Women in Trucking, on the Big Screen

Movies about trucking and truckers are usually comedic, over the top action or just plain way off course with the true industry professionals. Every now and then, a movie that stirs up the drama, comes along and this time it's about a lady TRUCKER! I will not spoil the plot or ruin the ending for you because this is not about this movie as much as it is about trucking in the movies overall.

Have you seen the greatest big rig to date, OPTIMUS PRIME? Now that's my idea of truck! Or is it a robot? Either way he's cool as heck!


Ok, well maybe that one is over the top but it was never meant to be believable. Some trucker movies over the years have just plain missed the mark. Trucks in movies is nothing new, in fact trucks were one of the first things to be destroyed and do some destroying in the movies. Movies about truckers usually try to show some cowboy type dealing with issues like police, beer runs, failed relationships.... wait, that does sound like a truckers life. ANYWAY!, truckers in movies have been portrayed as lonesome, except for that BJ fella on TV, he always had chimp with him and a couple of gals that seemed to enjoy the ride. Did he ever deliver anything? Oh! back to the blog. Let's see lonesome..oh yea, and tough and some type of detective or fugitive.
But over time some great movies about truckers have emerged. So, let's share a top ten list of the best according to our readers.

1. Smokey and the Bandit (1-3)

2. Convoy

3. Duel

4. Breaker, Breaker

5. Coast to Coast

6. White Line Fever

7. They Drive by Night

8. Steel Cowboy

9. Over the Top

10. Black Dog

Like 'em not you picked 'em! I don't agree with all of them but you made some good choices and surprisingly you even picked real classic at #7.

Now that you know the greatest ever, let's talk about the latest edition to the genre, "Trucker." Trucker is an independently financed drama produced by Plum Pictures. Trucker premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 24 and was released in theatres across the USA this month.

"Michelle was so dedicated to the part of Diane Ford,” says Mottern. “I asked her if she would take a few driving lessons and not only did she agree, but she insisted on getting her driver’s permit so she could operate the truck during filming. And she did! At the time she didn’t even know how to drive a stick shift but damned if she didn’t get her permit and get in that truck and pull it off. You should’ve seen her on the splitter. It would’ve taken your breath away. So every time you see Michelle driving in the movie, it really is her driving. No filming trailers, no computer graphics, nothing. Just Monaghan behind the wheel.”

“It was amazing,” says an enthusiastic and proud Monaghan. “I was one of those kids growing up who pumped her arm up and down when the truck came past, and now it was me behind the wheel. My dad and brother both have their CDL so they were really impressed. I was so nervous my first time on I-10. I can’t even drive a regular stick shift but now I can drive an 18-wheeler. Reverse parking was the hardest, and double clutching. I hope truck drivers know that I appreciate what they do.”

Trucker was awarded the Best Narrative Feature Jury Award at the 18th Woods Hole Film Festival held July 25th – Saturday 1st August. The Woods Hole Film Festival is an eight day showcase of independent film featuring daily screenings, workshops, panel discussions, staged readings, special events, parties, awards ceremony and more.

Looks like Trucker will be a love or hate it type, according to critics, but when real life issues cross the tough life of a trucker, man or woman, then the drama will hit close to home for many. We recommend checking it out.

To read some reviews follow these links:

Film Crave
AMC Film Critic
Rotten Tomatoes

To view the web site for the movie click on movie poster banner at top of page.

Thanks for visiting our blog and keep the bugs off your bumper and bears off your tail. (visit trucking101.biz for trucking lingo explanation)

Truckers going Pink for a Cause

A convoy that delivers hope and not freight. That's the purpose behind Convoy For a Cure. The event held its inaugural convoy in Ontario Canada last year lead by lady trucker, Rachele Champagne. Rachele, who thought of the idea while navigating the highways of Canada with other lady truckers, decided that breast cancer was a good cause to benefit from an all female convoy. YES! ALL FEMALE. Drawing 29 trucks and raising nearly $15,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, the event was successful and now it has spread to the US with the help of another lady trucker, Cindy Stowe.

Cindy, a driver for FFE, has the US event planned for Oct 24th at the newly remodeled and famed truck stop called "Willie's Place". Located in Carls Corner, Texas, Willie's Place is of course the name sake of owner and famed country crooner/entertainer Willie Nelson. Known by truckers of all walks, Willie's Place is located on I-35E south of DFW and is home to the Blue Skies Cafe and huge chicken fried steaks. Willie can oft be found here and at the on site Nite-Life Theater. It will truly be a great host for the lady truckers of Convoy for a Cure USA and all its supporters.

The event will get rollin' at 8am CST with check-in and last minute registrations, a 10am drivers meeting and an 11am move-out time. The Convoy will roll for about an hour and return to Willie's for lunch and entertainment. Cindy says, whoever gets the lead position in the convoy will be driving a brand new Freightliner Casacadia, provided by sponsor, Freightliner Trucks. Cindy has been keeping pace with organization of the event in her spare time, which as a driver on a dedicated route from Dallas, Texas to south Florida is very little, however, she believes in the cause and expects a great event. Cindy plans to raise money for breast cancer research and even though it is an all female convoy she says, women who are interested in participating in this, who do not have a CDL, can still do so by riding in one the many support trucks that will be following the main convoy. The support convoy will allow male drivers, anyone who supports her event with a donation will have a chance to ride in it if trucks are available.

MORE ABOUT BREAST CANCER
* Breast cancer incidence in women in the United States is 1 in 8 (about 13%).
* In 2008, an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 67,770 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
* About 1,990 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2008. Less than 1% of all new breast cancer cases occur in men.
* From 2001 to 2004, breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. decreased by 3.5% per year. One theory is that this decrease was due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study, called the Women’s Health Initiative, were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.
* About 40,480 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2008 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1990. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
* For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer besides lung cancer.
* Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. More than 1 in 4 cancers are breast cancer.
* Compared to African American women, white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer, but less likely to die of it. One possible reason is that African American women tend to have more aggressive tumors, although why this is the case is not known. Women of other ethnic backgrounds — Asian, Hispanic, and Native American — have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer than white women and African American women.
* As of 2008, there are about 2.5 million women in the U.S. who have survived breast cancer.
* A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.
* About 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by gene mutations inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they often are diagnosed at a younger age (before age 50). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. Men with a BRCA1 mutation have a 1% risk of developing breast cancer by age 70 and a 6% risk when they have a BRCA2 mutation.
* About 90% of breast cancers are due not to heredity, but to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general.
* The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).

To learn more about this event and the two Lady truckers visit Convoy for a Cure.com and Convoy for a Cure USA.com

The reality is that everyone knows someone who has been effected by breast cancer. You know a family member, friend, co-worker or celebrity that has endured the harsh treatments and surgeries that come with diagnosis of this disease. Women should take screening and prevention serious as well as should family and friends.

Thanks for visiting our blog and remember, wearing pink, no matter who are, is cool and for a good cause.