by Glenda Luymes

Special to the 91原创 Advance

The semi-truck rumbles forward as Sophia Athanas smoothly shifts through several gears in quick succession.

Taking advantage of a gap in traffic, she makes a right turn onto 56th Avenue in 91原创, watching her side-view mirror to ensure her 53-foot trailer clears the curb. Then, she鈥檚 shifting up again, cruising through a busy industrial area on the 91原创-Abbotsford border with the wind from an open window blowing through her long, blond hair.

It鈥檚 tempting to label Athanas a 鈥渜ueen of the road,鈥� or, at the very least, a woman making inroads in a male-dominated industry. After all, she鈥檚 an attractive young woman at the wheel of a big rig. But, for the mom, trucking is all about finding a stable, well-paying job, so she can provide for her two sons, ages eight and 18 months. The fact that she鈥檚 challenging stereotypes about women鈥檚 work is secondary.

鈥淚 just want all the women out there to know that if you want to get into this, you can,鈥� she said Friday in an interview at Valley Driving School, where she鈥檚 completing her training after recently passing her Class 1 driver鈥檚 test.

Athanas decided to become a truck driver after her second maternity leave ended a few months ago.

鈥淚n the past I鈥檇 worked as a server, but I wanted to find something that paid a little more,鈥� she explained.

When signing-up for driving school, Athanas learned about the YWCA鈥檚 Changing Gears program, which receives funding from both the federal and provincial governments to increase the number of women in B.C.鈥檚 trucking industry.

It鈥檚 estimated about three per cent of Canadian truckers are women, said program manager Tina Hurd, who believes the reason is largely due to the male-dominated trucking culture.

鈥淎ny-size person can do this job,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith technology, being a truck driver doesn鈥檛 require heavy lifting.鈥�

The free, 23-week Changing Gears program is open to women on employment insurance (or returning from mat leave) and incorporates on-the-road practise, as well as self-defence, and health and safety training.

Partnerships with several local trucking companies help grads find work with supportive employers in an industry that鈥檚 always looking for drivers.

As she nears the end of the program, Athanas said she feels empowered: 鈥淚 think that if you challenge yourself, you鈥檒l be amazed at what you can accomplish.鈥�

鈥� Glenda Luymes is a writer with The Province