In The News

A woman in Trucking

While Linda Courtney was growing up, she helped her family on their farm in Montana by driving a tractor and pulling a hay wagon.  She never dreamed that she would one day attract national media attention for using the skills she learned as a young girl. 



“I always knew that when it was time to choose a career I would drive a truck,” she said.  But Courtney, does more than just drive a truck, she has become one of the first professional drivers to win a state truck driving championship while visibly pregnant!  Her most special delivery arrived shortly after she earned the title of Montana’s Grand Champion….. her daughter Aspen Renee. 
 


Because Courtney and her husband, both professional drivers for Watkins & Shephard Trucking (Helena, MT), were expecting their first child around the same time as the National Truck Driving Championship, she made the decision to forgo this year’s competition.  “It was my choice to not go to the nationals,” she said, “I thought I was going to be so pregnant that I wouldn’t be able to compete.”
 


However, Linda Courtney plans to compete at the state level next year and hopes to earn the same distinction as Grand Champion so she can finally reach the national level of competition.  Courtney has been a contender at the state level for seven years, and has finished in one of the top three positions. 
 


“We are proud of Linda Courtney and her achievements at the Montana state truck driving championships,” said Ray Kuntz, President/CEO of Watkins & Shephard.   “She has always excelled in the written portion of the challenge, and this year, her ability to compete and win against her peers in the driving portion was evident in her Grand Champion title. Next year we hope she is able to compete at the national level."



Watkins & Shepherd is an LTL carrier, and Courtney drives a big rig with a set of doubles from Missoula, Montana to Calgary, Alberta, Canada on a dedicated run.  This allows her to be home every other day.  Although she is currently limiting herself to one trip a week since Aspen’s arrival, she is looking forward to getting back to her schedule which will allow her and her husband to share parenting duties.  She is waiting for the day with their daughter will be old enough to accompany her on her trips.



When asked if she would encourage Aspen to become a professional driver and follow in her footsteps, Courtney replied, “Absolutely!”

 

As a member of Women In Trucking, Linda Courtney has become an inspiration for young women entering the industry.  She encourages them to consider a career as a professional driver.



“I want women to understand that you are capable of this job,” Courtney said, “Yes, it’s a male dominated field, but if you have the physical strength, you can use your mental ability to learn the skill to drive a rig, you have no limitations but those you put on yourself,” she added.



Women In Trucking was established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women in trucking. The organization is an active group that finds opportunities to promote the accomplishments of women in the industry and is proud to have Linda Courtney as one of its 1300 members (25 percent are professional drivers.)



This organization has been created for both men and women, who are either involved in the industry, or have a career interest in being a part of one of the largest networks of professionals in North America. For more information visit www.WomenInTrucking.org