In an industry historically dominated by men, female drivers like Christie Tilton are making significant strides. With a record shortage of truck drivers, more women are entering the field, now representing about 12% of the
workforce, according to the Women in Trucking Association.
Christie Tilton from Eaton initially aspired to be a high school band director after graduating from Northridge High School in 2007. “I played trombone and drums and had planned to go to school for music,” Tilton shared. “But instead, I ended up working for a parking company at the Dayton Airport and eventually went into management.”
Feeling unfulfilled, Tilton described her life at that time as “wandering aimlessly.” A turning point came when her grandmother asked her to drive a motor home across the country. Tilton loved the adventure. “I had a friend who went to truck driving school, so I applied for the company he worked for,” Tilton explained. “I set out to do it just as a backup plan because I knew if I had a CDL, I would always have a job.”
Tilton landed a position at Prime, Inc., where she attended their onsite driving school with no upfront costs in exchange for a one-year commitment. “I liked it so much, I stayed for three years,” she said.
Although the long-haul lifestyle suited her initially, Tilton eventually searched for a local driving job. She joined Dart Transit, which worked with Proctor and Gamble, until it transitioned to its own private fleet, absorbing her in the process.
Today, Tilton and her partner, Whitney Hartman, juggle their family life with raising a six-year-old and Tilton’s two teen siblings. The demands of cross-country trucking no longer align with her family needs. “We would stay out on the road for two or three months at a time,” Tilton recalled. “This burns you out pretty quick.”
During her early trucking days, Tilton was fortunate to share the experience with her high school friend Jennifer Rowley, who became her co-driver. “Most people don’t make it a year,” Tilton noted. “It’s just hard when you have a family, though there are some who drive for their whole careers — 30 or 40 years.”
Earlier this year, Tilton’s remarkable contributions were recognized when her operations manager nominated her for a national award. She was one of 27 drivers across the U.S. honored with the National Driver All Star Award by the National Private Truck Council. “My manager told me I won the award, and I was going to Florida to receive it,” Tilton said. “I’ve been driving now for ten years and was with a lot of longer-tenured veteran drivers.”
The NPTC award acknowledges private fleet drivers exhibiting exemplary customer service, safety, adherence to standards, regulatory compliance, and community involvement. Out of the 27 awardees, only two were women. “This career field is still mostly male,” Tilton observed. “I know that in the past ten years, more and more women are driving. It’s rare to find women who have been driving that long.”
Following her return from Florida, Tilton accepted a promotion in operations, stepping away from driving but remaining within the industry she loves. “I took the promotion so I could be home again,” she confided. “I miss driving some days, but not when it gets cold!”
In her new role, Tilton manages drivers, conducts interviews, handles hiring, and plans routes. Looking to the future, she remains open to the possibility of returning to the road. “With kids at home, I like where I am now,” she said. “But in the future, I would like to go back to driving. Once the kids are grown and out of the house, I may look at going on the road again. I was so honored to receive the award, especially as a woman. It’s a job I love that not many women ever get to do.”
Source: Dayton Daily News
Image: Dayton Daily News
