MIDDLETOWN, DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. -- Overdrive Magazine just crowned their Most Beautiful Female Trucker. Ephrata's Joanne Fatta was the recipient of the award and beat out 86 other women.
"I'm representing women, I'm representing the company, I'm representing all of the people that have supported me and the town. So, that's really neat," Fatta said.
Out of the 3 million truck drivers in America, only 7 percent are female, according to Overdrive Magazine. Fatta drives for Sunrise Transport and has been in the trucking business for 15 years. It was a struggle in the beginning.
"It took along time I had a lot of injuries. A lot of ups and downs. A lot of areas. I learned my physical limitations," she said.
Fatta and a friend attended a seminar that taught women about applying to male dominated jobs. The seminar gave her the willpower to obtain her CDL and enter the world of trucking.
She is also not one to back down from a challenge. She is a single mom, breast cancer survivor and has gained the respect of her colleagues. "It is just something you have to do a little bit differently then how the men do and handle yourself differently, but it's amazing then how you are accepted after awhile," she said.
Over the past few years, she has even become a trainer for new drivers entering the trucking world. "I was a little surprised because I haven't met any female truck drivers. It's been a pleasure. She's trained me a lot," driver trainee, Zach Fern said.