Photo: Four Wheel Drive Auto Co.(Life time: 1920), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Who She Is
Luella Bates is credited as the first female licensed commercial truck driver in the United States. During World War I, when men left for military service, Bates was among 150 women hired by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company (FWD) in Wisconsin to test-drive Model B trucks. What made Bates exceptional was that she wasn't just a driver; she was also a skilled mechanic and truck inspector. In 1920, she became the first woman to receive a truck driver's license in New York.
Why She Matters
Luella Bates broke barriers at a time when women were rarely seen behind the wheel of any vehicle, let alone a commercial truck. Her technical knowledge as a mechanic proved that women could master every aspect of trucking, not just driving. FWD sent her on transcontinental tours across the United States to demonstrate the company's trucks. Bates' career showed that skill and competence matter more than gender, paving the way for women in transportation.
