FIXTITLE Fran Miracle.docx

WILLING AND ABLE

The Life

Of

Fran Miracle

As we grow older, we celebrate each birthday at first with excitement and anticipation. Once you’ve reached the mid-30’s, the birthdays really begin to gain speed. I caught myself with a look of shock when I was checking out at a gas station the other night. I noticed their sign that gave the year of birth eligible to purchase alcohol: 1993! Shesh! Where does the time go? In your fifties, I imagine that’s when many start rounding up their ducks that are supposed to be in a row. By the time we’ve reached our 60’s, I assume that’s the downward slope to the stresses of life. I may be off in left field, but relaxing on some beachside piece of property with my toes in the sand sounds like the retired life for me. Then again, who knows how different your life can change in one year.

For Fran Miracle, her life caught a second wind and took an entirely new direction by the time she reached 50. Originally from Seneca Falls, New York Fran grew up on a small dairy farm away from the city. She capitalized on her agriculture background the majority of her life. Being exposed to manual labor at an early age, prepped her for later experiences. Fran’s mom was a full-time housewife and hands on mother. Her father was a local truck driver, hauling sand and gravel. His primary job was to his family and taking care of their farm. Fran shares some of her earliest family memories and they all dance around farming or trucks. “My dad had to drive a truck to supplement the farm I remember one particular truck. It was a little six wheel dump truck,” she says. “At a really young age, my dad had to quit school to work. To help his mother. Because of that he wasn’t able to read and write well. So I’d ride along with him in his lap and read the street signs to him. That was my favorite time, just me and him.” Her education was extremely important to him. Due to his short time spent in school, he wanted his children to understand the need to learn. Fran performed well as a student, but couldn’t wait to get home. She laughs, “The first thing I would do was change out of my school clothes and run out to the barn.” Her job was to feed the cows, all 20 of them, before they were milked. She took her chores as serious as her father took his work.

Even as a teenager, her main objective from her father was her studies. Occasionally, on the weekends she was allowed to babysit. Other than that, she was to focus on her grades and help some on the farm. It was during the 1960’s when the average number of kids dropping out of school to work was prevalent. Fran’s father insisted that his daughter was to be successful as an adult. She had plenty of time to work.

After graduating at 17 from Mynderse Academy, Fran knew it was her turn to figure out what she wanted to do next. The following year she went on to attend Auburn Community College, now known as Cayuga Community College, earning an English degree. As a means of income she worked as a cashier at a grocery store and later landed a job as an inspector at a local plant for four years. When the plant closed in 1972, Fran found another company that specialized in making industrial pumps. No job duties intimidated her. She worked hard in doing anything required of her, including janitorial work to stockroom tasks. Eventually, she landed a position in the foundry as a, chipper grinder. Out of 200 men, Fran was the only woman. She stayed with this company for 17 years. “It was an interesting job,” she said. “It made me tough.” During the last five years of her working at the factory, she also managed a second job at night as a bartender. She was a single mother of three and like her father, she was determined to provide the best possible lifestyle for her children.

In 1988, Fran left the plant and was put in charge of the parlor she was bartending at. She was dating the man that owned the establishment. He also had a farm that they tended to. Being able to farm was like second nature for Fran. She learned quite a bit from working side by side, helping run his operation. “I drove a 36 ft corn truck, all of his tractors. I plowed the land, cut hay and bailed it…I even run the hay elevator. The only thing that I didn’t run was the combine. That was only because we had a man come and do that part.” The two handled both businesses for eight years, until her partner was killed in a tragic accident.

Unsure of her next move, Fran began looking for a change in direction. She’s never been the type to stand around and wait for too long. She had heard of a program offered at FLCC, Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) located in Canandaigua, New York. Her tuition would be fully funded by the government, offering aid to students seeking future employment in specific roles or environments. Meaning, Fran’s choice of study wasn’t exactly tailored for women. She jumped at the opportunity. The values that her family encouraged her to nurture, she found comfort in. Never had she been intimidated in a man’s world. She didn’t see a reason to back down now. So she enrolled into truck driving school and was 47 years old at the time. In 1992, Fran was officially licensed and ready to drive.

She went to work for a little trucking company, hauling milk. Her first truck they placed her in was a silver Mack R model. A year later, when it came time for cutbacks Fran parted ways. New to the transportation scene, she was hesitant on where to go next. She had a dilemma at home, as well. One of her daughters was interested in returning to college. Fran knew that the only way she would be able to help her financially was if she drove over the road. Whether or not she was capable of handling that type of pressure or carrying her own weight was not the issue. It was finding the right company to run with that had her at a standstill.

Fran had been approached to run team with a friend for a trucking outfit based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The deal fell through for the other driver, but Fran didn’t give up. The next day, the same trucking company contacted Fran offering her a job. “It was on a Wednesday, I hopped on a bus to Tennessee and didn’t look back!” She started with Covenant on November 14th, 1994. After a week of orientation, she was paired with a man and together they ran team for about six months. Once she was a solo driver, Covenant put her in a company leased Penske Peterbilt to drive. She stayed out on the road, traveling all 48 states and Canada. “When I landed in that truck, I took off! I was knocking down some miles,” she said. While she was away, she sent money home to her family.

Looking back at how the trucking industry has evolved over the last couple of decades, women in trucking is no longer considered unimaginable. She says, “People now don’t know what it was like driving these enormous types of vehicles 30 or 40 years ago. I wasn’t licensed yet, but I was in them. I’ve been learning how to operate them my whole life. They were monsters. These days it’s like driving an SUV or a motorhome.” She compared it to driving a model A vehicle to a Cadillac. Plus, at the beginning of her trucking career most women driving were either riding with their spouses or running team. There were very few flying solo. Fran kept to herself, working as much as possible. Keep in mind, she was taught to be comfortable with her independence and to push herself as a fast learner.

This past November, Fran celebrated 21 years with Covenant and has just under 4 million miles on record. When I asked Fran, what is it about Covenant that has kept her happy for so long? Her reply came easy enough, “Covenant gave me my first, big break. When I first started driving, nobody wanted a woman driver. Believe me, I applied everywhere! Since I have come onboard they’ve treated me great… and I’ve been here ever since.” She’s currently driving a blue 2014 Freightliner 10-speed with a 60 inch Sky Sleeper. Covenant’s entire fleet consists of at least 3,000 company trucks. Only 6 of them, such as hers, are presented to certain veteran drivers. These professionals are recognized for their exceptional dedication and loyalty to the company. Not one day, in over 22 years has Fran ever been late for a load, pickup or delivery in her whole career of trucking. Now she runs a dedicated route for UPS to Syracuse, New York and back down to New Jersey, six days a week. Another reason Fran says Covenant is so easy to work for is the fact that they bend over backwards for their drivers. If someone is unhappy, they encourage that person to talk about it. They want to find a solution, rather than loose a driver. Covenant is a Christian based company backed by employees that believe in their drivers and truly appreciate their efforts. She goes on to say, “I’m committed to my job and want to do the best I can for Covenant.” I’m sure Fran’s family, most of all her father, are all extremely proud.

Her three children are all grown with families of their own. Fran’s youngest is Beverly who has two kids, a son and daughter. Her middle child is Alan, with two girls and her oldest daughter is Christine. Thanks to the trucking industry, Fran was able to put each of her children through college. She continues to help her grandchildren, with their college education too. Of her four grandchildren, two are still students in high school. One will be a freshman in college soon and the other just graduated with a doctrine in psychology. “I’ve been blessed when it comes to my kids! They’re all smart. Even their children are smart. None of them have ever given me any problems,” she says. Fran’s days of staying at home, working and raising her family have past. Now she is able to travel, see new places and make her mark in the world. All while doing what she does best; truck. “Trucking is my life!”