'In the Land of Hell': Life as a Female Trucker in North Dakota | Op-Docs | The New York Times

A young woman, lured to North Dakota for a truck-driving job in the oil industry, shares her agonizing existence in an isolated boomtown.
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During the oil boom in North Dakota a lot of people went out there looking for work. Some of them hoping to make their fortune. This young woman didn't have the same experience as some of her peers.
Read the story here: nyti.ms/1dtkWbG
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'In the Land of Hell': Life as a Female Trucker in North Dakota | Op-Docs | The New York Times
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[@redeemedmat2211]

I’m a trucker too I’m a man I’ve done long haul for 8 years I’m since 21 doing flatbed all over the us and I’m telling u it’s not easy it takes a very strong minded person to do long haul so I give her props and respect I know men are saying no one makes a video about us but hey I’m not gonna cry about it I did my job for my family and I respect her for doing the same be safe out there and God bless

[@gorgeouss79]

Matias Rivas The only decent comment on here. Much respect for you, Sir.

[@redeemedmat2211]

I’m just speaking the truth and people need to understand that putting down a woman that’s trying to do a mans job does not make u manly but the opposite God bless

[@handyman3320]

Is the money at least worth it for you, I know family comes first, but the money is for the family

[@redeemedmat2211]

Well the money is not that good boss and wats the point of making money for the family if u can’t see them ? Might as well be single I worked over the road now stayed single and now that I’m home I’m local to be with my wife

[@gingercat555]

Matias Rivas Good to hear a kind heart here, nice to hear that at least some one has some thing positive to say about her ... no it may not be a 18 wheeler but she is working in a tough industry as I am sure you all know ... how many would be prepared to live in a trailer in winter in ND with no running water or toilet ... not many I bet ... also she is on her own and isolated except for her 4 legged friend. Good on her for keeping it together, I doubt very much that I would last there even for a short time.

[@sarasays...850]

This video gave me chills. It's an accurate portrayal of life in the Bakken. I'm a woman living in the Bakken as we speak. It's a rough life, no matter if you have a CDL or not. Companies lure you in with high hourly rates, but what they don't tell you is how extreme the cost of living is. Or generally how horrible living conditions can be in man camps. Trailer shanty towns are endless here. The highways and roads are poorly managed, with little to no snow/ice management. Highway 85 death tolls are skyrocketing. Drugs, gangs, and prostitution are unmanageable. I don't feel safe here. I won't even go to the store without my boyfriend. I've seen the bad side of the Bakken, and it's like nothing I've ever seen before. It's the modern day wild, Wild West.

[@ericlarousse1149]

Sounds rough and dangerous. Thus, the high pay to compensate.

[@jcolterh]

Thought about being a trucker. Talked to my friends dad and he talked me out of it. He said being a trucker is "a lonely man's job."

[@hectorhernandez945]

Yes it is...its draining emotionally

[@eliaslundstedt5607]

For you americans maybe, but not for me haha. Swedens trucking industry ftw

[@davidtrevino5211]

YES it is.. But if you play it right, depending on your PERSPECTIVE You can use it as Mental Strength Training... It did that for me without me even realizing it.. Till much later in life. I realized, most things dont affect me that much..

[@DevotedDisciple-x]

Dating today is a lonely mans job. It's not worth it.

[@luisthegoat3006]

Not if u truck local

[@jbaby007]

While I can empathize with what she said here, especially being a woman, I felt as though this interview really didn't do her justice.

[@obsidiansea]

It was really short, wasn't it? There has to be more story there.

[@ibelieveicansoar]

The point of this video wasn’t to do her justice, but to overtly criticize a mostly-male industry & subliminally criticize the concept of fossil fuels. They want us to drive “electric” cars, which ironically run on much-dirtier coal & use super-toxic batteries.

[@rickc2102]

@@ibelieveicansoar ok boomer

[@davidfirth9342]

I'm a attack chopper no one seems to care about my feelings

[@markliappes6741]

Watch the “bakken” documentary.

[@Tony-BantheDemocratsnotguns]

Don't know why everyone is bashing on this young woman...She has more courage and tenacity then most people (men included) to do what she needs to do in order to have a better life!... For what she is doing and where she is at, I WISH HER THE VERY BEST!

[@blevins923]

Trucking is a very hard life. You must like being by yourself. It's a 24/7 job. Where dispatchers become brain damaged. You'll be treated as something less than human. DOT is always on your back. You're expected to run like a machine regardless of the weather. You learn to live without plumbing. I could go on but I think I've made my point.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

you are correct. I did a DoD contract driver job(not a cdl or otr type trucker) & had to deal with corp morons & dispatch nitwits in nc. I had a simple route in central-north FL. They were bad. I got home every night but also did security work. I was told I'd be support, 2/3 days a week. I worked 5/6 days a week for almost 2mo. I gave my formal notice.

[@RickDeckardMemories]

I have been running OTR expediting for 6 months with a small company. I don't have a CDL, truck is 26,000lb with a small sleeper (M2 Buisness Class extended cab). About 95% of the time I stop at Loves, TA/PETRO, Pilot/Flying Jay. Diesel gets me my free showers almost every day. I mean like 6 days out of 7. How do you mean "no plumbing"? Restaurants where I eat have plumbing. Every night I have a private toilet in my shower room. I am always clean shaven, I brush my teeth twice a day, I don't stink AT ALL, and I do laundry regularly at aforementioned truck stops. I do not have a CDL, and I pull $1200-1300 per week. My boss is aggressively pushing me to get my CDL, and GUARANTEES $2500 per week for THE EXACT SAME THING I DO NOW. I just don't understand half of your comment at all. "No plumbing"? Really?

[@bobsmith7982]

+dmitriy40 Because a lot of truckers don't stop at truckstops everyday. A lot stop at grocery warehouses, small businesses, or jobsites where there isn't always plumbing available. Really.

[@RickDeckardMemories]

@@bobsmith7982 I know. It's a personal choice, more than anything. And I don't understand this. First of all, even at a conformable brand new Loves with super nice showers, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that not all truckers actually take showers. Only a few brush their teeth at restrooms. And yes, tons of drivers stop at parking lots and even on side of the road without any amenities only a couple of miles from truckstops. Do they not know how to back the rig into the spot in the truckstop, is that the reason? Probably. But again, it's a personal choice. When I was working in moving company, I went as a helper with an Uzbek guy on a few long distance jobs. I swear to you: he showered ONCE A WEEK! 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

[@jasonmcqueen659]

Last of the American outlaws

[@AandP4dummieslikeme]

If she has a CDL and at least a year of driving experience with a good driving record she could find a better job. MUCH better.

[@michaelhenderson7075]

Dont you mean 5 years?

[@housethemisfitgraves7331]

@@michaelhenderson7075 nope. Just 1 year. If she gets her endorsements, She'll make even more. My dad works for a company called Ruan and there's a kid he says about 23-25 making 100,000+ a year OTR. Trucking you gotta put the work in.

[@the_hillbillytransportatio3143]

Trucking jobs are dropping like flies almost a thousand companies from Jan 1 2019 till now I hate to say it but sometimes ur better off sticking with a job you don't like just so u have a job

[@nathanielhiggerson7679]

I make 80k plus a year working 40-44 hours a week mon to fri nights, home daily. Go LTL

[@LC-in5or]

If she's driving in the oil industry in the bakken she's already making 6 figures

[@rosegold973]

She’s so sweet and this completely breaks my heart ☹️🥺 I pray that she is doing better now and I hope that there is an update on her!

[@somebody200090210]

All of the struggles that she faces, do men in her situation not face the same challenges? And since men and women are equal, what's the meaning of the title, "Life as a Female Trucker ..." so yeah..whatever dude. She's nothing special.

[@Vale82164]

You are missing out the point. It's not about her job and its challenges, its about the struggles of her working in a male dominated town and job, how she cannot find other women to hang with, how she is afraid of getting raped since there are so many males without possibilities of finding girlfriends due to the lack of women, and basically how it is like to live as a single woman around males without families. I have yet to hear about a man living in an all single girls town and working in a female dominated industry, and being afraid of getting raped by all the women around him (so no, there are no men facing the challenges she is talking about)

[@somebody200090210]

Lera OT If there are no women over there to hang out with her, that's not anyone's fault. You know, if you are so fearful of something, you don't do it. I'm very very scared of snakes, so you know what I do, I stay away from places where they dominate in number. I don't blame the snakes for being more in number.

[@Vale82164]

You are again missing out the point. I never heard her "blaming" the men for being more in number, she is just telling her experience of what is like to live like that and why she took that road (she basically said it was either that or starvation). Why don't just watch it as what it is, a woman's experience in a place where she is a rarity? That is all what the video is about, you are reading too much into it.

[@aerialkate]

When did she say she was "special"? The film crew are interested because she's a woman doing (what is still for women) an unusual job. They want to know her experiences. Some will resonate with you, some won't. They're interested in the nuances. Calm down boys.

[@innHD]

A Smith female truckers are rare.

[@GregSilverado]

so this woman makes poor choices in life and blames her parents. for living in hell she has a nicer vehicle than me. unlike a lot of the man she has a place to live. it seems as though she's complaining about having a job and a place to live. Not only that but because of her crappy choices she can't find a boyfriend and she blames everything else but her own self. This is a ridiculous article

[@Northern_Farmer]

Thats not her vehical.... its her employers

[@victordasilva967]

She’s such a nice woman that needs to be loved ! Stay safe your very beautiful God bless you and help you succeed.

[@dudybug]

I’ve had family go to the oilfields and that is tough living. Can’t imagine what it’s like being a girl out there too.

[@randymac3256]

I was up there for around 2 years. Not the oil fields but building gas plants. $1000 a week on hotel. 5 bucks a gallon on gas. 6 dollars for a gallon of milk. Working in -52 degree weather. Well you get the picture. And my feet will never touch that state again..... PERIOD

[@user-ru9gf7ky2y]

Bye

[@sloughdog6735]

been living in ND most of my life, outta school worked rufneck & work over rigs year round, currently working as a lineman as a career. its cold, but it keeps the rif raft out, if ya know what i mean

[@masonw6205]

Gas isn't that expensive, it's around 2.00, at least in the eastern nd (I live and grew up here)

[@markthebldr6834]

Yes you were in a rural area that experienced an oil boom. The state is a good place

[@MrLuckytrucker21]

welcome to a mans life, you strong independent women. true equality.

[@MrLuckytrucker21]

so true.

[@captaininsano2777]

truth!!!

[@MrNolan710]

Thats true

[@shotbyjesse70]

+don edward sheesh. someones bitter.

[@ColAngus]

+don edward ^^ and the white knight arrives just above me.

[@gigtaxservices]

This was made in 2014. Hopefully she's on the come up by now.

[@PumpUptheJam81]

I met her a few years ago here in Oregon, she’s doing much better.

[@tylerkimdura6690]

@@PumpUptheJam81 awesome!!! Thanks for the update.

[@jackwild1111]

I like that she takes her dog everywhere with her... I did a year up there, ain't glamorous at all.

[@thekingsservant1104]

I know a guy who went out there looking for big money, found it and then found out that for even a small crap apartment the rent was 2500 a month. Yeah, he jumped right back on the buss and came home. People seem to forget that in a area where big money is going out, big money is required to live in that area.

[@rylijo2131]

In North Dakota?..I live in Fargo ND and $900 gets you a pretty roomy 2-3 bedroom apartment

[@hyzercreek]

+Nodak81 That's why they call it Fargo. The town near the oil field is Neargo.

[@jackwilliams5474]

+The King's Servant Not really. Me and my wife moved here, we got wonderful jobs, and bought a big, 4 bedroom house for $60K in Cash. That would be UNHEARD of in NJ, where I am from.

[@peterpiper7441]

It's North Dakota - it's supposed to be cheap to live there.

[@mehardin]

+Peter Piper Doesn't matter where it is. If there is an influx of people coming in there is going to be a shortage of housing, driving up the cost. It's simple economics.

[@TheStraightShooter500]

This article is titled "Life as a Female Trucker", where was the truck? A pickup truck driver does not count as a "trucker". Does this chick even have a CDL? If she did I bet she'd make a hell of a lot more money. This looks like another case of gender biased news to me............

[@mattcribbin1570]

My thoughts exactly.

[@JohnBrown-vn2qw]

this Is bs anyone want to make a documentary on a real life of hell go to china and follow coal miners. this chicks life is no where near hell gimmie a brake

[@TheStraightShooter500]

***** .......and I bet the pay is less too isn't it?

[@manny6584]

Car haulers make a good living with pickup trucks, and without the overhead. No IFTA, Aportioned tags, NY HUT so forth and so on.

[@graymikep64]

Lol

[@gelatinskeleton8745]

Strong woman. The world needs so much more of her.

[@duckfann13]

No. We need more feminine women. What guy wants a strong minded woman. That's what a guy is for. Gender roles need to go back to what they were so our country can get back to family values

[@gelatinskeleton8745]

@@duckfann13 you’re a castrated, fragile clown.

[@duckfann13]

@@gelatinskeleton8745 😂😂😂

[@jonc.5310]

A stupid woman with terrible deciding making abilities and zero foresight.

[@Joe-mk3ii]

I was always told how much money they were making in the shale boom. I called many companies and it turned out I would be making far less money at almost all the companies I checked out than I was making at home and I would have had to pay the high cost of living. I can see how she might have been misled.

[@mansanayanaranjado]

The shale boom was having drivers do double shifts. So they would use meth to stay awake. The log rules used to be if you stay local, you don't have to keep a log. My information is out of date, but that was the it was happening.

[@Joe-mk3ii]

@@mansanayanaranjado Double shifts in the oil field is normal. IDK about the meth.

[@peterpiper7441]

I wonder if it's occurred to her that , if she's in a town that's 99% men, she could probably meet a man and get married easily enough. Then there would be two incomes. Better standard of living. A lot less loneliness.

[@peterpiper7441]

***** Well it sounds like she is in the wrong place then.

[@RevolutionMuscle]

+scrotie mcbougarballs i have a hard time believing meth users can maintain employment. Dont these companies drug test as well? Here in Texas EVERY company that does oil field work and/or chemical plant/refinery work drug tests and does random.

[@peterpiper7441]

If all they want is sex, she could probably just sell sex instead and make a lot more money.

[@peterpiper7441]

Sinky She could probably charge them as much as she wants. The work is much easier too, though it probably doesn't look as good on a resume.

[@peterpiper7441]

Lakota828 Well I've got an old hollow tree for you if you'd like. And there is old Bessie, the goat, out back if you'd prefer that.

[@VaslavTchitcherine1]

Currently reading The Grapes of Wrath and I'm at the part where the Joads are forced to leave their home and heading towards California in their truck and it's the same thing awaiting them in California what this woman found in ND, except for them their's just dust on the road. The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939. This is history repeating itself.

[@williamrmcintosh4343]

+Vaslav Tchitcherine . One place where history definitely repeats itself is Russia, a paradise that needs autocratic rule, Anti-Semitism, and above all, that bottle of vodka.

[@styleyK]

One tuff lady, I hope you make it girl. Stay positive, stay safe, and you can achive anything.

[@banjopete]

Deeeep! Achieve.

[@infinity-xe1yl]

@Patrick Donnelly bruh stfu.

[@hannahgolike7302]

I am a female Drilling engineer currently in Watford City, ND drilling a well. I love what I do. I’m in the field everyday; surrounded by men who respect me and care about my safety. Please stop spreading lies.

[@ecclairmayo4153]

:)

[@TJackSurvival]

Men in those towns feel the same way too, but no one is going to make a video about them. Because they are men.

[@Anarcho-Pragmatist]

But they all have one thing in common - a lack of dignity :D

[@alexandramiller676]

TJack Survival boo hoo

[@joseb.1681]

alexandra miller Majority of all prison inmates were raised by single mothers. Fact. We tried giving women rights and it’s not working. Women are going to lose their rights. Boo hoo.

[@jennylee9278]

They are welcome to make videos. Why are you complaining, nobody is stopping anyone from expressing themselves. Should they go to the men and force them to make a video of their experiences?

[@jennylee9278]

Well lookie what I found about one min ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpurpGqdaN2aZs0

[@martthesling]

If this were a man and he had a sob story the New York Times wouldn't do a video on it.

[@martthesling]

***** You just proved my point.

[@martthesling]

***** ok.

[@Luther1543]

martthesling right, if that was a man, they wouldnt have made a video about his worrys like they do about hers but mock the man who was left alone with his problems and committed suicide.

[@AlexA-to3ob]

+Robertson Thirdly she isnt a trucker she is driving a pick up.

[@deedonnerramone4757]

+martthesling Unless you were an oppressed minority, living a gay lifestyle, in transition to become or undocumented citizen. Wake up people, the New York Times is for those with half a million in the bank, a house in the Hamptons and have the luxury of crying for those without. The rest of us, soldier on.

[@intothevoid10]

She sounds like a badass, I’ll be your friend girl ❤️

[@QasimAli-vx2it]

Hello

[@QasimAli-vx2it]

@nabokov orbust hello

[@QasimAli-vx2it]

@ hi how are you

[@QasimAli-vx2it]

@@onceinanalbatross hi how are you

[@stevenbermingham9783]

Friend girl or girlfriend?

[@jonathannagel7427]

Did I, or did the NYT, miss a critical part of her story: Why did she go to ND for lesser wages, benefits, and a worse lifestyle than she had doing the same job in CA?

[@jameshendley7971]

Yeah that’s an important part of her story. It’s weird they didn’t include that...

[@bradh6185]

The film failed to point to the reason that things aren't working out as planned. Is it lack of work? Is it that the compensation isn't adequate? Why doesn't she go back south? Why hasn't she talked to her parents in so long? Are they not able to buy her fuel to get back? Has she refused to go back? I don't know the purpose of this film.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

a; its like the coen brothers film; Fargo. They did not show ND summer or spring. B: they want to push the narrative of how "awful" oil drilling & fracking are. C; they want a sympathetic woman "victim" to berate men & rail against corp America.

[@ObservationalRhetoric]

DL Lambert Sounds cynical, but you could just be onto something

[@RickDeckardMemories]

The whole thing is laughable! Does she have a CDL? Why not get it? Companies fight for CDL drivers! I personally know CDL drivers who pull 5K per week in their second year after getting a CDL! I have been driving a 26,000lb expedited truck OTR (no CDL required) for 6 months, and I make $1200-1300 per week. My friends with CDLs tell me not to say these numbers anymore, because they are funny to them))) My employer has already had 3 conversations with me, pushing me to get a CDL. He shows me payrolls for his CDL drivers and GUARANTEES $2500 per week to me for doing the exact same thing I am doing right now, after I get my CDL. I repeat: I have only been in trucking for 6 months, and I already have a $2500 per week offer after I get a CDL. Something is DEFINITELY not right with her story! 🤪

[@mr.joseph7806]

At that time in 2012 it was either go to Texas, Colorado or get paid alot more in North Dakota but there was nowhere to live except in camps and you had to deal with the cold weather. Drivers in Colorado were making $16 an hour now it's an average of $24 an hour. Now in 2018 there is plenty of jobs in Northern Colorado but it's too expensive to find a place to live. And it's hard for women to find work with no cdl experience. Another problem is there are women out there looking for the big sexual harassment payout so companys are reluctant to hire women now.

[@brucereynolds9708]

All of you shut up. She is doing what she has to in order to makes ends meet. Life is hard for many in this county and it is not getting better. Soon all of us will be the working poor. Wake up.

[@bethanywilhelm4451]

Where's an update on her? I really like her. I hope 4 years later she's happy in life. And has some girlfriends to gossip and get nails done with. 😊

[@andrewstanley4831]

Bethany Blansett Is like to see an update with her too

[@FROZYO]

Wesley Archer no it’s not

[@christophershattuck9513]

I'm curious myself. I'd love to meet her. She seems like a good woman!

[@sweshrung]

She passed away

[@fluffyisfluff9350]

@@sweshrung uh i don't think so. her dog passed away though ;-;

[@sjwtard3709]

Welcome to the world of equality. Men go through this type of hardship all the time.

[@azn3000]

This video had nothing to do with gender equality? Why is it that so many of the top comments are about a topic that's not even remotely related to the video?

[@freetoad5]

@@azn3000 Because there's men in that same town experiencing that same thing but not one will get a feature like she will because "oooh female such EmPOWerMEnt LETs fILm iT"

[@bootscooty]

Men and women will never be equal ever

[@danodamano2581]

What you're made of before you go through a challenging experiance makes for what you are after. I hope she will be a tough, independent, confident and capable person.

[@HarleyDrone]

Never seen anyone say they don't like where they are at or what they are doing with so many words. Not even the slightest tiny bit of information is given in this video... just an unhappy person unhappy with her location and choice of job, no supporting info, nothing, nada, zelch...

[@Skidboo]

Thank you for all your encouragement and support. Much needed at this time. To friends and strangers, thanks and God Bless

[@kristina6715]

How are you doing now?

[@rickysmyth]

The only perk of being a trucker that isn't in other jobs is that you can actually get enough nectar points to buy something good as your company buys a lot of diesel.

[@johnmiller7453]

I like her dog. I have two. Like the little guys.

[@ecclairmayo4153]

Super cute! ;)

[@MrTheHillfolk]

I'd like a doggo, but it wouldn't be fair. I'm always running around doing something and I wouldn't be able to take it to work either. Not fair to doggo to leave em home all the time , I'll haveta wait till I retire

[@fjb4932]

First thing i saw. Her holding her baby. While she's driving. In Winter ...

[@wildwill1970]

Life sucks but TBO she seems like she's handling it pretty well. I lived in an 8x10 tin box out in the middle of no where for a number of years. Super hot summers and frigid winters. Bust ass all day for $50/day. Laundry mat 10 miles down the road and showers so filled with iron you have to rinse off with bottled water. I work extra side jobs on the weekends to get ahead. Things are better now but it took a long time. People see me now and probably thing, "he's lucky", and maybe I am, it hasn't always felt that way though... Hang in there people, don't let the 8ball roll over ya.

[@soukainaouizzane1423]

May I asked what helped you to get better? I’m struggling right now and I don’t what to do to make my life better. Thank you

[@erso3302]

I've been a trucker for 12 years. An actual truck driver. Women are generally treated like sisters. Even if you don't know them, you look out for them. Is men, on the other hand, get mugged, beaten, and constantly harrassed by prostitutes. This is probably the most disingenuous portrayal of trucking I've ever seen.

[@kaassaus4230]

beaten by prostitutes? lol how can you let that happen.

[@earl_gay]

mate everyone gets harassed by prostitutes, it's their job 😂😂

[@shena1256]

This is her truth not yours. Her experiences may be completely different from yours. Just because she lives a different life than yours doesn't make hers a lie just like yours isn't.

[@commonsense3673]

@Cathy B , and the rest of the story ? For penthouse lol ?

[@itsolivier]

Then stop going to prositutes and go home to your god dam wife

[@jonc.5310]

Should have stayed in California I guess. She really thought driving for an oil company in rural ND wouldn't be difficult? 😂

[@tahag2107]

Men here commenting need a heart. As a hard working bloke myself this woman’s struggles shouldn’t be looked down upon because of other people’s feminist BS. She’s a hard working woman putting in an honest days struggle, day in day out. Hats off to you sister

[@SamSung-mw6qt]

A woman who is not getting attention and dates, and has to work in the same conditions as men. Get used to it, ladies. You've become too much of a liability for men, and too much drama, and give nothing in return. More and more women will need to work the unglamorous jobs that men have had to. And we're supposed to shed tears?!

[@kikiwoodworth9094]

Sam Sung q

[@darrendavenport3334]

👍👍👍

[@MightyAfricans]

Well said

[@blackmask9072]

Sam Sung not true some of us still need you ladies

[@wealthyblackman2655]

Sam Sung JOIN MGTOW TODAY! ! JOIN THE REVOLUTION!

[@bmwkid1993]

I'm not saying that she doesn't have it tough, I'm not saying that I don't think she works hard. It's apparent that it's a struggle, and that she's in a trap right now. But driving a pickup pulling a gooseneck isn't exactly like driving a truck. First off, most trucks (not the volvos or freightliners or anything with automatics) have a shitload of gears, usually 10, 13 or 18 (unless you're getting into double-stickers, which you don't see much). The gears are easy with practice. Then you've got tons of maintenance on lights, fluids, filters, paperwork, emissions standards, turbo, axles, tires, air brakes and service brakes.... being a trucker and driving a truck are very different animals. I'm just saying that maybe the New York Times doesn't have a good sense of what people out in the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas.... What we do to make our living compared to what they do is very different. I've been on a custom harvest crew for the last 4 years, cutting crops from Texas to Oklahoma to Kansas (home state), Colorado, and Montana. 16+ hour days, including truck driving, tractor operation, combine operation, mechanic work, equipment loading and unloading, tons of travel and not very much sleep. I'm just saying it happens everywhere out here, and driving a pickup for several hours a day wouldn't be bad, to me.

[@rickyrichreacts9667]

HAHAHA!!!! I Remember this!!!! Her and the crew stopped in a store I used to work at called RACERS in Williston. Can’t believe that was 5 years ago... back in Cali now though

[@krissmiley7519]

Williston!! I was in dickinson, I heard it was crazy in willi, people getting robbed left and right

[@try2bcool]

Welcome to life outside the bubble.

[@berislavostupanj4518]

Great comment...

[@Jgeebeesg]

LaLiLuLeLo lmfao😂😂

[@lolaz.3485]

LaLiLuLeLo Hahahahhaa.

[@notafeddeffinetlynotafed1603]

@ this is the default for men, and when women have to be here all the sudden its worthy of a documentary

[@Jonasb0994dt]

@@notafeddeffinetlynotafed1603 Men being there all over makes it much harder for women than for men. So, yeah, it's worthy!

[@james5460]

You won't have any problem getting a place to live in Williston now! The boom is over, just regular jobs for regular folks now. It's not like it's any surprise that North Dakota gets cold in the winter. Some jobs and locations are just tough and better suited for tough people, figure out if that's you before you go.

[@joshuathomas1939]

"If anything were to happen to me, my parents wouldn't even know... I haven't spoken to my mom in over 3 years." - summarizes the whole dialogue of the character talking. SMH.

[@Random-rt5ec]

Welcome to the life of a man

[@lucastheproducer995]

Susan Vue true

[@manueladasilva6748]

God bless you

[@chrisl6989]

Yup

[@hzelg5684]

Well I think the God given job for women is the best jobs for ladies , and that not digging ditches and trying to do man's work ... it's sad what modernity has done to our daughters and mothers with them being willing test subjects.

[@paladino444]

There is a reason you don't see too many women doing these jobs....i'll let you figure it out.

[@RacingPepe]

I would love to have her job.. I don't want any kind of social life and I don't have any family members. It's literally just me. I never bothered with people, even now that I work for myself. Being alone feels like the only time I can truly express myself. Scream when needed, or speak calmly, talk to the traffic around me.. I don't even turn on the radio. That's how much I love silence and isolation. Being a gamer I also have no sleep schedule whatsoever. I really hope I can find the time out of my current job to get the required licenses and get driving. I want to live on the road.

[@mnlp_]

That moment when thousands of people roast your home state

[@552mustang]

Mason N. Those thousands of people dont exist. Look at the comments. Its basically the woefully liberal failing New York Times vs everyone else

[@disturbeddemons1]

SC EM *woosh*

[@MrsPeebles62]

LOL

[@timanderson9466]

Respect to her. She's as tough as nails and I really hope the best for her.

[@sCWasP]

"The suits don't know what it's like"....Oh they know

[@ThatWTFGuy]

This is good journalism! If the times still had stories like this I would subscribe again!

[@thevoid1505]

I am a female truck driver (I drive a Peterbilt truck with a flatbed trailer.) She could go get a better job if she wanted it. Maybe the people she works for don't drug test... From what I can tell I get paid more, I work for a great company, I get health benefits, paid vacation and more, my company DID fly me out for paid orientation and training, and I know they are not the only company who does that. The people I work for are pleasant to be around and there are many other women driving for them as well. I can't feel the sympathy because I know it's easy to get a good job if you can pass a drug test and you aren't a wimpy crybaby... Maybe she's got some sort of unpleasant record or some reason she can't get a better job. I don't feel sorry for her. There is something they aren't telling us here. She has some personal problems that have nothing to do with her job.

[@prdawg215]

The Void As usual with today’s media, and their selective journalism. There is also a story behind every story, and we never hear the real, true whole story.

[@johnnykage1757]

i agree

[@johnboylong40]

Yup, the full story was not revealed.

[@VivKittie32]

The Void I too suspect there’s more going on than what we were shown. And we’re not all tough as nails types.. what can I say. She looks like she needs friends, hugs, love.

[@fishinginindiana1904]

The Void what company you work for

[@abrarahmed7291]

Welcome to a man's life you strong independent feminists. True equality.

[@chrisfi3d]

Rippin off other top comments isn't cool.

[@carlosward2969]

what is the most part. and I was just wondering

[@harrykuheim6107]

+Richard Lumley Feminists are all the same....Fakes who can't handle the Truth...you wanted to Work like a Man does right?

[@johnmatthesjr3]

she's hardly classified as a feminist?? she became a truck driver because nothing else was available. ..not to prove a woman can do a man's job. She seemed pretty straight forward and honest, I like her! You go girl!

[@jamesputmantheredneckgamer370]

+johnmatthesjr3 she hasn't become a truck driver. A hotshoter, yes. A trucker, no. upgrade that license sweetcheeks and make some real buck then leave.

[@felixniederhauser7799]

For things to change,you have to change. Stop blaming others for the choices you make.

[@MaleSoCal]

This a solid good advise. Hope she takes it.

[@rainriderpnw6259]

This message is for Jonnie. I hope she reads it. At one time I moved far away to another state and fell into serious trouble. I wound up homeless and deep in debt. I came to faith in Christ And quickly dug my teeth into His Word. For 14 years He led me on a path. I listened to His Word and I praised him for His Promises. I am free of all that now and learned very much. I urge you to give your life to God through Christ and read a good study Bible. Tune your radio to Christian radio. Do what ever you have to feast upon his Word and pray and pray and pray. God loves you Jonnie and wants to hear you cry out to him. I sought the LORD and He answered me. He delivered me from all me fears. Ps. 34:4 🙏

[@slacadjuster237]

K, at the start of the vid, the chick says that she came there to make money, isn't making any, doesn't know how to get out.....Here's a thought, get out the same way ya got there.

[@SinkyYT]

+Jay Mitchell Or lay back, spread your legs and make millions from the 99% male population!

[@slacadjuster237]

LOL, touche

[@kbholla]

+Slac adjuster There are two sides to most roads, indeed.

[@slacadjuster237]

Yeppers

[@melgibsonfan9082]

I'd like to know where her money is going if she works constantly and lives in a trailer paid for by the company? She should either save up and move or take her pay cheque and get out.

[@johnleebass]

I have to hand it to her - ventured out, trying it, giving it a chance, surviving, brave. Can only imagine how lonely she is : (

[@Highland_Moo]

This is one hardy woman. I wish I’d watched this back when it was released - I’d have flown over there in a heartbeat to keep her company. I’m a female, I drive tractors etc. I’m 43 and have been married 20 years and my kids have grown up and left home. I’m bored outta my head and am planning to go to the USA to look for a job.

[@blaineedwards8078]

But it's a dually pickup. It's not an 18 wheeler. Is someone who drives a Honda Ridgeline and delivers donuts for an hour a day considered a professional truck driver?

[@Goosegobler]

Funny that when its a woman its a big deal. Men have been dealing with this for god knows how long, now you finally get a (slight) view as to what a man has to go through and suddenly you come to realize that its not good and that no woman should ever experience it. Thats the face of equality dear. You dont like it? Cry me a river.

[@PeepingUkulele]

kirk sOlo ya and get paid less to do it. How’s that for equality. Wake up

[@chrisulmer694]

kirk solo, as a man I agree with what you're saying. However, it's time for men and women to realize that we are both in the same boat.

[@eatenbytheweasel8366]

Don't sweat it Babe. Boomtowns been the same forever. Hamburger and bowl of Chili? "That'll be $19.95" They'll see to it you don't leave town with a dime more than ya showed with. Want out? Just load the car and haul ass..

[@spencer1803]

long story short: Lady used to live in California but moved to North Dakota for less pay and now eats dinner in gas stations and lives in trailer without running water. Why she doesn't move back to California? We will never know...

[@williamrmcintosh4343]

+Doctor Spence Well-said.

[@chrisulmer694]

Have you lived in California?? The cost of living there is through the roof. It therefore should be very easy for anyone to understand

[@barbredgreen3403]

Doctor Spence Did you not listen??? She actually explained it. The magical word is RECESSION. Yes, California was hit by RECESSION too! Imagine!

[@chrisulmer694]

Barb Redgreen.....I think Doctor Spence just wants a reason to hate women. That frog face thing (I forget the name for it) that he uses for his username icon is a symbol for that demographic of people. I would bet he's an incel. I used to be an incel myself until I realized that hanging onto so much anger and hatred towards women was not serving me well at all. I'm still single but I've come to peace with it and I don't hate women anymore. *The bottom line is that we are ALL in the same boat, male and female alike.*

[@jonsieripley3740]

Think of it this way, if she was an illegal, she’d be living it up.

[@smileyhappyradio]

Small things can keep you going, I wish my job could be making documentaries. Its so interesting to see real life, and share the truth with the world.

[@JesseLockeHere2Do]

This explains a lot about the pay differences between men and women. We've been saying this for a long time, the average man is willing to do jobs that the average woman won't do. That can lead to a disparity in income. If this woman, or any other woman, is willing to do the exact same job as a man and do it as well she will earn, or should earn, the same money as the man. However, this is evidence to the fact that that is not usually the case.

[@justinr1641]

She’s driving a hot shot truck. If ND is the same as down in TX then hot shot driver get paid a percentage of what the load is. It doesn’t matter if you have male or female parts. You get paid that percent for a timely deliver with no damage.

[@NelliSmith]

Wish I found this video 4 years ago instead of today. I would literally drive up there from CO and go get a freaking pedicure with that woman. Kudos to her for being brave.

[@butteredtank9471]

Millions of men drive trucks tirelessly: Silence One woman drives trucks: Everyone wants to know how it’s like

[@melissakennedy1506]

Nah, she doesn’t even have a CDL. There are plenty of women, like myself, driving the big rig, running across the country and making plenty of money. What I love about my job is not that I get special treatment, it’s that I get the same treatment. I get paid the same, so the same work, held to the same standard, and no one cares that I’m a woman, just if the load is getting there on time.

[@modernmodest5659]

So?

[@mt-nv4jd]

OTR driver for 27 years. I had the opportunity to drive through there twice about the time this was posted. Both times was in the summer daytime. I remember only one little grocery store in New Town, ND, and the pickup trucks were parked 3-4 deep trying to get in to buy food. Everything was crowded, traffic was horrible, rows of tiny little rent houses for goodness knows how much rent. Big machinery and oil field trucks everywhere. I had thought I might go there to work the oilfields but after seeing what a cluster **** it was, I passed. Hope this gal got out.

[@bhk110]

At least she has her cute little dog to keep her company.

[@TrevorBrass]

It takes a special kind of person to be willing to go to North Dakota's oil fields. Hope things work out for the better for her.

[@pennise]

She drives a pick-up pulling a trailer. She is not a trucker; she's a parts chaser.

[@georgecastro6596]

hmm you must be one those truckers .... and yes i have a CDL myself . respect all truckers dude

[@joshc7091]

Hotshot it’s all the same. Driving for money is some boring long shifts that makes one nuts. i can’t tell you how many drivers begin to think that the satellite is controlling their thoughts. I do all i can to help those guys. It’s not right and on top of that most die young like my best friend at 45 when one to many monster energy drinks killed, that and fast food = fast dead

[@Greg-yu4ij]

So, Average trucker there makes $82k. Minus $20k for taxes is about about $5k/Month. $750 for a studio, $500 Obamacare Gold Plan, $500 food, $750 for incidentals. That leaves $2,500 to put in the bank or $3,250 with the free rent you are getting. Other than paying almost $2,000 a month in taxes, what's the problem?

[@bosskey7212]

This is the most pointless documentary I've ever seen. I still have yet to figure out exactly what the point or purpose of this is. Film an "Independent" female who moves far away from home to a cold, desolate, sparsely populated US State known more for reasons as to why "not" to live there as opposed to why you should, so she can live the "American Dream" and make a living hauling for greedy oil company monopolies. But the kick is...wait for it...She's having a rough time making it in an industry that is historically dominated by men and document her whining about it? I don't get it, but maybe that's just me... Terrible Journalism choice imo

[@IllinoisTrafficAttorney]

+Boss Key I agree. The film presented little information aside from the anectdotal experiences she had. I mean, sheesh, would it kill them to look up some statistics to at least support her claim. Meth abuse, gender ratios, incomes, income disparity, rental rates, numbers of people coming vs. housing availability, building codes regarding hygiene, survey evidence from men regarding desires of a relationship, expenses of living there, how much work is actually available vs. what they advertise. I mean...come on...this is basic journalism. I'm not saying she is lying or anything of the sort. I am saying a journalist making this crappy film not bothering to do any research into any of these topics is just pitiful and makes for a weak documentary with the passing significance of a ranty blog post.

[@tarico4436]

+Boss Key I just watched it again, and again I just can't believe how pointless this whole video is. The New York Times, eh? I mean I wanna cheer this woman on. She's not doing the whole hoe/pro thing, so I want to root for her. But she seems so pathetic and dreary and forlorn and hopeless; beggin the viewer to feel sorry for her. She's doing what men have been doing for eons: leaving the nest, going off to seek her fortune, working long hours for poo pay. I wanna tell her: "If it's such an awful thing to take care of yourself, lady, then just find somebody who'll take care of you and be done with it." I wanna be in her corner, but when hearing what she has to say about the men near her in North Dakota--how they just want to do what it takes to reproduce--then I start to wonder about her even moreso. Like heterosexuality is a problem? It's wrong for men to be heterosexual? Or what? What is she really saying? Today's marriage laws favor her tremendously in a divorce; the father of her children doesn't have a prayer, is lucky if he ever sees his kids again, and will probably pay through the nose for eighteen years for what should be 1) seeing and helping to raise his kids, plus 2) future access to her va jay jay. So men saying no to marriage in today's world is sane. It's reasonable. Change the divorce and child custody laws first, then she might be able to find a man.

[@aidankirby8412]

+Boss Key - It shows the hollow emptiness that is the so called American dream and how F*cked up it all is... She is working her butt off and I feel for her.  Its a tough job.  In the 1950s, one family could live on 1 income, afford a home, have a job for life, send kids to private or Catholic Schools and retire in 30 years. That's gone.  Thanks J EWs!

[@stefanrichardson4925]

+Boss Key maybe its just me i hadnt finished my cdl yet... but last i checked schneider is hiring in florida.... why does she feel she is stuck in ND... when there are trucks that go out from all over... is she stuck in a contract or something...?? if you dont liek it why not leave like you left Cali? That my question

[@aidankirby8412]

Not really, if she has a pre existing condition, its possible nothing is available, ot there is a window to become eligible and she missed it. Who knows.

[@francisphillips53]

I'm so sorry for her. I hope she finds a friend to do things with.. I'm glad she has a dog, a lot of company there. I hope things get better for her.

[@myleswhitney8830]

Hey lady there’s this thing you can do in our country. It’s called moving.

[@Semiam1]

This is equality. No one cuts you a break out in the oil patch.

[@pattymayocakes]

...she's not asking for special treatment, she's asking to go for a run without being murdered

[@ilovewinter4299]

Well you can't make huge money in ND not because they don't pay you well, but because the cost of living has skyrocketed, she is not drving a semi, which is where good money is made from there. Going to ND without being a Rig Worker, or you go without a CDL A with Tanker, and Hazmat you might as well just stay home, the good money requires experience, and training. Just like everywhere else you either have the training and exp or you don't, and you whine about not having any money. training is hard, and getting exp is too, but its worth it to push for it.

[@xr50rider88]

Hot Shots can make a ton of money driving pick up trucks in ND. Know your facts

[@ilovewinter4299]

Sorry but I doubt she is even qualified to do that let alone having said Job, Hot shots still require a licence, you cant just go in and start doing that job.

[@ilovewinter4299]

The guys at the Mc Ds are making 14 an hour but cost of living there is really really high because of the boom the pay is not really the issue.most guys I know are saving up, and when done they plan to move back to their home state.

[@GhostWolfPrimal]

Agreed, you can make money anywhere you just need the proper training and experience. Or you need good relations with the job givers.

[@sydneypaillet4055]

xr50rider88 my friend use to hotshot and headed good money houston to Lafayette, La

[@jdkgcp]

You've heard about the two tweakers that kidnapped and killed a teacher. But did you ever hear the tale about the guy hitchhiking across America who was writing a book on the kindness of Americans....who was then shot by a Bakken field oil worker? You're welcome.

[@robvedder]

Turns out the hitchhiker shot himself in the arm. www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/ray-dolin-guilty_n_2044104.html

[@pdsrunner]

He shot himself..as a "journalist" you should probably get your facts straight!

[@jdkgcp]

I was aware of the follow up....and the facts. I reported on this story irl as it was unfolding during the time when it actually took place. I was pointing out another crazy ass (and stupid) story tied into the oil fields. Simple as that. 

[@cavalrytm]

Tyler Lundstrom Because no response = truth hurts.

[@jdkgcp]

Way to pay attention to detail there moron. Apparently reading hurts more.

[@dicebagdaryl]

Funny how women say that they want equality, and when they finally get it, all they can do is complain and throw pity parties. Tell me this woman wouldn't be happier staying at home with a couple toddlers in a nice suburban neighborhood somewhere a little warmer. Tell me how good "empowerment" feels, lady.

[@jimdavids6708]

Beautiful women with a big heart, I hope you found happiness and the partner you deserve.

[@FTWBiker69]

Truck Driver??? She's not a truck driver. She's a Hot Shot driver, driving a one ton dually. That's why your not making drivers wages. Learn to drive a rig, get your Class A with endorsements then you can ask for the wages a driver makes. And nobody lured her there she went on her own accord.

[@guayabito6946]

+Festus Allcock Yeah she's hot.

[@davidli1331]

I'm a hot shot driver, and I make $80k

[@darring.9161]

+Festus Allcock. Really? She's pretty average, but that's beside the point. She should've explored what she was going into before she got there. North Dakota is hardly back in the Stone Age and it is sparsely populated...but it isn't the worst place you could end up at. If this film was looking to get sympathy from me...it didn't work.

[@ThatGirlJD]

I'm sure there are other companies she could have sought employment with before she choose to do this OpEd piece, possibly relocating to another state or area not so saturated. If she made more in California, go back. Hopefully she learns to negotiate a better contract from this experience, she was desperate and took what sounded like a good deal with no medical benefits.

[@jimmybuffet4970]

Also, just remember that Hot Shot drivers pick up the loads that are too "small" for the "real truckers."

[@chriscaley3786]

What crap. I came here to work the Bakken and I love it. Sure, N.D. is a third world country, but we're just here to get the oil, make a f%^&load of money, and and go retire somewhere great. I'm not staying for the last drop either; I don't have to. I'm making unbelievable money and great friends for life; not to mention charterer building that translates to success in any field.. I'll tell you this about the oilfields here though... whiners need not apply.

[@markrobertson6664]

She’s wrong about “the suits don’t know what it’s like...” I’ve lived in Houston my whole life and I know some of those suits...and every single one of them started out working a rig. And they got the vocabulary to prove it, trust me.

[@jjm4526]

Some seriously insecure whining men in the comments section. Boohoo, the lady never complained about being a woman in that industry. She was observing how hard the life is. I took it to be representative of all workers out those ways

[@thomasjoseph9363]

I have some female friends that "worked" out there and they made a crapload of money. Some were Strippers, some were Escorts, some were simply Prostitutes. None of them had ever done that work before but found the money too good to pass up. Some of them cleared a couple of grand a day. They worked whenever they wanted and how much they wanted. One of them came back a year or so ago and had a $600k home built she paid for in cash. She was pulling nearly $10k a week for almost 3 years out there. She is 28 and semi-retired.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Thomas Joseph The feminists don't want anyone to know about the benefits of prostitution.

[@blthetube1]

Now interchange this job with thousands of other jobs that men do routinely and now because woman have to do it, it's something to be concerned about.....

[@northwestnw8515]

+Zooni2 In general,men don't have to worry about getting raped and beaten by their co-workers and/or acquaintances. A non-dangerous job (for a man) can be very dangerous for a woman, depending on the environment she is placed in. It's not about the job. It's about the things that men do to women. I feel unbiased saying this as I am a man. A little respect for women would go a long way in this country.

[@blthetube1]

+NorthWest NW I agree there are things that a woman has to consider but men can be victims; and mostly are, too. As for respect, Our entire society now evolves around the respect and conscientiousness of women. If it was any more catering to respecting women, Men would be given a mandatory to do list for women each day whether we had a woman in our lives or not. In effect we are. You can't look at or listen to a single media source without being reminded of the 'Perils' of women and what "Men and society" need to do to fix them. I am not trying to be dramatic but I am so tired of the one sided coin. Men don`t complain because reality is the same reality our fathers had to go through. Suffering is a flat out part of life whether we like it or not, so is sacrifice, perseverance and stoicism; All qualities women judge and condemn a man based on the presence or lack of these qualities. Women could not be more respected in Western culture yet they complain louder than anyone else on earth. It is time for women to show a little gratitude and respect for men

[@schlooonginator1227]

+NorthWest NW Actually, men are much more likely to be a victim of violence than women. Statistically speaking.

[@kbholla]

+blthetube1 Nahh, I love working 13 hours shifts with no break, no food, 3 hours of sleep per night, and arsenic laden Virginia tap water. She's right; men have it easy.

[@kbholla]

+schlooonginator It's not even close. Plus there's this little thing called 'War' that has been dominated with the torture and death of men, while their wives complain about having to make shell casings in a factory. Women have a lot of suffering to endure if they want to catch up to men and truly level the playing field. Nothing against most women, just saying. Facts stand tall.

[@kurtfrancis4621]

There are 7 BILLION hard-luck cases on the planet. While tough, there are a WHOLE LOT TOUGHER experiences going on out there in the world.

[@hazelwoodgarage]

Cant be doing too bad getting into that 50 thousand dollar pickup truck

[@jlaborer3945]

If it was your daughter i want to see who would make neg comments that would upset u. Regardless of what kind of truck she has, she is still making money and not looking for a hand out. She also aint poping out kids like alot of people do knowimg they cant handle having kids.

[@bluesclues132]

random- what is solidworks, and why should I learn about it?

[@gregblack8550]

I just started watching you tube and I am appalled at how mean people are to each other . I hope this is not an indication of how folks really think towards each other.

[@farmrrick]

Buy a gun , they are perfectly legal in North Dakota , (rifles in the back window of your pickup) if it still sucks quit , the custom harvesters always need help . UPS out there needs help also.

[@britishboxer6875]

all she had to do is accuse a rich man of sexual harrasement, just ask any cop who their next target is

[@geezerme5628]

I left the USA 20 years ago country reminds me of a rich banana republic

[@cartman2586]

where are you now?

[@josephdykes1820]

@@cartman2586 a place with no internet connection, apparently

[@theDudeOfDudes]

Honestly, it really is anymore.

[@MeatCatCheesyBlaster]

A third world country in a Gucci belt

[@tj-kv6vr]

and were glad you did.

[@zoticus1]

Why is this woman whining about working a dead end job when a man in the same exact position could not do the same? Oh that's right, equal rights!

[@squinkque]

One thing I'll say is she misses the benefits and life as a trucker she had in California. I understand that but there's good reason why she can't get work in California - the Democrat government there has over decades chipped away at the growth of a business climate to the point where the only people moving there are illegal immigrants. Also California has much, much more oil underground than even North Dakota but again the elites of California won't do anything about tapping that extensive resource. They'd rather see their working classes on welfare.

[@MrRaffaro]

For every female living the life of a trucker you got thousands of men living the dream too!

[@jonathanmosher72]

Violent crime has tripled since the oil boom. Aggravated assault is 6 times higher than pre-oil boom levels!

[@bigp20019]

She driving a pick up truck and you call her a truck driver I dont think so that's a slap in the face to all the hard working real women truckers out there

[@Chickenhunter22]

Still requires a CDL. Hot-Shot driver most likely.

[@BEJ130]

@@Chickenhunter22 yeah but you won't see a hotshot driving hazmat wastwater or oil and that's where the real money out there is at. My father has hauled oil out by Williston for 6 years now and has pulled about $140k/year working about 50 hour weeks.

[@nytimes]

*Op-Doc: ‘Running on Fumes in North Dakota’* Since around 2006, North Dakota’s oil boom has been a beacon for recession-ravaged Americans. The oil towns in the western part of the state are a land of possibility and opportunity, a “Kuwait on the prairie,” where the American Dream is alive and well in the rural heartland. Or at least that’s the sales pitch that has lured thousands of job seekers. But Jonnie Cassens, a 38-year-old truck driver who is the subject of this Op-Doc video, offers a different perspective. Unable to find decent work on the West Coast, she moved to North Dakota carrying unpaid hospital bills, student loans and a commercial driver’s license. It was easy for her to get a job in the oil industry, as a contract “hotshot” truck driver - basically a round-the-clock special-delivery driver. When a rig or a pump jack breaks down, a hotshot is called to rush a new part out to a site, often in very remote areas. Jonnie calls it “U.P.S. on steroids.” The work is steady, but her life has been agonizing. The pay can be lower than expected (her employer says she earned $34,000 last year) and the cost of living remarkably high (a tight housing market has, in some cases, inflated rents to Manhattan levels). Her loneliness is magnified by a desolate landscape that’s dominated by men. Jonnie’s story calls into question whether hard work and courage can eventually bring a decent living in contemporary America - a longstanding promise this nation makes to its citizens. As it happens, we can’t all be winners. Not even in a boomtown.

[@sharkheadism]

Thurman Ulrich It did that pretty clearly

[@sharkheadism]

Thurman Ulrich and you base that on... ?

[@sharkheadism]

Thurman Ulrich Don't be pedantic with me

[@davidnesbitt8073]

***** The oil industry scamming the workers. What scumbags. Come home Jonnie.

[@flyboyguru6929]

Anthony Curcio , to be honest, I think the story is all BS. A lot of people I know moved there to make serious money. She's an idiot for accepting that job when there are so plentiful jobs there paying more than that. Not that $35k is bad income by any means (many in the US barely make half that at $7.50 - $9.00 a hour), but I guess you're paid what your worth. To be honest, if she is complaining about a job that is predominantly done by man, she just shouldn't do the job and quit. She's looking for something that's not in the job description. Having few females doing this kind of work actually works out in her favor though as in all likelihood, she's treated like a princess compared to men in the same area, as the male to female ratio is quite in her favor (lots of good, single men for her to cherry pick from). There are plenty of men that would probably bendover backwards just to have some company with her. It's probably quite easy for her to make friends and get help there if she needed it.

[@soylentgreenish2391]

Poor baby , equality in the workplace sucks doesn’t it ?

[@stevefowler2112]

This is a very one sided view from a troubled/unsatisfied woman. I'm an Engineer with a large American defense contractor, but my younger brother went up to North Dakota in about 2008 in the middle of the recession to drive trucks and he gradually made his way up to HAZMAT level and made a boat load of money. He counted his pennies but had a blast along the way...he also described the place as the Wild West, but he loved it. He now works out of Az. doing fuel hauls statewide and makes a very comfortable living and has a fat portfolio from all the money he saved in the N.D. oil fields.

[@raymiecovington383]

Clearly she is stupid