Real Women

The media might stereotype women who drive trucks in a certain way – as flashy and girly – but the reality is somewhat different, as eight female drivers tell T&D.

- Lucy Radley

The call for more women to enter the industry is made by UK Haulage every time the phrase ‘driver shortage’ pops up, as if this is an original idea. Of course, there have been women behind the wheel for decades, most of them keeping their heads down and looking to be anything but the centre of attention or the subject of magazine spreads.

We ferreted eight rather reluctant females out of their cabs and asked them what it’s been like for them.

How did nice girls like you end up here?

If you’re hoping to find the secret to encouraging women to drive trucks, we’re delighted to say we have the answer – all sorts of things! 

For instance, Hayley Ludlam enjoyed driving and wanted to do something different.

“Where I grew up there were a lot of lorry drivers and haulage firms,” she says. “I fell into the job by accident, helping out on small van work.” Ang Vasey says: “I was in catering before.”

Meanwhile, Haley Stilwell came from a more ‘typically’ feminine direction. “I used to ride horses for a living, so always drove 7.5-tonne horseboxes through that,” she explains. “I always loved driving the trucks so I took my Class 1.”

Joey McCloud was an army brat, so her dad had her out in a tank before she drove a car. “I had four sisters who have all been hairdressers but I didn’t want to toe the line,” she says.

“So I became a parts person for Ford. I then got stuck with an ex-partner [and] I couldn’t get out of my house so I took my HGV so I could work away and avoid him!”