WITney: Now Running on America’s Road

WITney: Now Running On America’s Roads

It was a beautiful November morning last fall in downtown Dallas. More than 50 members of the local press, along with transportation professionals, gathered to celebrate the unveiling of WIT’s new Driver Ambassador trailer.

In February of 2020, WIT launched its Driver Ambassador program to help raise awareness of the non-profit’s mission for more gender diversity in the industry. Kellylynn McLaughlin, a professional overthe-road CMV Driver and Training Engineer for Schneider National, is WIT’s official Driver Ambassador. As part of her responsibilities, she provides interviews with the media and speaks at events to raise awareness of the importance of gender diversity in transportation. Now rolling out the next phase of the program, McLaughlin travels the country in the WITbranded trailer aptly named WITney, which pays homage to the association through use of its acronym. The trailer is an educational mobile unit that educates people on professional truck driving careers and features personal success stories from female drivers. Visitors also can experience a state-of-the-art driver simulator and check out a display of women’s industry uniforms.

“It’s a powerful and very visible symbol of what women have to offer the freight industry,” says McLaughlin. “I am so proud to haul it.” Numerous sponsors have helped bring the trailer to life, including ATS, FedEx Freight, Schneider, Walmart, 3M, Cummins, Dovetail Workwear, Arrow Truck Sales, Bolt Custom, Michelin North America, Thermo King Midwest, Turbo Images Inc, Blue Beacon, Great Dane, Juno Jones Shoes, Koester Body & Frame Shop, Patriot Lift Company, SAF-Holland, Safety4Her, TVC Pro-Driver, and ZF Group. To learn about sponsorship opportunities with the Driver Ambassador trailer or to have WIT Driver Ambassador Kellylynn McLaughlin speak at your organization or event, visit womenintrucking.org. n

WITney is an educational mobile unit with interactive kiosks that quiz visitors on their knowledge of trucking and educates them about careers in the industry.

Professional drivers who are on the WIT Image Team pose next to WITney at her unveiling in downtown Dallas during the WIT Accelerate! Conference last November.