I suppose what concerns me about all this somewhat is that all the “girlie” bit, and the pictures serve to undo the work that many of us women - which is what we are, after all, grown women not girls - have put in over the years in order to be taken seriously and treated as equals within the industry.
Many male drivers who haven’t worked alongside truly experienced female drivers - and I’m not talking about 18 months in a rigid here - still think one of three things. a) Women drivers are mostly lesbians; b) Women drivers are doing it to get a man or c) Women drivers are doing it to get attention.
This sort of thread with provocative pictures and the flaunting of bra sizes does nothing but reinforce many, many of the myths. As does a female posting about being unable to pull her fifth-wheel pin or get reverse gear unaided. Don’t get me wrong, by all means post and ask for advice with that, since it’s probably your technique rather than strength that is letting you down…but to see it as a non-issue?
Ladytrucker and I have both got well over 5 years Class One tramping behind us apiece, and we’re all for more WOMEN coming into the industry. I think I’m safe in speaking for Lindsey here when I say that this kind of stuff is simply doing a dis-service to those of us who consider ourselves to just be [bdrivers[/b], end of story, no fanfare, no big deal.
Even the likes of us are babies to it in the grand scheme of things. We have a female member on here who has done more miles in reverse than you, I and Ladytrucker put together have done forward. She’s driven all over Europe (as has Lindsey - I’ve only done France myself), and has seen and done things you and I couldn’t even imagine. But does she think she’s a big deal? Of course not, because she knows she just a driver.
Another example is Pat Nicholson of the PDA. She’s been driving for over 20 years, and truly did have to fight her way through prejudice to prove her worth. When Pat started there were no forklifts, and no curtainsiders…it was all handballing freight onto flatbeds, and struggling with equipment that truly was built for men.
Pat and I haven’t always seen eye to eye over the years. but I will happily stand up and say that she is the sort of woman in transport who should be respected and admired. Pat and her contemporaries paved the way for those of us who are driving today with the luxury of modern trucks and a relatively female-friendly environment.
Modern female drivers have showers in MSAs. When Pat started she relied on friendly cooks in Transport Cafes holding up a sheet in the back of the kitchen so that she could strip wash at the sink.
Modern female drivers get bantered and ribbed, as well as an awful lot of flirtation and good laughs. The lads are generally only too willing to help when we need a bit of brawn. When Pat started she was regularly told to [zb] off back to the kitchen - difference was, back then people meant it.
Compare the pretty lass to the true pioneer, and suddenly the former doesn’t seem quite so special…because without the latter she wouldn’t have stood a chance and be enjoying the freedom that so many of us women do today. Without the fanfare.
No, I’m not jealous. Why would I be? I’m very proud of the fact that I’m nothing special, and that i’ve worked ■■■■ hard to achieve what I wanted to achieve. To be just a driver, like any other.
ps. Fifth-wheel. Usually when they’re stupidly stiff it’s because they have too much pressure on from the kingpin of the trailer. Try backing the unit right up to the trailer with the red line off, to take up the slack. Whack your foot on the brake at the same time as the clutch so it doesn’t roll forward again, then apply the handbrake. Should just slide out one-handed.
If that doesn’t sort it, try raising/lowering the air suspension at the back of the unit so as to level it up. If the trailer was picked up with a tag or midlift axle raised, it will drop more easily with the axle in the same position.
If none of that works, the knife is probably in need of grease, in which case find a fitter.
pps. Reverse gear. It’s usually hard going to engage reverse because the gearbox is still spinning too quickly. Try slipping it into first and raising the clutch just enough for it to bite without moving forward. This will slow the cogs right down and it should slip in freely. (No pun intended lads… 
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If that doesn’t work, try “blipping” the throttle a little to raise the revs before engaging reverse.
Most manual boxes like one or the other, it’s just a matter of finding out which. After a while you’ll be able to judge when to go for the gear without having to use either of those cheats, but they’re always handy to know for really stubborn wagons.
ppss. If you have trouble with anything else like that, start a new thread and ask. One of TruckNet’s strengths is that there’ll alwyas be someone who’s driven a particular make of wagon or done a particular job, and who’ll be happy to help you learn.
Good luck. Be nothing special, and be proud of it, Sara. That is what equality is all about. 
(Afterthought. I knew there was a reason why i don’t normally come home on a weeknight. I’m tired and i tend to waffle. 
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ill start with a couple.
