I don’t think there are any statistics to say how many female motorists are HGV drivers but there is absolutely no reason why women wouldn’t become lorry, bus or coach drivers. Of course it isn’t an occupation that instantly dawns when a woman is looking for a job and career but why not, other than the fact that few motor industry businesses are naturally female friendly and the likes of washrooms for women are not likely at the top of the list in many haulage yards…
Regardless of gender, it isn’t always a family friendly job either what with early and late pick ups, overnight runs and the possibility of overnights away when loads require it.
So a haulage yard crammed with HGVs isn’t the traditional romantic setting for a relationship to blossom… but this is exactly what happened between HGV drivers Peter Jarman and Julie Clayton, a foxy mum-of-two who drives a 44-ton truck, making mincemeat of stereotypical prejudices about women drivers.
Her skill behind the wheel of monster wagons is such that she has now qualified as an approved instructor for would-be truckers.
They met when Peter worked for a Cumbrian haulage firm that was sub-contracted to Eddie Stobart and used the Wakefield haulage yard where Julie was based. She was one of the six women in the then 300-strong and predominantly male driver workforce.
Julie said: “At first the men there were all very polite, but once they all realised that I was there like them to do a job, they relaxed.”
“The thing about Peter was that he accepted me and didn’t judge me, or make any comments about women being bad drivers; or women not being able to reverse properly. His view was I had the same licence as he had so I must be as good as him.”
Peter finally popped the question while the couple were enjoying a meal in a local pub and the couple plan to get married in Barnsley during the summer.
Not only will Peter have gained a wife but he will also have a second driver for his haulage firm into the bargain.
Good on you Peter and Julie.
FOXY Steph
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