Transgender Women In Trucking (Please Don't Laugh...not A Joke)

I guess I am wondering why people want to complicate their already complex decisions by entering a field that is filled with men who will NEVER on earth respect them. I was born female, am female and will stay female. I am not protected class. I am not lesbian. My mature age and gender are not given any special consideration at all by 98% of the male students at trucker school. Why should you or anyone with such an issue with gender identity expect BETTER treatment than those of us born and bred female by openly proclaiming your transgender status? Seems like the only place you would want to be open about it would be on the physical exam in privacy of doctor-patient relationship. All the laws on the books aren't going to change reality of the overwhelming majority of men driving the goods in this country or any other. Just being real with you.

Angi, I don't think anyone here is asking for better treatment. I think the concerned is being treated on equal ground and not discriminated against, however if you're a woman now why tell anyone about who you were in the past. Just because I've never felt I shouldn't have been a woman doesn't mean I don't want everyone to know all of my past. All professions have narrow-minded people in them. I was a paralegal and what I heard some of the lawyers say in private meetings could have gotten them and the company I worked for sued. My question is why give a rat's ass what people think, you're a woman that's all anyone needs to know.

I have now made it to this point. I used to care what everyone thought to the point of living my life how others expected me to, and not what I wanted, and not what made me happy.

I have now decided to embrace who I am, and fully take control of my life. If I want to wear Women's Sexy Clothes and Express my Sexy Self, then I will, if I want to wear Men's Clothes and Express another side of me then I will. If I wan to do a So Called Girly Job such as Office work, then I will, If I want to do the So Called Manly Job to Drive a Truck and enjoy the Freedom of the Road and see the countryside, and something different every Day. Then I will.

It is my choice, my decision, and it is now who I am.

I guess I am wondering why people want to complicate their already complex decisions by entering a field that is filled with men who will NEVER on earth respect them. I was born female, am female and will stay female. I am not protected class. I am not lesbian. My mature age and gender are not given any special consideration at all by 98% of the male students at trucker school. Why should you or anyone with such an issue with gender identity expect BETTER treatment than those of us born and bred female by openly proclaiming your transgender status? Seems like the only place you would want to be open about it would be on the physical exam in privacy of doctor-patient relationship. All the laws on the books aren't going to change reality of the overwhelming majority of men driving the goods in this country or any other. Just being real with you.

Angi, I don't think anyone here is asking for better treatment. I think the concerned is being treated on equal ground and not discriminated against, however if you're a woman now why tell anyone about who you were in the past. Just because I've never felt I shouldn't have been a woman doesn't mean I don't want everyone to know all of my past. All professions have narrow-minded people in them. I was a paralegal and what I heard some of the lawyers say in private meetings could have gotten them and the company I worked for sued. My question is why give a rat's ass what people think, you're a woman that's all anyone needs to know.

I have now made it to this point. I used to care what everyone thought to the point of living my life how others expected me to, and not what I wanted, and not what made me happy.

I have now decided to embrace who I am, and fully take control of my life. If I want to wear Women's Sexy Clothes and Express my Sexy Self, then I will, if I want to wear Men's Clothes and Express another side of me then I will. If I wan to do a So Called Girly Job such as Office work, then I will, If I want to do the So Called Manly Job to Drive a Truck and enjoy the Freedom of the Road and see the countryside, and something different every Day. Then I will.

It is my choice, my decision, and it is now who I am.

I guess I am wondering why people want to complicate their already complex decisions by entering a field that is filled with men who will NEVER on earth respect them. I was born female, am female and will stay female. I am not protected class. I am not lesbian. My mature age and gender are not given any special consideration at all by 98% of the male students at trucker school. Why should you or anyone with such an issue with gender identity expect BETTER treatment than those of us born and bred female by openly proclaiming your transgender status? Seems like the only place you would want to be open about it would be on the physical exam in privacy of doctor-patient relationship. All the laws on the books aren't going to change reality of the overwhelming majority of men driving the goods in this country or any other. Just being real with you.

This is a ridiculous response. If she wants to be a trucker and "complicate her already complex decision" she has the same rights and opportunities we all do. Did anyone tell you not to go into a male dominated field because you're old? And if they did, did it stop you? Not being sexually harrassed is NOT special treatment, it's the law and it's our RIGHT.

The Law is the Law. However, there are many with whom would overlook the law to conform to with how they believe. I worked at the DMV , and time after time, I knew what the law stated in black and white. However, it seems that many that worked at DMV especially in Management would make up their own laws, to conform to their own beliefs. I would fight them and win every time. They did not like me for this, however, it was THE LAW.

I too am a mtf transgender trucker.i live 24/7 as a woman now. I've been driving like this for 2 weeks, and have been unconditionally accepted by the company I drive for. Out on the road, I have been treated very well, with only the occasional dirty look from the ignorant few that I encountered. I've been to shippers and receivers with no incident. Ignorance is out there, and I'm sure you will encounter some, but it is dwindling in prevalence, and hopefully it will be completely gone when the ignorant ones die off. If you do get your cdl , I think you will find a home out here on the road.

This is good to hear. I am only seeing the ones that are truly "Haters" that are ignorant and that are not accepting.

An update to my previous post. I just got on hormones, and had my license changed to female. I'm in the process of getting my name changed as well. Now if I can get Hirshbach to give me a consistently excellent pay like I got this week, my whole life will be changed for the better. My transition is going very well, imo.

This is so Awesome to hear. I would like to hear an update about where you are, and how you are, and how things are going. PM me for sure.

Hey !

This topic is awesome, believe it or not but Im another Trans who is in the trucking industry as well.

I live in Canada tho and I do some local LTL pickups with a 53'. I started my transition almost two years ago. I wanted to make sure all my legal changes we,re done before going that way. I went to school to get my CDL. It's an awesome job for people like us, no ones knows Im Trans even with my 6'3. I absolutely love my job , I lost some crazy strenght tho with the hormones but I still can do the job just fine :D

If you need any helps or support for your journey feel free to contact me, I know that U.S laws and how things works are a little different from here but it's about the same !

Apologize my english, I mostly speak french ^^

Miss K.

Well Isabella, regardless....If it is something you want to do....Do IT. It seems the only one stopping you is you. No matter where you go or what you do there are always "boogeypersons" waiting around to make you stop doing what you want to do. Whether you go into trucking or some other industry or business just do the best you can do.

I love this topic, I think it's great to see my trans sisters taking charge of their lives and doing what makes them happy. I am currently on hiatus from the road, as I drove previously for many years and I got burned out pretty bad. I am now at the point where I am looking at getting back out there in a truck, honestly, it's all I really know. If anyone has advice on transgender friendly companies please keep us updated.

Hi everyone!

I'm going to be upfront and honest. I am a 24 year old woman who has hit a point in her life where a major change of career (and money) is needed. I should also note that I was not born a woman. I am transgender and currently going through the process of gender transition. But that is not what this post is about.

I have always had a love of the open road, and excelled at jobs in which I was able to work independently. As mentioned before, I am in desperate need of a change of career and due to my personality and preferences trucking SEEMS like it may be a suitable option...hence why I am doing some more research. In short I have a few questions that I was hoping perhaps someone more knowledgeable than myself could shed some light upon.

1. I understand that this is a mostly (and I may be stereotyping here) "blue collar" dominated industry. As such, do you think a woman like me would have to be worried about facing discrimination when it comes to job placement? 2. Do women have to be more careful in terms of physical safety (i.e. at truck stops, shipping offices etc.) 3. Would you say there is more animosity towards LGBT folk in trucking as compared to other industries?

Any and all responses would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much an have a wonderful day! :-)

You sure seem like a great inspiration for anyone who wants to be out here in this field. Keep doing what you are doing and don't let anyone stand in your way. If you are looking for a good company to get your CDL at: I have been reading up on some of them and I found that the best fit for me with paid CDL training would be Jim Palmer trucking. Anyway good luck and I sure hope we see ya out there on the road soon.

You don't need to worry about the discrimination in the trucking industry. I don't people over there are so rude to treat you differently. I have been with few of the truckers and they were never against woman truckers. In fact it makes them happy that women are contributing in this field. Go ahead and dontbe afraid to rub shoulders with those lads out there.