highway lullaby

It's rare enough to see a woman behind the wheel of a heavy-duty truck. It's rarer still to find a woman who wins the state title at a driving competition. But Linda Courtney can claim to be something even more unusual: a professional truck driver who has won a state driving championship while pregnant.

Courtney, a member of the organization Women in Trucking, began her driving career on her family's farm in Montana. She now drives a set of doubles on a dedicated route from Missoula, Mont., to Calgary, Alberta, for Watkins & Shepard Trucking, a regional LTL. She's competed in state driving events for seven years and has previously placed in the top three.

Daughter Aspen Renee was born not long after Mom became Montana's Grand Champion. Courtney hopes Aspen will one day take the wheel herself. Then driving would really be a family affair: Dad drives for Watkins & Shepard, too.