Sisters of the Road: the female force in trucking to celebrate World Photography Day

Sisters of the Road is a gallery of 40 women truck drivers photographed by Anne-Marie Michel.

August 19 marks World Photography Day, a date to recognize this art form that, beyond capturing images, conveys emotions, stories, and messages that often say more than a thousand words. Through the lens, the photographer chooses the narrative and its protagonists, turning an image into a visual story that can be read like a book.

An inspiring example is the work of Anne-Marie Michel, a London-based photographer and author of the exhibition Sisters of the Road. Michel has traveled the world photographing celebrities, haute couture models, royalty—and also, women truck drivers. In her exhibition, she pays tribute to the strength and resilience of these women who travel the roads, highlighting their role in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

Sisters of the Road: 40 women truck drivers photographed by Anne-Marie Michel

Michel has had a successful career as a photographer, which has taken her to cover events around the world, including the Cannes Film Festival. She has also worked in Venice, Rome, and Los Angeles photographing exclusive events such as film premieres and fashion shows, including 16 consecutive years of Fashion Week. And although this may seem far removed from the life of a truck-driving woman, her fascination with road stories began when her family moved from Houston to Ohio.

That road trip changed Michel’s life in many ways, according to an interview with the photographer published by The Trucker. Not only did her life change completely, but the images of highways, landscapes, and above all, truck drivers, inspired her.

“There’s a difference between photographing a model who knows how to pose or a celebrity on the red carpet—and photographing regular people,” Michel said in the interview published by The Trucker. The concept for Sisters of the Road was born from Michel’s need to tell stories with meaning.

The project was published in 2022 and features 40 women truck drivers, along with the routes they travel and a bit about each of them. With women from nearly all across the United States, Michel tells a story of empowerment, highlighting the dedication, strength, and ambition of these women—making them the perfect representation of the trucking force of the country.

Here are some of the women that can be found on her website:

Brooke Held-Sudimak from Ohio

A truck driver who hauls steel. “I’m like one in a million, a woman trucker hauling steel.” Held-Sudimak says she has to prove her worth in the industry every day, and she does so by securing steel loads faster than the men she works with.

Kelia Keams from New Mexico

Keams shares in Michel’s exhibition that, in Navajo society, it’s rare to see a woman doing what is perceived as a man’s job. In a traditional culture, Keams emphasizes the importance of female clans in Navajo life. “That’s how Navajo women are. We’re strong. We have to be. We are powerful.”

Michelle Kitchen from Michigan

“I’ve been driving for 30 years. I haul office furniture to the West Coast and bring back produce to Michigan. I just go back and forth. I just drive and I’m fine with that.” Kitchen talks about the importance of being on the road, and how her profession doesn’t interfere with anyone, because they know the consequences of a life behind the wheel.

On Anne-Marie Michel’s official website, more photographs of the women truck drivers captured by the artist can be explored. This collection undoubtedly tells stories that deserve to be told, shining a light on and honoring the role of women within the road transport industry.

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