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In Brazil, women truck drivers represent 0.5% of the total, according to data from the National Transport Confederation (CNT). Men still dominate a vital profession for the economy of the Latin American giant, which does not have a significant rail network for the transport of goods. In fact, truckers are responsible for transporting about 60% of all products in the country.
Cléo Ribeiro Silva embraced the wheel at the age of 40, breaking the stereotypes of that profession. His passion for the truck began in his early childhood, during the long bus trips to his mother’s town, in the State of Bahia. “I always wanted to be close to the driver, in whatever vehicle he was in. Very soon I fell in love with traffic”, says this woman.
However, Cléo initially chose another path: the hairdresser. As a micro-entrepreneur, she worked from sunrise to sunset, often with damages due to her numerous non-payments. One day she got tired and decided to go back to her old dream.
“When I told my husband, he vehemently objected. He told me that if I chose the trucking life, our relationship would be over. That same day I went to a driving school to update my driving license”, he recalls.
Mother of three adult children, Cléo has been separated ever since. For a few years she worked as a driver of an armored car that transported money. “It was a huge responsibility,” she notes.
Thanks to his effort and determination, he managed to achieve his true goal. Currently, every month he travels to various states of Brazil together with ‘Vanderelei’. It is the affectionate nickname of his 15-meter truck, in which he spends many nights. “Sleeping in the cabin is very nice. I love all of that. I feel a lot of freedom. I can finally do something I like, meet new places, meet new people. When I was a hairdresser, I felt very tied down,” she explains.
The weight of machismo and stereotypes in a hostel environment
But they are not all advantages. Under the weight of various stereotypes, the trucking profession forces these women to bear the weight of the machismo they face in their long working hours. “I cried a lot because of prejudice. They told me: ‘Find another job. They are taking the job away from a father of a family.’ And I answered: ‘What about me? Am I not the mother of a family?’ It has not been easy”, recognizes Cléo.
Physical strength sometimes limits their work. A woman can’t handle every kind of load. Bureaucracy is another challenge. It requires a huge dose of patience, with many hours of waiting until the companies release the goods. And there is another obstacle: her age. This year Cléo will be 57 years old. “I am very happy in my company because she accepted me in my current conditions: a chubby lady, with an aesthetic that does not correspond to the current beauty standard. I look forward to continuing to travel with ‘Vanderlei’ for many years to come,” she concludes.