Five women drivers attest: MedTrans delivers as a career option

Medline's fleet of more than 1,800 MedTrans trucks and more than 1,800 specially trained drivers - one of the largest private fleet operations in the United States - plays a crucial role in the company's mission of providing healthcare products and solutions to the nation's hospitals, nursing homes and doctors' offices that make up the continuum of care.

As Medline salutes all its drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, it's also keenly aware of a major area of underrepresentation in the truck-driving industry: women.

How is it working to change that? By recruiting more women to the field and offering unique careers in which women drivers can receive advancement opportunities, get the safety training and support they need and enjoy a healthy balance between home and work.

Career support

MedTrans drivers start their day at one of Medline's 50 distribution centers located all over the country. After ensuring they have all the products loaded for that day's deliveries, they set out on a predetermined route, which ends back at the same distribution center. These drivers typically are the first interaction between Medline and its healthcare customers in a given geographic area.

Many MedTrans drivers pride themselves on that responsibility, including Dee Henderson of Arlington, Texas, who has been driving trucks for seven years, the last two with MedTrans.

"MedTrans drivers take care of the world," Henderson said. "We're just as important as the medical professionals, because without the goods we transport, I'm not sure how [providers] would manage."

Because customers depend on MedTrans so much, Medline takes great efforts to ensure its drivers have the support they need, with competitive benefits.

"MedTrans is the best driving experience I've had in my life where I can make a good career and even retire with benefits," said Tina Thompson of Montgomery, Ala., who has spent two of her nine years as a driver with MedTrans.

Tawyna Cancilla of Tracy, Calif., who has been driving with MedTrans for two years, agreed.

"I have a mentor relationship with my supervisor and trainer, and both have given me confidence and courage to grow and become a trainer where I get to now travel to other states helping other drivers," Cancilla said.

Home/work balance

Unlike many other drivers in the industry, MedTrans drivers typically go home at the end of every shift. That allows them to have a better work-life balance.

"My family loves that I'm no longer long-distance driving and found a place that I can grow," Henderson said.

Melissa Harriss of Basehor, Kansas, has been driving for 12 years and just celebrated her one-year anniversary with Medline.

"With MedTrans, you can make a good living while still being home with your family every night," Harriss said.

Thompson knows that experience as well.

"My husband and kids are so proud of me and so happy I found a great job that I deserve," she said.

Dedication to safety

As would be expected from a company dedicated to making healthcare run better, Medline has a strong commitment to safety, with regular trainings every week. It's serious stuff - with a fun component as well. Each year, the company holds a national contest in which all its drivers compete in a safety obstacle course with their trucks. Winners at each distribution facility go on to regionals, with winners advancing to a national "rodeo" at Medline's headquarters in the Chicago area.

"Medline is huge on safety. I like that," said Colleen Ahlquist of North Grafton, Mass.

Like many of her peers, she recommends MedTrans as a great career option for women.

"I would encourage women with a commercial driver's license to drive for Medline because of the safety-minded environment, competitive pay, respectful culture and opportunities to expand our role within the company," Ahlquist said.

It adds up to far more that just a typical driving job in a field where there tend to be far fewer women.

"My family highly respect my career driving big trucks," Cancilla said. "They think it's awesome."

Harriss said her family enjoys bragging about her career.

"My husband is incredibly supportive and loves to tell everyone his wife can outdrive them any day," she said.

To learn more about MedTrans and how to apply, visit MedTrans and local carriers - Medline.

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