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Why Women Buy Trucks
by Carson Skeffington
http://www.btruck.com

Back when I was a kid, 'Your mama drives a truck!' were
fighting words. Truck drivers were burly, unwashed, uncouth
and definitely not female. Pickups were geared to the other
sex - high step-ups, big steering wheels, and all the bells
and whistles that screamed 'macho!'.

Twenty years ago, she would have been laughed out of the
room. Heck, twenty years ago, she wouldn't have been IN the
room. Not last year. Last year, the design engineers went
back to the drawing board and redesigned the door handle
with more open clearance to solve the problem.

What's the attraction? Today's trucks are sleek and strong.
They pack all the muscle of older trucks, without the boxy
feel. In a lot of ways, they present the image that women
have taken as their own - strong, capable and independent.

This isn't lost on the American automotive industry.
According to Ford Motors, women by between 15 and 20% of all
their trucks.

That numbers's been rising for quite a while now - but it's
taken a new, sharp upward turn. In the mid-1980s, Ford
estimates that about 11% of its trucks were sold to women.
In 2001, that figure was up to 11%. Just three years later,
in 2004, it's edged up to nearly 20% of all trucks that Ford
sells.

Ford has been the manufacturer most responsive to the needs
of women drivers. Their truck designs feature easy-lift
tailgates, comfortable seats, better suspension for smoother
rides, and bigger passenger cabins for hauling family and
groceries - among other things.

Other changes are more visible, if no less subtle. They
include sleeker, more stylish appearance with smooth,
curving lines that manage to be graceful without losing any
of the virility and power of the traditional, boxy utility
trucks.

The reasons that women choose a pickup truck rather than a
car or even an SUV are varied. For some, it's a practical
decision - a need for hauling space or 4X4 driving ease.
Others are drawn by the obvious raw size and power that
driving a pickup truck gives them - 'No one gets in my way
when I'm changing lines in my Taco,' says one woman truck
driver.

The women engineers bring a different focus on what's
important. Their wider presence on truck design teams has
brought ergonomics, vehicle style and visibility and
craftsmanship. Besides door handles that don't ruin your
manicure, they're responsible for: Bigger passenger
compartments Better shocks and more comfortable rides Larger
storage compartments Smoother automatic and easier to shift
manual transmissions CD players, power windows and leather
seats.

It's not all about the niceties, either. A design team
headed by a woman, Nancy Huber of General Motors, is
credited with figuring out how to rein in the Sierra's
engine, which tended to get out of control on downhill
stretches. When it comes to trucks these days, Mama not only
drives them - she designs them.

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