FEATURE: Female Truck Drivers continued from page 13
Carina BeeBe
Seeing the World Carina BeeBe, a professional driver for Wilson Logistics, is an example of a female driver dedicated to her dream of driving and seeing the world. BeeBe started her career in 1999 as a professional driver in Europe operating a curtain van in Holland, Belgium, and Germany. A couple of years later, she moved on to refrigerated trailers in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Imagine driving on the left side of the road delivering flowers and plants across Italy, Austria, France, and many other European countries. It was a different experience than the one she would have in the United States. Before coming to the U.S., she moved to Canada in 2011 to live out her dream of seeing a new part of the world and
Melissa Bencivengo
Go For It! Melissa Bencivengo is a professional driver with Carbon Express and fell in love with trucks at the early age of six. She had an uncle who drove trucks, and he always let her take a look at it when he stopped by her family’s home. When she grew up and was able to consider for herself a career as a driver, she was often met with opposition and was told operating heavy machines was not a job for a woman. Despite the discouragement, she held true to her desires and her enthusiasm for trucking allowed her to start her career as a driver in 1999. Bencivengo started off driving dump trucks, and found herself operating well rigs and pile drivers as well. Eventually, she earned her CDL Class A license and joined Carbon Express
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driving a conventional-style Peterbilt. She spent her time hauling lumber and oversized loads before she found herself in Montana. She still crossed the border often, continuing to drive oversized flatbeds to Canada and Alaska. She also found herself working a dedicated route for Walmart, and soon after started her own transportation company delivering RV’s across North America. In 2018, BeeBe took note of her desire to get back behind the wheel driving over-the-road in big trucks. She started her career with Wilson Logistics and has since become a CDL instructor. She is also still driving as one of Wilson’s crossborder drivers between the U.S. and Canada, except now she has her canine companion by her side on every ride.
in 2019. Even with the many changes that came with life, including becoming a mother of six and a certified nurse’s aide, nothing stopped her from driving trucks. She is dedicated to loving her family and staying on the road. Bencivengo never let negativity or pessimism get to her when it came to driving trucks. She is one of few women in the industry driving liquid bulk trucks and says the best way to operate her vehicle is to control the tanker and not let fear get in the way. Though she may be in a male-dominated field, she refuses to be discouraged. She feels lucky to have male co-workers that show her respect and support, and has seen firsthand that it is possible for women to thrive in their careers as truck drivers. All it takes is a little grit and perseverance.
