Luella Bates : First woman truck driver
Luella Bates standing next to her FWD model B truck. Taken circa 1919. Luella Bates worked for the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company from 1918-1922. During WW1, she was a test driver traveling throughout the state of Wisconsin in a Model B truck. After the war, when the majority of the women working at the Four Wheel Drive were let go, Luella remained as a demonstrator and driver.
Luella Bates unloading sand from a FWD Model B truck. In January 1920, Luella traveled to New York City where she attended the New York Auto Show. During her stay she met with the Secretary of State Francis Hugo and became the first woman truck driver to receive a drivers license in New York.
Luella Bates shaking hands with NY Secretary of State Francis Hugo, Jan. 1920. Luella was such a hit in New York that the Four Wheel Drive decided to utilize her skills even further. In 1920 they sent her on three transcontinental tours throughout the United States. The advertising scheme introduced the idea that the FWD truck was easy to steer as evidenced by a woman driver. During her first tour she represented Francis Hugo's Safety First Campaign.
She toured approximately twenty-five towns, beginning in Kansas City, MO and finishing in Belefontaine, OH. While in Erie, PA, she flew over the city in an "earoplane" and saturated Erie with information about the Four Wheel Drive and its vehicles. In May 1920, Popular Science magazine referred to her as "exhibit A for feminine efficiency."
Luella Bates driving a truck in Clintonville, WI. Luella returned to Clintonville, WI in late July, 1920. She began her next tour within the month, traveling to state fairs throughout the eastern United States. In September, she drove her truck loaded with coal through the streets of Utica, NY.
Both an expert driver and a mechanic, Luella was more than capable of completing all maintenance on her truck.
Luella Bates doing maintenance on a FWD Model B truck. During her final tour of 1920, Luella took the southern states by storm. She was now known as "our girl driver." In Oklahoma she defied the police and took her truck across a flooded road, hauling meat for a packaging plant. This courageous venture led to the sale of ten trucks for the Four Wheel Drive and much admiration for Luella. For the next two years, Luella traveled as a demonstrator, both locally and throughout the United States, demonstrating the Model B truck and the newly developed fire trucks.
Luella Bates driving a FWD fire truck in Clintonville, WI, 1922 In early December 1922, Luella moved to Milwaukee, later marrying Howard Coates and having two sons. Luella's descendents include one granddaughter and three great-grandchildren, one of whom is actress Ashley Hinsaw
Luella has been included in several books about the Four Wheel Drive, the history of trucking and the history of Clintonville, WI. During the infancy of the trucking industry Luella Bates could be seen driving all over the United States. She played an important role in the history of woman and the history of woman in trucking, a role that should no longer be ignored.
Luella Bates standing next to her FWD model B truck. Taken circa 1919. Luella Bates worked for the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company from 1918-1922. During WW1, she was a test driver traveling throughout the state of Wisconsin in a Model B truck. After the war, when the majority of the women working at the Four Wheel Drive were let go, Luella remained as a demonstrator and driver.
Luella Bates unloading sand from a FWD Model B truck. In January 1920, Luella traveled to New York City where she attended the New York Auto Show. During her stay she met with the Secretary of State Francis Hugo and became the first woman truck driver to receive a drivers license in New York.
Luella Bates shaking hands with NY Secretary of State Francis Hugo, Jan. 1920. Luella was such a hit in New York that the Four Wheel Drive decided to utilize her skills even further. In 1920 they sent her on three transcontinental tours throughout the United States. The advertising scheme introduced the idea that the FWD truck was easy to steer as evidenced by a woman driver. During her first tour she represented Francis Hugo's Safety First Campaign.
She toured approximately twenty-five towns, beginning in Kansas City, MO and finishing in Belefontaine, OH. While in Erie, PA, she flew over the city in an "earoplane" and saturated Erie with information about the Four Wheel Drive and its vehicles. In May 1920, Popular Science magazine referred to her as "exhibit A for feminine efficiency."
Luella Bates driving a truck in Clintonville, WI. Luella returned to Clintonville, WI in late July, 1920. She began her next tour within the month, traveling to state fairs throughout the eastern United States. In September, she drove her truck loaded with coal through the streets of Utica, NY.
Both an expert driver and a mechanic, Luella was more than capable of completing all maintenance on her truck.
Luella Bates doing maintenance on a FWD Model B truck. During her final tour of 1920, Luella took the southern states by storm. She was now known as "our girl driver." In Oklahoma she defied the police and took her truck across a flooded road, hauling meat for a packaging plant. This courageous venture led to the sale of ten trucks for the Four Wheel Drive and much admiration for Luella. For the next two years, Luella traveled as a demonstrator, both locally and throughout the United States, demonstrating the Model B truck and the newly developed fire trucks.
Luella Bates driving a FWD fire truck in Clintonville, WI, 1922 In early December 1922, Luella moved to Milwaukee, later marrying Howard Coates and having two sons. Luella's descendents include one granddaughter and three great-grandchildren, one of whom is actress Ashley Hinsaw
Luella has been included in several books about the Four Wheel Drive, the history of trucking and the history of Clintonville, WI. During the infancy of the trucking industry Luella Bates could be seen driving all over the United States. She played an important role in the history of woman and the history of woman in trucking, a role that should no longer be ignored.