Easier to steer than my Punto By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine All belly and no brains. It's what most people think of lorry drivers. But the industry wants to shake up preconceptions and attract more women. So what can a new female recruit expect?
Easier to steer than my Punto By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine All belly and no brains. It's what most people think of lorry drivers. But the industry wants to shake up preconceptions and attract more women. So what can a new female recruit expect?
It sounds like the start of a bad joke. What do you get if you cross one careful, female Fiat Punto driver with a 54ft articulated lorry, that weighs 32 tonnes when fully loaded?
It sounds like the start of a bad joke. What do you get if you cross one careful, female Fiat Punto driver with a 54ft articulated lorry, that weighs 32 tonnes when fully loaded?
But the bigger joke for some is that I'm the answer to the haulage industry's prayers. Facing a recruitment crisis, I'm the type of driver who could steer it clear of danger. In the world of lorry driving, women are much in demand.
But the bigger joke for some is that I'm the answer to the haulage industry's prayers. Facing a recruitment crisis, I'm the type of driver who could steer it clear of danger. In the world of lorry driving, women are much in demand.
If you picture the average British lorry driver, chances it's a white, middle-aged man. The UK haulage industry is dominated by them and over the next 10 years as many as 80,000 could retire.
If you picture the average British lorry driver, chances it's a white, middle-aged man. The UK haulage industry is dominated by them and over the next 10 years as many as 80,000 could retire.
Surprisingly smooth to drive
Surprisingly smooth to drive
It will leave a large hole to plug, at a time when haulage firms are having trouble recruiting. As many as 24,000 each year will be needed, says Skills for Logistics (SfL) - the body overseeing lorry driver training in the UK.
It will leave a large hole to plug, at a time when haulage firms are having trouble recruiting. As many as 24,000 each year will be needed, says Skills for Logistics (SfL) - the body overseeing lorry driver training in the UK.
It could impact on us all. The doomsday scenario of empty supermarkets shelves is dismissed but if firms have to ramp up pay to recruit drivers that cost could trickle down to the consumer.
It could impact on us all. The doomsday scenario of empty supermarkets shelves is dismissed but if firms have to ramp up pay to recruit drivers that cost could trickle down to the consumer.
The situation has forced the industry to take a long, hard look at itself and ask why half of the population feel excluded from taking a job as a driver of Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs). Currently only 1.3% of the UK's lorry drivers are female.
The situation has forced the industry to take a long, hard look at itself and ask why half of the population feel excluded from taking a job as a driver of Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs). Currently only 1.3% of the UK's lorry drivers are female.
Mostly, it only has itself to blame. With strippers and even a sex shop - albeit recently closed - a "feature" at some road-side truck stops, this is one notoriously unreconstructed industry. Little has been done little, until now, to change that image.
Mostly, it only has itself to blame. With strippers and even a sex shop - albeit recently closed - a "feature" at some road-side truck stops, this is one notoriously unreconstructed industry. Little has been done little, until now, to change that image.
Sophisticated
Sophisticated
Which is why I find myself at the wheel of a hulking articulated lorry somewhere in Essex.
Which is why I find myself at the wheel of a hulking articulated lorry somewhere in Essex.
The location of the depot, run by Swedish haulage company Scania, is hardly promising. The most glamorous thing about this faceless trading estate is its "famous" Circus Tavern - home to darts tournaments. On weekends, the sound of pneumatic brakes gives way to the sight of pneumatic women for the tavern's "glamour" events.
The location of the depot, run by Swedish haulage company Scania, is hardly promising. The most glamorous thing about this faceless trading estate is its "famous" Circus Tavern - home to darts tournaments. On weekends, the sound of pneumatic brakes gives way to the sight of pneumatic women for the tavern's "glamour" events.
LORRY DRIVERS 300,000 LGV drivers in UK52% of drivers are over 451.4% are under 251.3% are female2% from ethnic minorities I feel the weight of expectation on my shoulders. I don't want to live up to any of the ridiculous stereotypes about women drivers - scatty, brainless, always doing our make-up... My instructor Phil Evans has comforting words.
LORRY DRIVERS 300,000 LGV drivers in UK52% of drivers are over 451.4% are under 251.3% are female2% from ethnic minorities I feel the weight of expectation on my shoulders. I don't want to live up to any of the ridiculous stereotypes about women drivers - scatty, brainless, always doing our make-up... My instructor Phil Evans has comforting words.
"Women are usually easier to teach, they listen and pick it up much quicker than men. Blokes usually get in a vehicle thinking they already know everything about driving and there's nothing I can teach them."
"Women are usually easier to teach, they listen and pick it up much quicker than men. Blokes usually get in a vehicle thinking they already know everything about driving and there's nothing I can teach them."
Looking at the dashboard, I don't know how they come to such a conclusion. It resembles an air-traffic control centre - a vast swathe of dials and lights.
Looking at the dashboard, I don't know how they come to such a conclusion. It resembles an air-traffic control centre - a vast swathe of dials and lights.
"It's a much more sophisticated industry these days," says Phil. With top-of-the-range lorries costing close to £750,000, he's not joking.
"It's a much more sophisticated industry these days," says Phil. With top-of-the-range lorries costing close to £750,000, he's not joking.
Sex shop
No sweat
But, for me, the most daunting prospect is the gears. Articulated lorries have up to 16, with switches on the stick to change through them. And you don't pull off in first, it's usually third. It all feels very alien, but I get going without stalling.
But, for me, the most daunting prospect is the gears. Articulated lorries have up to 16, with switches on the stick to change through them. And you don't pull off in first, it's usually third. It all feels very alien, but I get going without stalling.
It may be 54ft long, but thanks to this new generation of power-assisted, super-responsive vehicles, the ride is smooth and the controls light to the touch.
It may be 54ft long, but thanks to this new generation of power-assisted, super-responsive vehicles, the ride is smooth and the controls light to the touch.
The dark clouds descendTurning the wheel takes less effort than in my Punto, which lacks power steering and elicits beads of sweat when parking at the supermarket.
The dark clouds descendTurning the wheel takes less effort than in my Punto, which lacks power steering and elicits beads of sweat when parking at the supermarket.
My instructor's conclusions about my lorry driving skills? Excellent clutch control, apparently some people take weeks to reach my level. I was even asked if I'd ever driven a LGV before. Maybe it's an attempt to butter me up, but I feel proud.
My instructor's conclusions about my lorry driving skills? Excellent clutch control, apparently some people take weeks to reach my level. I was even asked if I'd ever driven a LGV before. Maybe it's an attempt to butter me up, but I feel proud.
Yet driving is only one battle in the war to win women's hearts and minds - and the easiest.
Yet driving is only one battle in the war to win women's hearts and minds - and the easiest.
With the industry so male dominated for so long, some truck stops don't even have women's toilets and class a healthy meal as a side order of cooked tomatoes with a fry up. Things are changing but more needs to be done, says SfL. The major problem is most facilities are out of the industry's control.
With the industry so male dominated for so long, some truck stops don't even have women's toilets and class a healthy meal as a side order of cooked tomatoes with a fry up. Things are changing but more needs to be done, says SfL. The major problem is most facilities are out of the industry's control.
Life changing
Life changing
"The industry needs to prepare for women drivers," says a spokeswoman. "Warehouses, roadside facilities and public perception all need to improve."
"The industry needs to prepare for women drivers," says a spokeswoman. "Warehouses, roadside facilities and public perception all need to improve."
There are also misconceptions such as the long working hours and heavy lifting. Possibly the biggest is that it's a job for people who can't do anything else.
There are also misconceptions such as the long working hours and heavy lifting. Possibly the biggest is that it's a job for people who can't do anything else.
The UK's most famous trucker?Its champions argue it's skilled and drivers can rack up £50,000 a year and travel the world. Companies in Canada will even sponsor drivers who want to move from the UK.
The UK's most famous trucker?Its champions argue it's skilled and drivers can rack up £50,000 a year and travel the world. Companies in Canada will even sponsor drivers who want to move from the UK.
"It can be whatever you want it to be," says my trainer Phil, who has been in the industry for 16 years. "If you want to deliver goods in your local town and finish in time to pick up the kids from school you can. If you want to see the world and earn some good money you can.
"It can be whatever you want it to be," says my trainer Phil, who has been in the industry for 16 years. "If you want to deliver goods in your local town and finish in time to pick up the kids from school you can. If you want to see the world and earn some good money you can.
"There's just something about driving a big lorry, most people secretly want to try it out."
"There's just something about driving a big lorry, most people secretly want to try it out."
For the industry's sake, let's hope he's right.
For the industry's sake, let's hope he's right.
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