Meet WIT’s Influential Woman

WIT Honors 2019 Influential Woman in Trucking

Ruth Lopez accepted the award from WIT’s President and CEO Ellen Voie and Kary Schaefer, WIT Board Member and General Manager, Daimler Trucks North America.

In her 20-year career at Ryder System, Inc. Ruth Lopez has been promoted numerous times to positions of increasing responsibility. She makes it a point to provide increased opportunities for her team members as well. In fact, 41 women reporting through her have been promoted one to five levels.

Her commitment to lifting other women up is one of the many reasons that Lopez was named the 2019 Influential Woman in Trucking at this year’s Accelerate! Conference & Expo.

Presented by Women In Trucking (WIT) and sponsor Freightliner Trucks, the Influential Woman in Trucking Award recognizes women in the trucking industry who make or influence key decisions, have a proven record of responsibility, and mentor and serve as a role model to other women.

Lopez exemplifies these characteristics. As the Director of Transportation Management for Ryder’s Supply Chain division in Novi, Mich., she is responsible for lead logistics services for 56 external clients across a broad spectrum of industries and has helped to expand the division’s client base by 50 percent.

Lopez views the growth as a chance to provide increased opportunities for her team through promotion and grooming for leadership. Her emphasis on maintaining work-life balance helps them to feel comfortable that promotions will not overtake their home life.

As one of the co-leads for the Midwest/ Canada chapter of Ryder’s Women’s Leadership Forum for three years, Lopez helped to further its mission to support the attraction, retention, and development of women.

Her advice to women in the industry? “Passionately invest in others,” she says. “Set aside time to do this versus allowing other priorities to overtake these opportunities. Spend the time to nurture them, teach them, and support them.”

Lopez was selected from a field of highly qualified nominees, including six finalists: Niki Bolton, Senior Truck Auditor & Executive Projects Officer, American Truck & Rail Audits, Inc.; Kristy Knichel, CEO, Knichel Logistics; Kellylynn McLaughlin, OTR Training Engineer & Professional Driver, Schneider National Inc.; Jodie Teuton, Chairwoman, ATD/Vice President, Kenworth of Louisiana; Lidia Yan, CEO and Co-founder, NEXT Trucking. n

EMPOWERING WOMEN. DRIVING CHANGE.

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