Women in Transportation

Maybe the trucking and transportation segment has been a historically dominated male oriented field, but what about 2010? Can we still say this today? I think that’s a pretty easy answer.

Women have had a considerable, behind the scenes, role in transportation for many years. You can find them as dispatchers, safety stewards, shipping and receiving, V.P.’s and even owners. In 2009 eleven state trucking associations were led by women.

But, what about on the road? Not so much, depending on who’s data you look at, today women only make up 2.5 to 4.5 percent of the truck drivers in the country.  However, that number continues to increase as more women enter the industry, and there are more incentives for women than ever before.

One example, is Cuyahoga Community College’s Truck Driving Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. Women can secure tuition funding via a USDOT grant and this year as many as six women will be provided full tuition for certification as CDL drivers in cooperation with the Women In Trucking Association, Inc. The association encourages employment, promotes accomplishments and helps by reducing obstacles for women entering the trucking field.

If you are seriously interested, you can do some research to find out which are the best trucking schools and the companies that are women-friendly. Also, finding a woman driver to be a mentor would be a great idea. Not only would she be able to encourage you, she would be able to tell you the best places to apply for a job, what to expect, and give you advice when you’re ready to start out.

Down the Road – Mike

Inflated

I’m getting ready to head to San Antonio tonight with some valuables in my Pacifica. Namely my wife, daughter, son-in-law and grand daughter. You bet I’m doing my pre-trip!

Winter is here and one of the important external factors of tire pressure is temperature change. In fact, for every 10-degree change in temperature, a tire can lose approximately one pound per square inch (PSI).

In checking my tire pressure 3 out of 4 were right at 35psi. I had actually expected more inconsistancy with the extremely cold weather we have had in Houston. The 4th tire was 36psi. I feel comfortable knowing I’ve done my due diligence.

Safety is the focal reason why tire pressure must be checked regularly. Under inflated tires causes accidents due to skidding, hydroplaning, loss of control and the like. Another reason for maintaining it right is fuel-efficiency. The latter is lowered by 1 percent for every 3-PSI under inflation. Hence, a correctly inflated tire equates to 1 free tank each year.

Your tire pressure should be checked at least once a month. Make sure you have a pressure gauge in your glove box or clipped to that CD case on your visor so you have it handy to check the pressure the first of the month (might be a great item to add to your 101 list http://your101.wordpress.com/).

Down the Road – Mike

Moving Towards Safety

For the past two years my work has revolved around DOT Compliance and Transportation Safety. In 2010 I am working on expanding that into construction site safety, so I ended 2009 by gaining my certification as a Contruction Site Safety Technician “CSST,” an NCCER certification. This happened because someone took an interest in me and had a vision for the future. Thanks Paul Savoie for mentoring me in this area.

At the moment I am still trying to lift the DOT rock and at least get one foot out on the ground in construction safety. Where I am ready for that, my responsibilities dictate that I may not have a real opportunity at the moment.

Sometimes after you have done the necessary work to improve yourself, you may have to wait for the opportunity to utilize your skills. God may have different plans for you, or he may be using you and you may not realize it is even happening.

Keep doing what’s necessary. God has plans for us.

Down the Road – Mike