carriers, you have to learn, like, hey, with mega carrier, they got a truck that they can put you in just like that. A medium-sized carrier, you know, you might when it when the truck breaks down, you might be waiting one, two, three, four days. Uh, even smaller carrier, you may be waiting for a long, a long time. So those are things that, like you said, you just learn those things along the way. And sometimes it's it's that learning curve, it's a it's a it's such a long learning curve that uh you can see why the truck trucking industry is like the stock market. Because some of us, you know, while you're learning, you're losing money, and then some people as they're learning, they're making money, so it just depends on what side of the coin you're what side of the coin you're on, but it definitely can be um exhausting, yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

Yeah, I experience breaks out sometimes weekly, and uh yeah, it's exhausting. Sometimes I I remember one time I had to switch truck four times. Um, yeah, and the mechanic was like, What's the big deal? But you know, you're moving the bed in and out. I mean, you're sweating, there's no shelf right there.

SPEAKER_01 16:34

Yeah, that that those things, you're so right, like those little intricate details that no one takes in consideration. And maybe like, you know, for some people, like, hey, they they're they may be accustomed, so they may not care, they may not care that the truck just broke down, you know, back to back, back to back. But you do actually have some people like, hey, like, yo, I just made my bed. Now I gotta take my bed apart again, move all this stuff over here. You don't know what that truck looked like over there because people, when it comes to tiredness, you know, when you when you slip seat, man, these trucks be looking, they they some some of them be horrible. You know what I mean? You be like, Yes, I want another truck, but you'd be like, Is it clean? That's the first thing you want to know. And and half the time they don't know if it's clean, they just have to, you know, get you another truck. Yeah, that's yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:28

When I when I empty out the truck, I look back at the truck I was in, I'm like, oh my goodness, because I got the truck before somebody else got the truck.

SPEAKER_01 17:36

Yeah, sometimes you're like, yo, I could, I just could have kept that one. You know what? Put some tape around it and let me keep going. Like once you get a truck in the trailer, you kind of like kind of like you kind of be like, yo, I'm gonna I'm just gonna hold on to this one.

SPEAKER_00 17:49

Yeah, sometimes the new truck looks worse than the old truck.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 17:54

Oh man, so yeah, that's a that's amazing uh that you had that experience and you can speak on it because a lot of people don't know about that. They think, hey, you know, you get you get another truck just like that. That's amazing, but there's little small, intricate things. Um, I remember the one dispatch dispatcher that we were talking to said just take what you need. And I'm like, what do you mean? Just take what I need.

SPEAKER_01 18:17

I need everything. You know whatever.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

Or you're gonna leave it behind for someone to take it. And then, well, why'd you leave it in there?

New Drivers, Solo Trips, And The Gap

SPEAKER_01 18:28

I think I think another thing that I would touch on is uh when it just comes to the rules of the the rules of the road, right? Now, granted, you know, a lot of truck drivers they they don't understand, like when when you're new, you just knew you don't know what you don't know, right? So I could, you know, they can tell me to take a load from here to New Mexico, but if I if I just got out of school and you tell me to take a load from here to New Mexico, my my journey is going to be a little different than someone who's been running the roads. Like sometimes blind blind uh blind leading the blind is not good, you know, when they just want a body in a seat. So for me, I just feel like there there's a you know, there's a there's a gap between um having a body in a seat and you know someone coming out of school and getting some real experience behind the wheel before they could take uh solo trips. Because even though everybody can drive, we we all can drive forward, you know, and we all can you know back it in. But when it comes to like just taking a trip, take taking taking a solo trip and and you you only got you know 90 days in, uh that can be draining because if I've never left my state, and now you're telling me if if if if if I'm born and raised in Chicago, and now you're telling me, hey, by the way, you know, your first loadout is gonna be California, and then I get out there and make a mistake. The industry acts like that's a normal thing, and it's and it shouldn't be normal. Like this is a kid, you know, this is a young person, whether young, you know, middle age or older, if they've never been out there state and you're saying, hey, go ahead, go ahead, take this load to California, but then something happens. Us as a driver, we're being looked at. But hey, I haven't even I have not even drove around in my city. But as soon as I'm out of school, I should be excited about going all the way to California. Great. A lot of people they want to see the road. They they want to, you know, they be like, oh, there's a good way for me to travel. But trucking, you know what I'm saying? You you can travel all you want to, but there's rules and regulations, there's things that can happen on the road that you don't know about. So, you know, just trying to figure out a way where they could close that gap a little bit and maybe, you know, um have drivers wherever you get your license that drive around in those areas, you know, like maybe regional, instead of just always like soon as soon as that body's in the seat, you know what, you can go all the way to the top of the map because you never even left your state. But you know, the industry is the industry. They you know, they went away, they probably feel like if it ain't broke, you know, saying, why fix it? But that's why, you know, they need advocates. That's why they need advocates out here because uh if I can teach you, you know, survival, that's that's a thing. You know, like, hey, like, you know, you survived it. So since you survive it, you should be okay. But we should look at it like, yeah, I survived it. But how about we try to fix some, how about we try to fix some things so that they won't have to go. We already went through the fire, you know, and got burned. But how about we figure out some ways so they so they won't get burned as bad? That's that's that's how I. feel if if we're gonna be you know when it comes to being an advocate for the industry. Yes, we went through the fire and me and you are fine, but how about we come together and try to figure out something where yeah they're gonna go through the fire but maybe they it'll it'll burn a little less if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_00 22:16

I I you know I you know I don't know Ray like you tell me yeah it's something I mean you got you get into an industry such a weird industry you get your CDL um and then you gotta fight to keep your CDL you know how many obstacles come up where that you could be done first week um there's a lot of obstacles that come up that people don't realize and then you don't realize how much you had right there in your pocket and CDL's worth is you know something when I went to school they told me it's worth a million dollars and I was like what you know value that it holds not not actually getting that cash but the things and the door you know the doors that it opens for you the opportunities that you're able to get um the life changing things that you're that's sitting in your lap and I didn't know that if if if a young person could start out in their 20s and settle halfway for themselves versus now I got a family I got four kids and I'm trying to do it and if you can do it when you're younger the chances of you making it is so much better. I mean you talk go to these truck shows you see a lot of young people the young ones it's so nice to see those guys out there but a lot of them get started when they're 16 you know on the farm somewhere and like I said maybe you and I we didn't get that that start so the best thing we can do is try to group together and help each other yeah I I totally like that and and that's and and like you said that's it that I I think that's the that's the main thing just you know wanting to help those that uh come behind you you know just after you've you know after you've you know been through a few things on the road you said like you know uh I'm not I don't profess to be an expert but I do believe that once you're behind the wheel once you've accomplished the goal of getting your actual commercial license no one can take that away from you but journey based experience are you know that's real we don't profess to be an expert but I can tell you how my journey went and you can tell me how your journey went and the person can take something from that journey and be like okay well then I I know not to I know not to do that.

SPEAKER_01 24:24

But I don't like gonna try to make it seem like you or I you know we're trying to be an expert it's it's not that it's just like hey like these are real life stories you know that that happened and maybe they didn't happen to you but you actually have people who you know things happen to everybody's journey is not the is not the same.

SPEAKER_00 24:43

So we just take bits and pieces we just want to take bits and pieces from our journey spread the word and then maybe it'll land on uh the ears it needs to land on because everything isn't for everybody you know yeah be willing to share we don't need to gatekeep and and hoard it i mean so tell me what is um and you you got a book i mean tell me what does it mean when you withta what does it mean for you personally when it comes to uh their their organization well for for one um just coming in being being a woman and coming into the industry you know um that's uh seeing them you know that wasn't the face you know those wasn't the faces I saw when I was in school you know uh not nothing against you uh Mr.

SPEAKER_01 25:28

Ray

Mentorship, Confidence, And Endorsements

SPEAKER_01 25:29

but it uh the industry is a male it's a male dominated industry so I was you know you're actually happy to run into you know other women who who's actually drove or they have some you know expertise when it comes to just trucking logistics um um all together so I was actually you know I'd be actually excited excited to hear and see that you know and um you know just as for it's just just for um you know men and women of color you know it I if if I would have met someone like you in in school you know maybe the maybe the route or the journey would probably look different you know because like you said um when you band together it creates a better result.

SPEAKER_00 26:22

Do you think it was uh you think a lot of young ones a lot of um uh people that want to get in trucking maybe they're afraid maybe uh when they hear things like this they don't think they can actually do it what would you say that I I do because um I I will say that I think that I think that that is the case because when I first started just trying to go back to schools and just you know asking them like hey you know do you guys let you know just like how recruiters come into schools I feel like a recruiter they can come into the school and they can tell us X, Y, and Z, but how about getting drivers in here so they can tell them you know like a uh like pre, like before before you actually get get your license, you know, hey this is this is what could possibly happen.

SPEAKER_01 27:09

It may not happen but this this is what happened. And I think that they feel like you know we might deter them from getting their license but how I look at it is once you're enrolled at the school or you or you come to a company once you're there you're there they've already made the executive decision that they're going to get their license you and me we can't we can't change that. You know what I'm saying they're gonna get their license regardless but just like they have recruiters like a recruiter can come in here come into a school they can tell you you know how much you're gonna make how great the company is why can't us drivers be allowed to come into the school and let them know like hey you may choose this company right here but one two three this may happen you know how pay structure works because a lot of times coming into the industry you don't even know how you know you don't know how pay structure works when it comes to you know you got CPM but then you have your drop down to an hourly rate when there's a breakdown you know and an hourly rate it's like Burger King your McDonald's money you know when you when you have a breakdown or if you touch freight you know you get paid per piece you don't get paid the same way that a driver would get if he's just driving solid miles.

SPEAKER_00 28:23

So there's just different things that if I came into the industry and I don't know anyone who who's driven a truck or who's owned a truck you know the pay structure is one of the one of the biggest things like if I tell you right now I make 50 cents a mile the next truck driver he's gonna say he makes he or she's gonna say he they make 51 centy two cents because everybody wants to pop this person and there's there's no there's no uh there's there's no line so it's just you know like you said the industry this is a this is a delicate a delicate industry you you you just you look at the industry and you like man like uh um you just want to you know make make some type of changes maybe you know we'll um it won't happen overnight but you just want to change and I think auto's doing a great job with that i mean the community that they're building um being able to talk with people like yourself uh have you personally seen women uh gain confidence uh and opportunities through the organization yeah uh yeah i have um because they not only they have the you know they give you all four they give you all four uh parts of the industry so you you can get your you know you can get your CDL um within their organization uh they do uh they also you know provide uh resources when if if you want to do back office work um they have a variety of things you you actually would have to go to uh awta dot um dot org and you know everything that they offer is listed because I can probably go uh for hours about their organization but they do uh for me in my opinion they have a lot a lot to offer um especially when it just comes to like you said banding together as uh women in sharking men in shark and youth um you know they're a great organization yeah I mean just being willing to work isn't enough i mean it's a start i think it's a great start um but yet that community is what's gonna spur you forward it's gonna push you in the direction that you need to go uh instead of you running off into the weeds uh what challenges do you think um when it comes to mentorship and the challenges that you see out there for African American women especially when facing in trucking that people may overlook uh challenge uh I think they may look overlook uh mental health because a lot of you know a lot of people drive but like you said um if you ask anyone um uh because it's I I think that there's a such thing as uh you know like driver fatigue or and and back and fatigue you know like just little things that they you know like and within our community as well that we don't like to speak on like no one really likes to talk about if they're battling uh with with mental health or if they you know I'm saying if they're struggling to understand uh how to transition uh to another to another truck and job if they should you know um when it comes to endorsements you know coming right out of school like should I get all my endorsements now or should I wait you know me I'm gonna say if I had to do it all over again I I would get all my endorsements I would get all the experience I can in the first one to three years and then try to transition over into maybe like an hourly paying job I would try to learn just different uh just make sure you learn different divisions so you won't be stuck but I think I think that their organization because um because of the partnerships they created um if you're just getting into the industry uh they definitely have a lot of resources that will propel you forward uh something that probably you and me you and I didn't see uh coming in I'm still looking I've still got hurdles I I trip over uh I'm supposed to jump but then I you know flat face I gotta get up and dust my stuff off and keep going you know um like I said when I'm out there and you get those breakdowns and and you got a podcast where people need answers to questions and or you got your family and you're still trying to take care of and be there for them even when you're not home. And like you said mental health um we all come from different families different backgrounds who knows why we have certain struggles more than others or some have less but then they like you know um they struggle with that uh empathy you know some people have a truck have trouble with that and they just can't really understand what it's like to be someone else so I mean that's a struggle too um so yeah it's important um bringing awareness like you're doing I mean I think that's great mentorship helping women um when you guys are out there we see you um we see that you guys putting forth the effort when we when we pass or when we're parking and we just like hey that's a that's a girl she's she's doing it man look at that you know a lot of times too they look happy so I mean it's not like a miserable job like there's some miserable out there I mean there's a lot of joy that comes with trucking when you're out there on the road accomplishment that you're able to to get done what would you say is one of the things the biggest joys you receive when you are in the industry driving not only just advocating but what did you like about it?

Becoming An Instructor And Earning Trust

SPEAKER_01 34:13

You know what actually um this past year or I I would say for the the year of 2025 when uh I worked at rail transportation as a as a driver transfer instructor uh orientation instructor and um one of the one of the greatest joys was um the biggest thing is when you see them you know pass a CDL um you know when they do their back and maneuvers and they go out on the road and they do their pre-trip and for me if if in 2020 someone would have told me in 2025 I would actually be taking students with little to no experience and interesting them to drive me around I probably would have said uh no it's not happening. But to for me just being just coming into trucking uh to actually do it and execute it uh that was that was big for that was big for me and you know training uh uh not a lot of not a lot of women came through well so I always pretty much had uh male students so that was you know that's a that's a challenge because you know it takes a lot to actually get a male to buy into what you're saying because it's easy you know when there's another male and they say hey I need you to turn right and I need you to turn left I need you to stop here I need you to go there but when we're when we're training them it's it's just a little different you know so for me that was uh that was one of my greatest uh uh great moments uh 2025 just being an instructor and just learning that aspect of um the industry you know and i and and and for any anyone that is an instructor or become an instructor I I do feel like um you have to be around experienced instructors to learn because you can't just get out here and um and teach someone you know uh the pre-trip or or backing or uh driving without being being able to be mentored yourself.

SPEAKER_00 36:33

Right. Yeah that is great I mean helping people be safe helping people have survival skills out there on the road helping them understand hey this is this is an area where you need to pay attention um we need you to focus you know and when they actually get that done and you see the follow through um I think that is a great reward I can totally understand where you're coming from.

SPEAKER_01 36:54

So

Practical Safety For Women At Night

SPEAKER_01 36:55

man so safety out there on the road as a female driver I mean what are some of the things that you do to stay safe out there on the road uh one thing I do well one thing I always continue to do is I'm not a big I'm not um big on what once it's nighttime and you know you're at a truck stop or at a resting area uh I don't really you know um I don't really park too far or even if I I probably wouldn't even get out get out the truck because it's it's dark you know um so for for me you know just just being a just being a woman um you try to just make sure you know just be aware of your uh surroundings I mean because we all have to you know go to the bathroom and um use the shower get something to eat you know all those it all those things are very important but to me you just gotta be aware of your surroundings you know know know where you're going know where you're going to stop uh know what time you're gonna stop and just uh if communicate communication um is key uh communicate with uh you know make sure you communicate with family yeah definitely me yeah or another driver me I know like if if I know I'm gonna stop and I'm going into a location I try to make sure I'm on the phone so that way at least they know who I was on the phone uh phone with last you know or that person could be like well I know that they were here you know so me I'm big uh I'm always on the phone with my sister so uh especially if I'm doing uh solo trips so my sister is you know number one I'm gonna be on the phone where she don't know where I'm at um at all times and uh I I know they say you you know family members they're gonna always say like uh when at night time you know stay in your truck but you know as well as I know you know our shift may start at nighttime you know um so you just have um some type of protection you know uh at all times yeah make sure you have good light you know not just this dim little cell phone light um yeah and you want to make sure you do your pre-trip and everything it's kind of hard to see everything at night they they say oh you're supposed to do your pre-trip but it you know it's dark out so you're gonna you're not gonna be able to scan the truck and um like the computer but you're gonna try your best um but yeah I mean nighttime driving is something else it's uh that's a different breed you out there too long you start seeing uh Bigfoot I thought that I thought it was just happy you said that you'd be like what is that the road and actually really it's it's nothing it's just you know that's a part of night night driving not animals you know a lot of people still walking at night on this on the freeway you know they're driving that's weird too you'd be like yo like how how does this how does this happen or where are they going? That's that's what I do.

SPEAKER_00 40:10

Yeah they have a little thank you bag from the maybe from a gas station or something that's like what um but I would say to try to have like um well lit if you're gonna be out at nighttime like well lit clothing you know that so that whomever you know they'll they'll be able to see you but um um I just say it on your podcast but you know just make sure you have some type of protection you know what tires yeah you got you

Human Trafficking Awareness And Boundaries

SPEAKER_00 40:42

gotta have something to you know dump those tires with right dump the tires with it you know uh you gotta have some you know you may have to cut tape you know so you might have to you know want to have something where you where you're able to uh cut your food open cut some tape you know things like that nature you know yeah they sell them at the truck stops so that's the reason why they're there um so to bring awareness and to be you know preparedness I mean how is important is awareness for around human trafficking at truck stops and rest areas let's touch on that for from to hear from you oh man that's uh that is that is that is big that is that is big to me um you know when it comes to you know just being aware or any type of um human uh trafficking now uh I I don't I don't know the I don't know the numbers um so I can't speak on numbers but I but I do know like um you know if you are in a situation just for me is like look like don't just don't talk to strangers always try to it's stupid just keep it moving you know I I don't I don't mind if I'm inside of a truck stop and um someone approaches me and that's cool but when it comes to you know they want to come look at their truck or uh you know like hey I got this over here you know just be mindful you know don't don't don't don't don't say uh no good deed goes unpunished sometimes you gotta be careful out there you gotta be you gotta you gotta be careful you know just have to be careful always just be you know like awareness is is is a big thing you know and you know uh you you know if someone's being uh being being uh being aware of you know so call them out call them out stay stay on your uh stay on your P's and Q's especially if you're going into an area that you have no that you have no idea about I mean I know for me it I know it's gonna be seem funny but I remember when I first started driving you know I had never been to I had never been to Oklahoma you know what I mean so that's that so that's that goes back to me saying like when if if you haven't if you haven't been driving you know and you you're going to um you know say Delaware or or Oklahoma you you you're not even familiar you're not even familiar with whatever go go on in uh in in Oklahoma or or Delaware so you just have to be mindful you know of your surroundings you know try to stop you know where you know not not no mom and pop truck stop you know you might want to you know make sure you're going to um somewhere where it's universal where everybody may stop there you know you don't do the mom and pops until you you know you learned your way around a little bit you know so like you say you always have to be careful um when it comes to being on the road and

SPEAKER_01 44:00

Just being aware of what's around that's a big thing.

SPEAKER_00 44:04

Yeah, I mean you you gotta go to the bathroom, and that exit just seems like it's just so far away. You know, you see it on the GPS and you're like, where is that thing? And you show up and it's just what is this place? Yeah, it's hard.

SPEAKER_01 44:21

For um for us, we have to create, you know, saying we um it's especially you know, uh after COVID, you know, you create your own uh restroom and create your own restroom in a truck because uh that's that's that's another thing,

Hygiene, Food Prep, And Staying Ready

SPEAKER_01 44:37

you know. Uh when it comes to hygiene, you know, you create your own restroom in the toilet. So I know for me that that's how it worked out for me. That's that keeps me from having to go into truck stops sometimes uh late at night. And I always um, you know, once you get your money up, you can prepare uh prepare your lunch. You know, you don't always have to stop at a truck stop and get food, you know, have sandwich, chips, some type of snacks with you. So just in case you're in the area where it don't it doesn't look too good, you don't have to get out that you don't have to get out that truck. Or you know, try to get as close to the co-signy as you can. You know, that's a that's kind of like a win. And like you said, just make sure uh you're in the well-lit area. You know, don't try to be don't try to be soldier girl and soldier boy and just be like, you know what, I'm just gonna I'm just gonna get out there anyway. You know, you know, you're in a well-lit area, and that's not gonna happen, like you said, it's not gonna happen. There's so many shippers and receivers, it's not gonna happen all the time. But if there's a time that you can take, you know, I'm saying that you can be more proactive than reactive, then do so.

SPEAKER_00 45:50

Yeah, sometimes you step outside the truck and step into an ant um farm, whatever. Or you gotta watch out for rattlesnakes sometimes in these desert areas. Yeah, so even just the wildlife. Uh, you need to be careful, be alert. So it's a great job.

SPEAKER_01 46:09

You know, extra gloves, extra shoes, um, extra, you know, extra safety wear, extra boots. You know, I I carry like three, four, five pairs of tennis shoes, probably two, three pairs of boots, and some rain boots, rain gear, all those things are important because it's it's definitely needed. Like you said, you can step out and you might step into something that you, you know, that you don't want to step in.

SPEAKER_00 46:33

That too. Wow. I totally know what you mean there. I mean, the side of the road could be a lot of surprises. Uh so when it comes to weather, and you got the equipment.

Snow, Ice, And Choosing To Stop

SPEAKER_00 46:42

I mean, what's the worst weather situation that you remember when you're out there driving? Um, when you're trying to get the job done.

SPEAKER_01 46:49

All of us. Snow. Snow. Snow, snow, snow.

SPEAKER_00 46:53

That is ice. Ah, so man. You got to be able to try to see when the moisture is not moving. You know, it's freezing.

SPEAKER_01 47:02

Yeah. Snow, snow is uh, snow, snow and ice. That's the biggest thing. And you know what? I guess for me, what I guess is just as a driver, what I never, what I still can't understand is what makes drivers push it, push to the limit, you know, where where you don't tell yourself, you know what, maybe for the night, you know, I'll just stop here and then I'll see what tomorrow instead of risking, instead of risking like, you know what I mean? Uh if you, you know, if you're in a situation where, you know, like you have to stop, don't feel like you're being, you know, like you're being a punk because you decide, you know, I'm not, I don't feel safe. It is okay to not be okay. You know, if you feel like, you know, uh, I need to stop for the night and I'll finish or something in the morning. Don't be afraid to, you know, let your dispatcher know or whomever you're uh communicating with, like, hey, I'm gonna stop here for the night. I I don't feel safe. Safety should always be first and first and foremost. Your life is more viable than a load. And I don't know how many more truck drivers can tell someone, like your life is way more viable than a load. The load is gonna it's gonna get there. It'll get figured out, you know, it will get figured out, especially when it comes to implement weather. Now we all can drive when it's you know, when it's you know, the sun is out and it's a very great day. But when it comes to anything that's gonna, you know, when you have to risk risk your life. Look, I'm not, you know, I'm not, I'm I'm not a super trucker. So for me, you know, you can call me whatever steering wheel holder, whatever. When it comes to my safety, you know, I'm stopping the truck. I don't, you know.

SPEAKER_00 48:53

That's awesome. Um, yeah, you you definitely um gonna advocate for safety because you know when you when you see someone's family and you you or you see the um the post where someone's lost their life or their loved one, yeah, it's not worth it. We don't know what happened in those situations, but we definitely don't want it to be a decision that we made or put upon ourselves to put ourselves in an unsafe situation. So uh great job for advocating for that.

Rest, Resets, And Driver Wellness

SPEAKER_00 49:20

Thank you. Um, also health and wellness, self-care. I mean, you touched on that, you touched on hygiene, um, set up something right there where you don't have to go far. Um, what about rest and recovery? I mean, that's that's huge. Trying to some days I don't even know what day it is. I'm just like, man, oh wait, it's in the evening. I thought it was a morning because the gray skies sometimes looks like it's the morning.

SPEAKER_01 49:41

Yeah. Well, you know, you know what? When we when we all first get our license, you know, I I think we all are taught to, you know, drive like a drive like a man. Then you then you start you start understanding what uh a reset, reset really means, you know, like reset your mind. You know, that 34-hour reset uh is is very important. That 10 hour 10 hour reset um is is is very important. And eating healthy is uh another uh importance. Um when it just comes to rest, me now that you know, like I've been driving a little bit. I I will say the first two years I did, I was one of those that I was all about the miles until I understood, you know, like your body, you know, like it the load is gonna is gonna get there, or you just learn the game, uh so to speak. Um so you know, take advantage of your 10-hour break, take advantage of your 34-hour, your 34-hour reset. You don't always have to take advantage of it, but your your body will let you know um when you when you need to wrap. I'm a uh rest.

SPEAKER_00 50:53

Yeah, what's some some real talk?

Saving Money With Discipline

SPEAKER_00 50:55

What can drivers do to save money while they're out there on the road? How about that one?

SPEAKER_01 50:59

Oh man. Not buy truck stop food, not not by um, you know, junk. You know, that's that's the first thing. Um just being mindful of if you already have crazy uh spending habits. Um for me when it comes to um when it comes to saving money, uh, you know, like for us, uh maybe you know they could open up a you know a 401k, you know, uh ILA, you know, and just maybe start off small. And then as you know, as your debt or whatever begin to decline, you know, you can put more put more pour more money in it, you know. Maybe uh I think uh I I haven't done it myself, but you know, like the the savings accounts that have a uh a higher yield to it than your traditional savings account.

SPEAKER_00 52:03

It goes by fast, you know. You get into the industry and you you're making good money and you're trying to get caught up because that's why you got into trucking financially, and then all of a sudden five, 10 years go by and you're like, Man, I could have been putting some more away. So maybe you know 80% of what you will go to getting you caught up and leave the 20% for saving, and then eventually you'll be doing 20 on getting caught up and 80 on saving. Um, it's hard. It is so hard nowadays.

SPEAKER_01 52:32

It is hard. It is hard, but um, like you said, you have to be you have to be uh the first thing is uh is discipline. So I know for me, uh I started just um trying to you know buy less when it comes to just being on the road in in general, but I think having the time off when you're not being on the road, like uh the um for 2025, let's take this for example, uh being being an instructor. I wasn't on the road, so you know, I didn't I wasn't buying as much um as I would if I was driving here and and driving there. So I think like the first thing is just like discipline. It's the same as uh, you know, like when we say like we want to start working out, you know, most of the time we say it, but we don't do it, you know. We'll say, you know, like you said, I'm I'm gonna save 10% of what I make. But as soon as we see something that we want, we just we just do it. So I think it just starts with discipline. That's the first, that's the first thing. And uh just um figuring out like actually where your money is, where you who and where your money is going to. I I had to learn that like understanding like you know where each dollar is going. Because sometimes we just have a tendency to just swipe or just hand over money. So having the idea exactly where your money is going at at all times, it takes time, but um it does help in a long run.

SPEAKER_00 54:11

They keep making it easier for you to spend. Now you can just tap your phone, um it's gone.

SPEAKER_01 54:20

Your phone, you can just tap away, but uh people have to be mindful.

SPEAKER_00 54:28

Yeah. So uh, man, so honest pros and cons. What are some pros and cons of trucking? People should honestly know before they're joining the industry to get their mindset

Honest Pros, Cons, And Due Diligence

SPEAKER_00 54:37

right. Um, maybe uh get familiar with trucks more so, or uh maybe it's uh what kind of person are you? Are you mechanically inclined? Um what would you say?

SPEAKER_01 54:48

Uh I would say pros with trucking is you know, when you do go to school, you're always gonna come out with a skill set. Like I said earlier, you know, once once you get your once you get your license, only you can uh only you or whatever situation they have to, you know, what caused you to uh lose your lose your license. Um like you said, if uh when it comes to monetary, um trucking can be uh it can be a life, it can be life changing for not just you or me for for uh for a lot of people, you know that that's a pro in trucking. Trucking is the is what I'm learning that trucking is the only industry where you can get into this industry and in six months you probably if you play your cards right, can can make um make and make six figures depending on who you are, you know, and what you know because trucking is all is it's real uh knowledge bank.

SPEAKER_00 55:52

Come into the industry one way I have zero problems, you don't own that yeah.

SPEAKER_01 55:59

So uh that's that's a pro. Uh like I said, uh provides a skill set. Um you you can make a career out of uh trucking and when it comes to uh money, you know, it's uh you know it's a big industry, it's a lot of money uh when it comes to transportation and logistics. So a lot of money to go around. Uh the cons when it comes to trucking, uh it's gonna always be like you said, um, when it comes to if you're not mechanically inclined, uh misinformed information, maybe uh when it comes to uh how often when it when it comes to learning learning your equipment. Um another con I would I would say is um how fast you can get your license. You can get it in you can get it in three to six weeks, but that doesn't mean that you know what you that doesn't mean that you that that you conquered the industry is trucking is definitely uh you learned something new every single day, whether you're driving or you decide to do the back office part of it. Um so for me, yeah, comms is just you know, um, you just want to get around get around more more individuals who know more than you do. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 57:39

Yeah, I like that. So man, so real talks, maybe just some story time. Um, if you're a woman out there watching and you're thinking about joining trucking, what would you tell uh uh her? Uh maybe she's she's a little hesitant.

SPEAKER_01 57:54

Uh for what what I would tell her is if you're going is first do due diligence. All you always want to research whatever the first three or five companies you you you have in mind. Um if I had to do it all over again, I would go where the company is all inclusive, uh, like a rail transport. I would probably go with rail transport because one, um, they have their own school, and then you're training for rail, and then from there send you to um a D and D, you get your license. So everything is a point A to point B. You go to school with them, you get your license through them, and then you get your training through them. Um if that was not an option, then you know I would choose a third-party school, but I would make sure I do my research on what third party school I would I would go to. Because you want to make sure that everybody is um because everybody in the industry is not on the same page. So you want to make sure you always want to make sure they're a safe industry and that you know they promote uh women in trucking. Because believe it or not, there are companies out here that you know they're not they're not looking to have a woman, you know, in their uh organization. So you just want to make sure the first thing is always uh due diligence and there's room for for all of us in the industry, you know, and tap into just different uh I wish I would have tapped into different uh divisions, so just you know, and have your endorsements. So if I was speaking to a female today, I would I would say, you know, get on top of your endorsements and just try to learn the industry a little bit uh before you just hop in there and then say, like, oh, I want to get my own truck or I want to do this, I want to do that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 59:58

Yeah, I wish I could have my own show truck. That'd be that'd be my dream. Uh that's a lot of work. It's not just driving up and parking it. You know, they they they're really out there shining it, making sure that they win uh some type of prize for all the hard work they put in. So um, no, that's really good advice. Um, and then also, too, like yourself, you can be an advocate. Uh, you don't have to keep your stories to yourself. Um, you can share them with people, you can be vulnerable. I appreciate you sharing it too about the fire. Um because you could hold back and be like, yeah, I don't want to share that, but you did. And somebody out there is gonna feel much better hearing that, knowing that that you know they're not alone.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:38

Yeah, I hope so. I hope it uh I hope it helps uh someone, you know. I hope it doesn't all of the deaf ears.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:47

Yeah, you helped me when I'm back there sleeping. I do the team driving, and um, you know, you hope that somebody wakes you up. You know, you don't want to be in the truck locked in there. So yeah, a lot of scary things can happen, and it's not even your fault. You're sleeping in there. Oh man, then all your stuff. I mean, that's that's crazy. I mean, you gotta try to people, you know, people understand a house fire, they get a GoFundMe and everything, but a truck fire, it's just like what? You just had some Kleenex in there, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:01:22

My clothes, shoes, headset, cell phones, all type of all the duffel bag, and all type of stuff was in there, you know.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:30

You're bringing it in there like, oh, you're not professional, you didn't have enough stuff with you.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:36

But my mallet in there, I still miss it.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:40

Some yeah, yeah, you lose a good mallet, man, or a hammer. That's uh it can be a downer, yeah. Because they become like a friend. Uh those good tools that stay with you, and then all of a sudden you leave it somewhere over the whole week. Yeah. Uh man, it's a pleasure talking with you. I really appreciate you coming on the show. I don't want to take too much of the time here. You you know, you taking this time out from your your loved ones and and yourself to come on here to help other people, man. That's that is something to be uh celebrated in itself. So I appreciate you being the soldier you are. Um not the bad soldier, but the good soldier we need. Yeah. So yeah, um, so yeah, anything you want to share before we go, um, you've you've shared a lot of information. I really appreciate you doing this, um, especially for Otta. I mean, they are amazing. Uh, maybe um let them know too. Um, when you go back and speak with them, that we're very appreciative of you um coming on the show and the referral they gave.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:40

Um one thing I would like to share is uh since um I'm I'm one of those that I really do uh intend to give back to the industry.

Book, Merch, And Funding CDLs

SPEAKER_01 1:02:51

So um when I told you earlier about the book and um t-shirt, the actual t-shirt that I have on is oh nice.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:00

Wow, all right.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:02

It is like one of like an official official club member um t-shirt. So if you see the official and then you have the tire tread and the eight, um those things um hopefully, you know, um I can start getting uh getting people to buy into the product so that um a proceed of um the profit can go towards helping someone get their commercial license. Because I know when I first got my commercial license, even though I went through uh workforce opportunity innovation, um they helped me get my CDL. For those that who probably can't get a grant, you know, anything that's anything that's bought, you know, prior to the profit will go towards helping someone get a CDL. So for right now, you know, they do have graduation bundles. And what I mean by graduation bundles is when I was in CBL school, uh, you know, when you're when you're done getting your license, you know, they give you a certificate. So I said, instead of them just being given a certificate, how about you give them a t-shirt that make them feel like they're a member, a member of something? Like, hey, I just got my license, so I'm an official club member. So that's where the official came in, and then the collage t-shirt, it just has uh your different uh trucking brands uh as the collage, and then you have the book there. It is basically and that's the book from Valerie Hart, you know.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:44

Um what is it called?

SPEAKER_01 1:04:47

For those that can't see yeah, the basics in the blues, uh an introduction of CER Driver. Uh Valerie, that's my middle name. So my name is Claudette Valerie Hart. That's Valerie is my middle name. Um, and it's just uh a journey, a journey based book, you know. So it just tells it just gives snippets of my journey. Um, it also has uh words of encouragement. Um we got a crossword puzzle, probably somewhere here in the back. We got a crossword puzzle uh in the back, uh trucking terminology, and just like I said, snippets of my journey. So it's a journey-based book. Um, you can either get it with the hat or these t-shirts are in the works. So um that's something that I am uh working on. So I'm hoping to get that in into motion. Um it comes to um what I would like to do with the community. Um, as far as with uh African American uh women uh trucking, um, like I said.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:00

that that organization is is is ongoing um I think it's a very good organization when it comes to just uh resources and providing opportunities for uh women uh within the community uh especially if you don't want to do if you don't want to uh if you don't want to drive and you want to learn about the back office if you might have a young teenage son you know uh young daughter who is interested in becoming a driver or interested in learning dispatching uh freight brokering you know they have it all you know so um like you said uh if anyone is out there you know make sure you go and check that organization out um they they have a lot to offer um and you can learn a lot nice big ups to Ada thank you so much for being on the show I love the merch I love the book the hat's amazing it really catches your eye so yeah keep going with that don't stop I mean that's a lot of reason why um I go with truck and Ray because you know trucking ain't easy um and when you get out there you you you're trucking trucking trucking you keep trying to go and that's you know that's what I like to do all day just keep going um you know and when you start slowing down man that's when they start throwing dirt on you so keep going out there yeah so that's awesome and an encouragement that you've given uh a lot of African American women um black women young ones even if they're even if you're a late starter like myself um don't stop um try something different if something's not working change it up hey trucking's here so that's amazing I was a late starter too I was a late starter I only come with my age but I was a I was a I was a late starter I I I wish I had started trucking with my uh the Murder on the Twitter. That would have been amazing. So um I I think this conversation is you know what a lot of people need. It's gonna be important because people out there need real talk they need real experiences and you took the time to share that and break it down for them instead of speeding through it and they're kind of wondering what it is that they they're really saying. I think you got it right to the point where they can see uh that this is something that's possible and you're showing the importance of the community uh the organization like Ada I can't say it enough thank you so much and hopefully this episode encourages more women to step up to the industry and build confidence and understand that there's support out there available for them along the way. So a big shout out to to you Claudia appreciate it for joining me today thank you all right I'll talk to you later all right take care and that's delivered. Bye