Woman applying for truck driver position asked, ‘Why would you want a man’s job?’

Overview; A woman seeking employment as a truck driver was asked why she wanted to take a job away from a man.

The scenario: When Christine Ladd heard that Waste Industries U.S.A. was looking for workers, she submitted an online application for a truck driver position.

Ladd was scheduled for an interview with the hiring manager at the company’s Stockbridge, GA, location. She felt pretty good about her chances because she had a valid commercial driver’s license and more than five years of experience operating over-the-road rigs.

But Ladd’s confidence waned as soon as she sat down for the interview and the male hiring manager asked, “Why would you want a man’s job?” He also said Ladd might be taking a job away from a man.

Ladd was told to resubmit her application because the hiring manager couldn’t find her initial paperwork, but he gave her a fax number that was out of service. Ladd’s repeated follow-up phone calls were disregarded.

Ladd contacted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which investigated her allegations and found that she wasn’t the only woman who’d been denied employment as a truck driver for Waste Industries.

One woman who wanted to operate company vehicles was asked whether she could do the job because she seemed like a “prissy girly girl.” Another female was told that she would distract the male drivers because she had a “big booty.”

Legal challenge: The EEOC sued Waste Industries for gender bias.

The ruling: The company lost. Faced with an uphill battle in court, Waste Industries agreed to pay $3.1 million to Ladd and several other women who were denied truck driver positions.

Based on EEOC v. Waste Industries U.S.A.

(From the January 31, 2025 issue of HR Manager’s Legal Alert for Supervisors. To start your no-obligation trial subscription to the publication right now, please click here.)