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Men are statistically the natural dominators of the truck market with the number of male truck drivers being 89.7% (Zippia). However, many women are beginning to drive full size trucks for a number of reasons. Most women aim for comfort with their trucks, but some use their trucks for more than just good looks. Several women who participate in the sport of barrel racing and other equestrian events tow their own horse trailer with their trucks. In addition, women in construction regularly use their trucks to haul heavy equipment between sites. This photo essay will examine several women who drive a full size truck and the reasoning behind each.

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Vicki Schmidt and her husband Rick own a local automotive repair shop in Mooresville, NC. Vicki can be primarily seen driving her personal vehicle, the GMC Sierra, for comfort and safety reasons. The truck is accessorized with custom wheels, tires, and headlights, along with other features.

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Vicki can also be seen driving the Mooresville Service Center truck for advertising and hauling tools around. The Mooresville Service Center truck is fitted with custom wheels and tires, along with a custom wrap to attract customers and provide contact information.

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Laura Collander is a college English professor at Catawba. She drives an early 2000s Ford F-350 Dually with the 6.0 Liter Diesel V8 engine. Laura is an avid equestrian and frequently hauls her horses to events or destinations. The truck is properly equipped to tow a trailer containing her prize horses.

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Not only does Laura use her truck to haul her precious cargo, she also uses it to communicate her personal and political views. Laura frequently states that her truck is rather ironic in traditional views. It is a large truck traditionally driven by white, Republican men, but Laura chooses to add stickers about women’s reproductive rights and her notorious “Silly boys, trucks are for girls” sticker.

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Karla Rager drives her Ram 1500 because it belonged to her father. However, she enjoys driving the truck because it makes her feel more independent and empowered as a woman. Driving a larger vehicle makes her feel safe and comfortable on the road, especially on busy, accident prone, Arkansas highways. The truck also helps Karla feel closer to her dad every time she hops in the drivers’ seat.

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I drive this truck because I love the heaviness and the pull of the engine. I love driving my boyfriend’s 2009 duramax because it makes me feel safe, comfortable, and like a bada**. He is currently teaching me how to tow, so I can help him when equipment needs to be purchased, sold, serviced, or moved to and from job sites. I also love this truck because it’s the face of my future with Mac Earthworks.

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Annie Hanson founded The Closet Niche two years ago during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Her business deals with installing shelving and cabinets to create beautiful custom closets for customers. Annie not only specializes in closets, but she also does offices, garages, pantries, and drop zones. Although her main mode of transportation is not a pickup truck, this truck is incredibly significant to the business. It hauls all of the material and tools needed for each job. Annie does own an F-350 dually, but it is mainly used to pick up material from the manufacturer and bring it back to the warehouse.