What’s it like to be a woman on the road with Classic Carriers? We recently spoke with two of our female truck drivers to get their perspectives on trucking as a career for women, driving for Classic, and their advice for new women drivers.
Driver Spotlight: Ericka Mitchell
Ericka Mitchell has always been a driver. She started her career behind the wheel in 1998, driving cargo vans and making deliveries in her own vehicle. After years on the road, she worked up the courage to go to trucking school and earn her CDL to maximize her earning potential.
Classic Carriers was the first good connection she made that met her criteria for a smaller, family-owned trucking company. Just a week after completing her CDL, Ericka was hired and has been driving with Classic as an owner-operator for a little over three years.
The career move has been life-changing for her. It’s the “most money I’ve ever made in my life,” she shared.
Driving a truck is also an opportunity to tap into childhood wonder. “The kid side of me just loves operating something as huge as this – just the amazement of driving something so big and powerful,” Ericka said. “Being on the road is kind of like my zen.”
The support from Classic Carriers keeps Ericka connected and on the road. The mechanic department is always quick to get her truck fixed, and the accessibility of the team is a reminder that she's never alone.
Adapting to the lifestyle can be challenging for new women truck drivers, from taking showers at truck stops to eating healthy on the road. Ericka encourages new drivers to stick with it for at least a year while getting used to the lifestyle: “Just hold on. It gets better.”
Driver Spotlight: Terry Britt
Terry Britt has driven with Classic Carriers for a combined total of 13 years. She first became interested in a trucking career because her husband was a driver. He taught her to drive a truck, and in her first year on the road, they went together before she purchased a second truck so they could run separately.
Terry and her husband found Classic Carriers after the trucking company they were previously leased to ran into financial trouble.
Now, as an owner-operator for Classic Carriers, Terry has the independence to pick her own loads and the support of the team to keep her rolling.
“I would not recommend any other company. I’m serious,” she said. “They are so good to us. They treat you like family. They know you by name. You can call them anytime.”
“It’s essential to do a lot of research on trucking companies and pick one that will train you right,” Terry said. “Proper training helps you feel more confident on the road and prepared to handle any situations that might arise. If at any time you are uncomfortable with your trainer, let the company know right away so they can assign a better match.”
We’re Hiring Drivers and Trainers!
Join a team that knows you by name and values your perspective. Classic Carriers is seeking experienced drivers who can mentor new drivers and help bring more women into the trucking industry.
If that sounds like you, contact our recruiter, Julie, at 937-526-7030 or recruiting@classiccarriers.com.