Women In Trucking Spotlight: Angela Dillon
The trucking industry is predominantly made up of men with approximately only 12.1% of all professional drivers being women (WIT Index, 2023). Here at Dillon, we have the honor of employing some amazing women in our trucks and in our offices. We asked a few of our women to share their experiences in the trucking industry as drivers. We hope their stories can encourage a woman somewhere that they too can excel in this industry.
The Women in Trucking Spotlight this week is on the owner of the company, Mrs. Angela Dillon.
Not everyone may know that Mrs. Dillon used to be a truck driver back in the day, and that is one of the reasons she started this company alongside her late husband, Donnie Dillon.
How long have you been in the trucking industry? What got you started in trucking? I worked at a truck stop in my high school years and for a few years after graduation. I started driving team with my fiancé at the time, Donnie Dillon. This was over 30 years ago. Wow!
What are some of the perks to being a woman in trucking? I was a small-town country girl who had never been out of the KY/TN area. Truck Driving allowed me to see the rest of the country. At first, it felt like a long vacation. I also really liked when people found out I drove a "big rig" and they were so amazed. I received a lot of respect for being able to do that.
What are some challenges and how do you navigate those? I am sure that I am very out of touch with the challenges for women drivers today. Though I mostly received respect, there were people who assumed that since I was in a team with a man that he did all the work, and I was just along for a joyride... I can assure you that I shared the work! I can remember those long nights as I was inhaling coffee with the window rolled down in freezing temperatures and the radio blaring, seeing things run across the road that weren't really there, just to try to make it another hundred miles. Please don't EVER do that, especially if you are driving one of my trucks! Your life and the lives of those around you are valuable. Please remember that.
Any advice to other women interested in joining the trucking industry? Get your big girl britches on, this profession is not for the weak!
Would you recommend this company to other female truckers in the industry? Why? Absolutely! If you knew me, you would know how much I care for and appreciate my drivers, male and female. I am your advocate; I am your biggest fan. I do my best to make sure everyone here gets treated fairly across the board. If you love it here, tell others and get yourself that fat recruiting bonus. If you don't love it, tell us too. If I don't know there is a problem then I cannot fix it for you.
Anything personal you would like to add? I believe that in order to be respected, you must be respectable. Whether you are behind that wheel or not, be kind and courteous; think of others before yourself. In the words of my father, "If you are going to do it, you'd better darn well do it right."