'They forbid driving a truck in their homeland': how an 30-year-old Russian woman became a truck driver in the USA
'12.09.2019'
Source: lady.mail.ru
If you are not allowed to drive a truck in Russia, you can leave for the United States for your favorite profession.
In the courtyard is the 21st century, but until the middle of August 2019, women in Russia were still forbidden to drive a wagon, an electric train and be a sailor. In the list of professions forbidden for women, 100 items are left instead of 400. The representative of the "male" profession 30-year-old Olga Meleshkova, who lives in the USA, told lady.mail.ru, is it hard for a girl to drive for months.
About the beginning of the journey
As an emigrant, it’s most difficult for me not to see my relatives and friends. I have been living in the United States for three years and, it seems to me, I have just begun to get used to it. The husband we moved with supports me very much, because I had to start all over from scratch: look for work, learn a language, get used to a new way of life.
It was not necessary to choose a profession for a long time - the husband found out that many of our friends work as truckers, and we also engaged in cargo transportation. Moreover, they wanted to leave the constant heat in Florida, so they bought a van and began to work for themselves.
It is believed that truckers are romantics who cannot imagine their life without roads. Indeed, I am glad that I was able to become a driver. In Russia, she worked as an engineer, designer of roads. And this routine five days a week annoyed me so that I considered it a real hard labor. Someone says that being a trucker is terribly difficult. But to each his own: for example, I do not like Groundhog Day and the schedule, as in prison.
About work
I've been spinning the steering wheel of a van for about a year now. We are on the road for months. Now we want to set a schedule: a month at work, a week at home. We spend time together with my husband, we have no children, so we are not attached to anything. Those who are waiting at home, of course, are harder.
Previously worked for themselves. But the transport business is now stagnant - prices have fallen - therefore, such a scheme is disadvantageous. We switched to work for the company.
For about two months we have already been working on the Volvo truck (mobile home). It takes some time to earn trust and show oneself in the company. My husband passed the probationary period, and I'm waiting for him to begin to train me. Soon I will drive.
There is a suspicion that they do not want to take me. Maybe because I'm a woman, and maybe because the company is Russian. We want to work exclusively together, so we will butt with their stereotypes further.
On the subject: 'Everyone supports each other, except for Russians': how the 44-year-old Russian woman began life from scratch in the USA
I was surprised that women in Russia can’t drive a wagon - it sounds strange in the 21st century. Indeed, they are allowed to drive a trolley bus, minibuses and a tram.
And there is a strange stereotype that truckers smell unpleasantly. I heard this more than once, but I’ll say for sure that we go to the shower every day and constantly change clothes.
About security
Before the flight, be sure to check your truck for readiness: you look at the hoses, the coupling of the cab with the trailer and the presence of defects. When the car is loaded, you check to see if there is an overload. Checks are often arranged: they find out how the truck works, climb inside - you can’t carry alcohol with you, even when sealed in a package.
The worst drivers are always in the city, and everything is calm on the highway. Previously, there were special walkie-talkies for which information was reported. It seems to me that they remained in the cinema in the distant past: we don’t use these. On the roads, everything is like ordinary people. To, for example, rebuild, the truck may blink to you.
About difficulties
The hardest job is unloading and loading. The first is fast, but loaders can stack goods and 5 — 8 hours.
Coffee helps me to cheer up on the road. And the shower also gives a charge for a while. I can talk with my husband at any time, because he is nearby. A dog lives in our cabin, so it’s never boring. But without problems, too, nowhere, because on the way we stop in very different places. Once, for example, we drove a van into the desert. There were no truck stops nearby, so I had to sleep here. In this region there was a reservation of Navajo Indians - a very dangerous place.
But it is not always necessary to hope for outside help: it only depends on the person on the road whether he will help you or not. Americans, for example, are very friendly and helpful. When our truck broke down, one of them came to inquire about what happened.
About the pros of work
When we were still working on van, we had cargo to New York, to the very center - to Manhattan. There was a serious accident, and they blocked the whole road. They didn’t have time to deliver the goods on time, so they were forced to stay in the city for the weekend. As a result, the unpleasant incident turned into a tour in the largest city in the United States.
There are also great places to relax, where you can spend the night or have a picnic. For drivers there are special bases with showers, laundries and cafes.
Tips for beginners
To become a truck driver, you do not need anything. Only a certificate and strong nerves. And all the basic things are taught at school and at the training: you drive with an experienced driver for two weeks, who tells and shows everything. Nobody forces to repair the car itself, there are special services for this.
Just need to be mentally prepared not to see relatives, live in a car for months and be stress-resistant.
I know that some girls are afraid to drive a car. I’m no longer afraid even at the wheel of an 40-ton machine. Do not think about your fear, then everything will work out.
Also, I do not advise bringing strangers. We are not letting anyone into our cab. My husband, for example, somehow had to urgently get to the place, but there were no taxis nearby. Everyone refused him because they were afraid of a stranger.
