Shelly Kirk’s journey to financial stability began in 2007 when she was a single mother of three, earning minimum wage at the local convenience store. Despite trying out jobs such as fast-food restaurants and medical assisting positions, her income wasn’t enough for her family.
Her ex-husband drove trucks and both her brother and uncles found success on the open roads for a living. Yet she hesitated to follow their footsteps due to apprehensions about if it was something that she could handle herself.
“I’d ask myself ‘Can I do this being a woman?'” said Kirk. “I asked my brother Greg for advice, and he told me I absolutely can do whatever I want.”
In 2010, Kirk made the decision to pursue a more secure career path and obtained her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Initially seeking work hauling water or dirt, she saw that these positions only offered seasonal employment. But after consulting with her brother who was transporting crude oil at the time, Kirk realized this could be an opportunity for greater stability – one which proved successful far beyond expectations.
“The benefit of being a truck driver – you’ll never be out of a job,” said Greg Wilson, a transport driver and trainer for Marathon Petroleum. “You can go anywhere and be a truck driver – no matter what part of the country you decide to live. The benefits of working for a company like Marathon is that when I turn 62 – I have a pension. For me, that’s the biggest thing about working for a big company like this.”
That was all Kirk needed to hear to apply for a truck driving job hauling crude oil. With her experience, she landed a job at Roosevelt, Utah where her brother worked. With her brother appointed as her trainer, her entry was met with a bit of lighthearted sibling teasing, but also with well-earned praise.
“She was a good student,” said Wilson, who helped train Kirk to drive a truck with double trailers. “I didn’t kick her out of the truck, so she must have been all right.”
When Kirk began her new job, she quickly realized that some parts of the job required a physical strength not all of us possess. With the help and encouragement from her brother, however, she was able to come up with some creative techniques for difficult tasks such as chaining up tires – proving that even in traditionally male-dominated industries, hard work can transcend any physical limitations.
After seven years of success in the truck driving industry, Kirk is hoping to inspire more women to join her. She believes that a career behind the wheel offers financial stability and great benefits – making it an ideal choice for those seeking reliable employment opportunities.
“I’m 51. My health is good enough that when I retire, I’ll be able to enjoy that stage of life. I’m fortunate that I have a 401(k) that the company has contributed to and a pension. This career definitely changed my outlook on what the future holds.”
With her children now grown, this incredible woman proudly celebrates all the success she’s achieved in her field – an accomplishment shared and celebrated by the entire family.
“The grandboys think it’s awesome that grandma drives a big truck,” said Kirk. “My oldest son drives a truck now. My daughter drives the pilot truck for oversize loads. That was partially because I drive a truck. I guess it’s in our blood.”
Source: Yahoo Finance
