Ginny Odom

When Virginia “Ginny” Odom walked into a Teamster local more than 35 years ago hoping to get a job with UPS, she was looking for nothing more than steady income on which she could support her two growing daughters.

She never imagined that one day she’d hold the title of “UPS’ safest female driver.”

Odom, a member of Local 385 in Orlando, Florida, has logged more than 3.5 million accident-free miles in 35 years of employment with UPS. Her title is global.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and many years of holding onto the steering wheel. It’s really an honor,” Odom said. “It has been an unbelievable experience in a lot of ways.”

Odom admits the job has been demanding, but she takes pleasure in the little things. A self-proclaimed farm girl, Odom explained her favorite part of driving a truck for UPS is seeing the sunrise and simply having the opportunity to be outdoors.

She especially enjoys the serene scenery of central Florida.

“I love watching the young calves in fields with their little feet wet and tails curled up,” she said. “You don’t get to see stuff like that sitting behind a desk. Even though I travel the same road, there is something different every day.”

Blazing a Trail for Women

Odom may travel the same delivery road every day, but through her experiences she has blazed a new trail for women in the workplace.

When Odom left a job behind a parts counter at a boating business to take on the world of package delivery in 1973, she was one of a handful of women working at UPS. Odom doesn’t see herself as a hero or pioneer among women, but admits she tackled gender discrimination head-on.

“I had to work harder to prove I was capable of doing the same job men did,” Odom said, explaining that it took a while for some of her male coworkers to accept her. “It’s very hard for women to raise children and a family and have a job like this. You have to be a special person to do this.”

Despite the hardships, Odom said she has thoroughly enjoyed her time with UPS—and she credits the Teamsters Union for some of that.

“If it wasn’t for the Teamsters, I know this job would have been a lot harder. There were times when I did need them, and the union stood up for me,” she said.

Though Odom has put in 35 years with UPS, she isn’t ready to retire yet, but she said the day is getting close. For now, she’ll continue to keep her hands on the wheel and her eyes on the road.