Your Transport Times

My sister divulged to me her love of big rigs and how shelonged tobecome an hgv driver one day. I asked her why she didn't enrol for a driving lessons course but she merely shrugged her shoulders and said they would never accept a female so why try. I looked at her incredulously and replied that we were no longer living in the dark ages, women have the same opportunities as men and there is no reason whatsoever as to why she couldn't take a driving lessons course, if not to prove that women were highly capable of managing a large truck and trailer unit as well as any man. Despite my reassurances she was adamant that she would never become an hgv driver and it was all a pipe-dream.

Never to take 'no' for an answer I set about enquiring about anhgv driving lessons course, gathered pamphlets and manuals, searched online for stories from other hgv women drivers and, armed with a 'truckload' of information, gave my sister an ultimatum - that she take the driving lessons course or forever regret never having made the effort when she had every opportunity to do so. She pored through the leaflets and read the women's stories, noting the resentments and harassment'sthey inevitably encountered with the male truckers. She decided to give it a go because she had the applications at hand and there wereunlimited opportunities for her to join trucking companies eager to take on every new and qualified trainee.

After her lessons she would come homefull ofexcitement, describing her feelings of power when she would start the engine whilstseated high up in the cab and having shifted the behemoth Volvo truck into gear. It seemed she would never learn the many gears she had to operate but in the end it was as easy as riding an over sized bicycle she would say. I always felt a sense of satisfaction to see her elation at being able to fulfil a life-long desire. I only hoped her enthusiasm wouldn't diminish once she had obtained her licence after completing the practical test.

She passed with flying colours and our dad, glowing with pride, actually gave her a brand new car as a reward! I was astounded because he never seemed interested in either of us - his only off-spring. Mum told us he had always wanted a son and that was his way of 'making up' for not being so involved in our upbringing. My sister was overcome with joy and gave me the biggest hug ever. That was for pushing me to take this course she said - I shall always remember the person who set me on this path and urged me to follow my dream.No problem, I said - it was all in a days work and I turned away quickly as tears welled up in my eyes - it felt so wonderful to be able to accomplish someone else's dreams...