When Monica Fernandez-Guerrero’s hands you her business card, you’ll probably notice that there’s something missing…her name. No, it wasn’t an oversight; it was intentional because she doesn’t want to turn away potential customers. Monica and her business partner, Beth Garman, own MarrowStone Truck & Trailer Shop in Denton, Texas.
Monica is quick to point out that as women, their biggest challenge is in establishing their credibility, “Every time I am working on a truck, I have to complete an interview with the driver,” she said. “I have to enumerate all my accomplishments, my work experience and my validity as a mechanic,” she added.
Both Monica and Beth are senior mechanics and have graduated from accredited heavy truck and diesel engine programs. Monica is currently working on her Master’s certification for ASE. The formal education provided a solid foundation in understanding engines, but the real training, according to Monica, starts “when you’re on the floor busting your knuckles and getting yelled at by a senior mechanic.”
It’s pretty rare to find a woman in coveralls working under the cab of a tractor, but it’s even more rare to find one (or two) who own their own shop! According to the US Census Bureau’s 2008 data, there are 217,000 heavy vehicle service technicians, and only 1.1 percent (2,387) are women.
MarrowStone Truck & Trailer Shop is a full service tractor and trailer repair shop and is located just off 35N at exit 469 in Denton, Texas. They are willing to mentor any women interested in working as heavy truck mechanics and hope to expand their operations soon. They recently became corporate members of Women In Trucking and will offer any members a ten percent discount on services in the shop. They are open 7 am to midnight weekdays and 7 am to 6 pm on Saturdays.
Monica first became interested in becoming a technician as a young girl. Her older brother, Hector, was a professional driver who encouraged his younger sister to think about a career in heavy-duty engine repair. Her mother, who Monica describes as a “forward thinking, capable and independent woman,” told Monica that she could do whatever she wanted to do as long as she worked hard enough.
Although entering a predominantly male occupation was “terrifying,” Monica was determined to succeed. She admits that she was totally intimidated, but she followed her mother’s advice and worked hard and focused on her training to gain the knowledge needed to succeed in heavy truck and engine repair. “I started doing what I really loved to do,” she said, “now I am here, on the other side with no excuses and lots of scars.” She added, “I’m happy and all my joints hurt!”
Monica’s hope is that she and Beth are leading the way for other women who wish to follow their career path. Her daughters, Amanda (11) and Alondra (9) hope to work with their mom, but only until they leave for college. The girls’ aspirations are more in the area of veterinary medicine right now. However, Alondra has recently considered becoming a professional driver after attending a truck show in Dallas.
Beth is not only Monica’s business partner, but also her best friend. “I would not have started MarrowStone without her,” she said. “She is a rare special person, all heart, great strength and a great mechanic,” Monica added, “I don’t know how she puts up with me.”
Monica’s husband of 14 years, Cesar Guerrero, works as a network administrator and is not interested in mechanics. He does help out at the shop when needed, but his biggest role is in supporting Monica and Beth in their endeavor. He encouraged them to follow their dream to open the shop, and he keeps them grounded even as he reminds them to stay within their tool budget!
Beth and Monica are role models for all of us in the trucking industry. The years of training in the shop have made them both eager to help others who wish to follow them. Sure, they’ve endured some unwarranted negative attention along the way, but the environment is changing. Some day women who choose a career in heavy-duty truck repair will be more likely to include their names on their business cards!
I admire any woman who has the courage to step outside the stereotypical work place and do something that challenges her no matter whether it is a male dominated career or not. I have done the same in my job and love every minute of it!!
That’s all I needed to see the greatness in these women. I’m a truck driver an need a more meaningful knowledge outlook besides behind wheel. Good story outcome.
YMMD with that anwesr! TX
I bet its been tough especially over there in Texas, where they are probably more male dominated than anything. You two keep going on inspiring others in life.
I am a truckdriver 34 years old I belive that it schould not matter if its a man or a woman working on a truck and I think its awsome that these tow ladies are working on trucks and wish them the best of luck. And I would like to see more women have the courage to what these tow women are doing we really need to stop sterotyping on gender and race.
Hi girls, Just want to say you go girl’s : it is defenetly hard working in a mans world, but once you win there confadencse you are in like flin as the saying goes, I have been an owner sinse the age of 13 and drove water truck and worked in the lumber mill at home from age 7 to 10 , I am a lady that has been an Owner Operator of not only two Trucking Companys of her own but also have owned and driven three of my own over the road trucks for 21 years now. have been an owner since 1976 starting out with my own fleet of 16 Logging Trucks in Oregon from 1976 thru 1981, an In Dump truck fleet of 2 from 1981 thru 1982 , then in 1983 thru 1991 I stared driving long line with a Local Company with my own truck’s , then in August of 1991 I moved to Wisconsin became a long line company driver till 1998 when I went back to school for my High School Deploma, CNA PCW Licence, then in 1998
I bought another rig and in 1999 I traded that one off for another one then in 2000 I did the same thing again this time though I made a real sad mistake of purchacing a realy fancy used long nose and lost every thing to that dum rig. now back in Oreon looking for work again. sure miss the trucks’s it’s all I have ever knowen out side of the lumber mill, but at the age of 50 and with health failing and family obligations now, I can no longer run long line.
Signed: Mabel Leffler jonesmabel@charter.net
Alondra, bestof luck in the Vertranarian field I just did tht my self but if you decide to be a Driver, getting your own rig is a lot better in lots of ways then being a company driver, you lease on to some one, like WARREN TRANSPORT out of Waterloo Iowa, they run out of the Loredo Texas Terminal, to Ill. Ia, Tenn. Ky, Ga, Al, Miss, La, NC. SC. they pull van and heavy haul, you can set your own runs, your own hours, your own loads, you basically tell the Dispatch were you want to go and what you want to hall, and when you need to be home and they will get you home every time for as long as you need. being a O/O has its advantages , but it also has it’s down fall just like every thing else for you are responsable for all break downs and repairs and lic, and ins, and tax’s etc. . but it is a great life being an O/O and a great way to go in this old hard world of Trucking.
Signed: Mabel leffler / Lady Trucker
I have a card program(American Greeting) that I bought over 4 years ago. and I print all my cards at home. You can buy the blank cards with envelopes at Walmart, drug stores or office supply places. I get mine at Sam’s Club. Practice on a blank piece of paper first to make sure you have it set up right.It actually saves you money in the long run, plus you get to add as much personalized stuff as you want without it costing more.
This is awesome!! With Brett’s 15 years, your newbie experiance and some as a trainer and then my 9 years that ended in 2010 or delayed, there are many stories to tell. No matter what your time is behind the wheel the trucking world is still the same in the treatment of driver’s and the way of life. But the stories vary due to the time you were in them. Looking forward to knowing and seeing more on this new adventure.
I am a female fighter and I know how it is in a male dominated field. I love it and know the hard work you ladies have to do. I am thinking of switching careers because of financial reasons and if I am ever that way I hope to run into you ladies.
Continue the hard work am glad to hear of others succeeding through hard work and determination.!
Dee, Thank you for your kind words and for following our blog!
Thanks for the encouragement.