A truck can teach you freedom, skills, and financial stability — but it can also teach you lessons the hard way.

In this episode of That’s Delivered, Trucking Ray sits down with Claudette Hart, experienced truck driver and advocate connected with the African American Women in Trucking Association (AAWTA), to talk about what life behind the wheel actually looks like for women in trucking — especially Black women building careers in transportation and logistics.

Claudette shares the realities many CDL schools and recruiters never explain:
how trucking pay structures really work, why breakdowns quietly drain income, how carrier choice affects everything from downtime to support, and why trucking often comes without a clear roadmap for success.

She also opens up about:
🔥 Her truck catching fire during her first year
🧠 Why mental health in trucking deserves serious attention
🚛 Running reefer and dry van freight
⚠️ The pressure and stress drivers carry silently

The conversation also gets practical with real-world safety advice for women drivers:
night parking decisions, truck stop awareness, weather safety, communication habits, hygiene strategies, human trafficking awareness, and why it is always OK to shut down when conditions are unsafe.

We also discuss how mentorship and community through AWTA can help drivers build confidence, avoid costly mistakes, and create opportunities beyond just driving.

Key Takeaways 👇

✅ Trucking freedom comes with challenges many new drivers never hear about
✅ Carrier choice can dramatically affect income, support, and downtime
✅ Mental health struggles in trucking deserve open conversation
✅ Safety awareness and preparation matter every single day
✅ It is always OK to stop driving when conditions become unsafe
✅ Mentorship and community can change the direction of a trucking career

If you care about women in trucking, CDL training, trucking wellness, and real-world advice you can use on your next run — this episode is for you.

Subscribe, share with a driver who needs this conversation, and leave a review with your biggest “nobody told me” lesson from the road.

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