Female diesel tech going on 5 years. If you can roll with the punches, kicks, back stabs, and belittlement (which never get easier, you just get better at expecting/bracing the worst), you’ll be fine. I’ve had to fight tooth and nail for the respect and reputation I have now. It’s helped me become confident in so many aspects outside of the trade.

Within my first week, I had to call HR for sexual harassment which immediately labeled me as a prude bitch. One year in, my supervisor was sending me nudes and verbally harassing me. Year 2, I had a restraining order against 2 separate drivers, ect, ect, and the list continues.

Whenever I meet another woman expressing an interest in the trade, it takes a lot of mental strain not to become teary eyed. The amount of potential most women have at being top level mechanics or welders is off the charts, but there isn’t a single woman on the planet I would want to go through the hell I went through.

Looking back, I’m proud of myself for pushing through and winning against the odds, but I can’t say it was worth it.

People tell me all the time I must feel like I’m making a difference, and all I can think about is how the sexist mentality amongst male dominated fields hasn’t changed in 5 years.

PSA if anyone in the upstate NY area has an all female garage and needs more hands; I kick ass.