The new Peterbilt Model 589 is the perfect blend of tradition and technology. With its bold, distinctive style, the Model 589 features an aluminum hood, wrap-around grille crown with triple bars, 15ʺ external air cleaners and 7 ʺ exhaust stacks. The interior includes the latest driver comforts, such as automatic climate control, abundant storage and larger dual cup holders. Already acclaimed thanks to its timeless styling features and its advanced technology, the Model 589 is built for high performance and maximum uptime with a road presence and distinction that is unmistakably Peterbilt.
NAVISTAR CELEBRATES TOP WOMEN TO WATCH IN 2024
Lester VP, Quality, Navistar
AMY HAS SPENT THE PAST THREE YEARS AT NAVISTAR AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR CHANGE.
Amy’s position in Quality offers her a unique opportunity to touch all areas of the company and to reinforce the need for strong mentorship, education, and skill development for women across the enterprise.
As a VP in Quality, Amy has been instrumental in overseeing quality aspects of the production of the International S13 Integrated Powertrain. Amy also brings a customer-first focus to Navistar Quality. When it comes to her staff, Amy focuses on growing talent for the future and helping women around Navistar see that their work makes a difference.
WENDY NEVER LOSES SIGHT OF THE BASICS OF BEING A LEADER AND THE NEED TO HELP THOSE ON HER TEAM.
When Navistar adopted the TRATON GROUP Values, Wendy was one of the first to reinforce how these values--customer first, respect, responsibility, team spirit, and elimination of waste--are just different ways of describing the behaviors her team already exhibits.
Wendy prides herself on reminding her staff to respect why we do things, not just how, and to take responsibility for understanding our processes. She also encourages participation in meetings, including those with outside counsel, consultants, and developers, allowing many to have a voice in implementing improvements.
Amy
Wendy Mitckes Tax Manager, Navistar
professional who has 15 years experience in focus on transportation. She has assisted in her insurance career; focusing on with the difficult decisions, better options, experience with insurance companies. How authorities determine which trucking companies to inspect. Top 10 most common driver fitness violations.
agents and staff at Camargo Insurance are the straightforward and will tell you what you need to you want to hear. They truly have your best and treat you like family. I could not ask for a with. Customer service has been second to best group I have ever worked with. Camargo Insurance will be my go-to for years to come.
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specializes in trucking and transportation, solutions to safeguard assets and advice and robust policy options, we protection and peace of mind for logistic truckers.
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Tara has helped over 200 trucking companies navigate insurance challenges and secure better rates. Give her a call to discuss your insurance needs.
Edition 1 Advertising Insertion Close Date January 17, 2025
Mid-America Trucking Show Louisville, KY | March 27-29, 2025
Class of 2024 Image Team
Jennifer Hedrick, Sarah Ruffcorn and Kendra Tucker
Driving the WIT Mission: Celebration of Successes over 2023
Women In Trucking (WIT) recently issued our second annual report, a summary and celebration of the activities of the past year. This report is a commitment by the WIT Board and staff to summarize what we focus on as an organization and showcase each year the value and ROI of your investment in WIT membership.
WIT continues to have a thriving membership—building on growth and excitement about our mission. WIT now has a membership of 8,300-plus individuals. The bulk of our membership resides in the U.S., with 4% in Canada and 1% in various countries across the globe. About 88% of our membership is female and 12% male.
Our scope of membership continues to broaden, representing a range of members and career paths “from the driver seat to the C-Suite.”
We have broad commitment across our Board of Directors, under the leadership of Board chair Kary Schaefer (Daimler Trucks North America) to continue building on the momentum we’ve seen over many years under the leadership of founder and retired President & CEO Ellen Voie, to expand and grow our member and partner base with short and longer-term goals. The Board’s vision and forward thinking have led to a successful 2023 and excitement around strategic visioning for the coming year and well into the future.
Here are just a few highlights of 2023: We hosted our two signature events, Salute to Women Behind the Wheel and Accelerate! Conference & Expo.
Salute to Women Behind the Wheel is our annual celebration of female drivers. In 2023 we gave away a truck sponsored by Arrow Truck Sales and honored Mary “Candy” Bass as 2023 Driver of the Year, celebrating her 6 million safe miles and her long-time dedication to safety and mentorship of female drivers.
In November, a record-setting 1,700 attendees arrived in Dallas for education, networking and the celebration of the growth and opportunity that gender diversity in transportation brings.
The WITney® educational trailer traveled the U.S. roads more in 2023 than in any year previously and hosted over 3,600 visitors--allowing us to meet a wide range of groups, including students of all ages, Girl Scout troops, and attendees at trucking shows. WITney® and our dedicated staff and volunteers who transport her, share the possibilities available in a career in the trucking industry, and of course host visitors who try their skills on the driver simulator.
We honored over 100 leaders in transportation throughout the year through several programs.
A favorite of all WIT members, the 2023 “I Heart Trucking” photo contest generated nearly 250 submissions of photos, which received 10,000 votes. We love that this spotlights the trailblazing women and companies that are part of our industry.
Thank you for your support over the past year and continuing to champion the mission and vision to WIT to others. Make sure to download the 2023 annual report and read all of WIT activities at WomenInTrucking.org.
Jennifer Hedrick, CAE President & CEO
How Has the Industry Progressed in Gender Diversity?
2024 WIT Index Results Sheds Some Light
Brian Everett, Publisher and Editorial Director Redefining the Road magazine
One of the most commonly asked questions the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) receives is: Where does the industry currently stand in its progress involving gender diversity? Since 2016, WIT has been routinely conducting the WIT Index, which is the industry’s barometer to regularly benchmark and measure the percentage of women who make up critical roles in transportation. These roles include corporate management (C-Suite), boards of directors, management and supervisory roles, as well as functional roles such as operations, technicians, HR/talent management, safety, and professional drivers. To answer this question, WIT conducted a survey of companies of all sizes in transportation to gather percentages of women in their workforce. The respondents were asked to report data that included demographics, status of the company’s diversity and inclusion policy, and percentages of females in various roles within the company. Of the approximately 350 companies participating, a majority of company types included forhire motor carriers (38%), beneficial owners of freight with private fleets (13.5%), and intermediaries that include third-party logistics companies, truck brokers and forwarders (13.5%).
top executive positions across industries. WIT continues to recognize talented female leaders in the C-suite with the likes of Shelley Simpson, President and CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services (2023 Influential Woman in Trucking); Erin Van Zeeland, Chief Commercial Officer with Schneider (2023 Distinguished Woman in Logistics); and Judy McReynolds, President and CEO for ArcBest (2019 Distinguished Woman in Logistics).
Here’s a snapshot of a few key findings in the 2024 WIT Index:
What’s the percentage of women who comprise executive titles in the C-suite? According to the companies participating in the 2024 WIT Index, woman hold approximately 28% of executive roles in the C-suite, which tracks closely with general numbers by the U.S. Census Bureau that show that in 2021 women held 31.7% of
Approximately 9.5% of all professional truck drivers who hold CDLs are women, according to the 2024 WIT Index. This year, WIT found that the larger the company the smaller the percentage of female professional truck drivers. Giant/major enterprises with more than 5,000 employees report an average of 7%, while large/medium enterprises with 500 to 4,999 employees report an average of 10.5% and micro/small companies with less than 500 employees report an average of 12.5%. This correlation is logical, given larger companies with more professional truck drivers in their workforce likely find it more difficult to recruit higher numbers of women truck drivers that get them into doubledigit percentages versus their smaller competitors.
Visit WomenInTrucking.org and click ‘WIT Index’ under the Resources tab to download your free 2024 WIT Index Executive Summary.
Walking the Tightrope to a Healthier Life
5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WORK-LIFE
BALANCE
Work-life balance is typically seen as the amount of time you spend doing your job versus the amount of time you spend doing what’s important to you outside of work. When work demands more of your time or attention, you’ll have less time to handle your other responsibilities or passions.
Many people want to achieve a greater balance between their work life and their personal life – but this balance can be difficult to achieve. Sometimes a demanding job means more money to support a family. Sometimes a job contributes to deteriorating your mental health, which then leaves you drained in personal relationships.
Work-life integration—or the synergistic blending of our personal and professional responsibilities—has become an increasingly popular concept. Work is simply one aspect of our lives that needs to be considered alongside our home and family lives, our community, and our personal well-being. Why is work-life balance important? Improving your work-life balance can improve your overall well-being, including your physical, emotional, and mental health. Studies have found that working long hours can lead to serious health issues such as impaired sleep, depression, substance abuse, diabetes, impaired memory, and heart disease. Unfortunately, as these conditions arise they can exacerbate our work-life issues, leading to burnout and other negative repercussions.
5 Ways to Improve Your Work-Life Balance
Women, in particular, can commonly struggle with achieving work-life balance, especially among business leaders and entrepreneurs. Leaders of the 2024 Top Woman-Owned Businesses, named by Redefining the Road magazine, share their advice in their quest for a balanced life:
1. Pause and evaluate
Take the time to understand how the various parts of your life are impacting one another. Pause and consider your current worklife situation. Some questions you might reflect on include: Am I spending enough quality time doing what I really want? Am I committing enough time and energy to people or things that are meaningful to me? Do I still feel aligned with my professional or personal goals? Where do I feel the most stuck? How am I balancing all the roles in which I live?
According to Angela Eliacostas, President and Founder of AGT Global Logistics, a full-service third-party logistics company based in Westmont, IL, achieving work-life balance is challenging but with dedication
and strategic planning it’s entirely possible. “I find resilience, integrity and hard work are essential to success,” she says. “Balancing these responsibilities with the roles of mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and wife add further challenges, but they are worth it.”
Eliacostas reflects on her life experience in multiple roles and how she manages each role: “Leading a company requires strategic vision and tough decision-making. Balancing work with the responsibilities of motherhood and grandmotherhood means being present for significant moments. This can mean latenight check-ins or attending school events between meetings. And when it comes to being a spouse, maintaining a strong partnership requires time and effort. Prioritize time for your spouse to ensure that your relationship remains a source of strength.”
continued on page 10
Angela Eliacostas
2. Assess your priorities.
Some questions to ask yourself: What really matters to me and am I doing enough of it? Where can I make compromises? Where have I been making too many compromises? What can I do to ensure I am devoting enough time to my goals and relationships?
“With my company’s employment being 90% women, we know how imperative it is to provide a calm and comfortable work area,” says Barb Bakos, President of Powersource Transportation. Her company also prioritizes health and well-being. “Women’s jobs are never done after they leave these doors. Most employees have stand-up desks, ball chairs for posture and even some walking treadmills that fit under their desks. We promote healthy eating through our employee luncheons and provide a full gym
to use. Promoting a healthy positive lifestyle reduces stress in the workforce and at home.”
3. Manage your time.
Based upon your priorities, it’s important to figure out how to better manage your time that are aligned with those priorities. Review how you currently spend your time and look for ways to adjust your schedule where possible. You can “block” your time as a way to focus on one area at a time or use a matrix system to establish your priorities when new tasks pop up unexpectedly. Look for ways to manage your time to boost productivity and well-being.
4. Establish boundaries.
Establishing boundaries is a crucial part of time management. Then, communicating those boundaries is equally important. If you can no longer respond to emails promptly after hours because you’re with your family, your team will need to know.
Work boundaries fall into one of three categories—physical, emotional, or time. Start by setting small boundaries and expand
from there. Learn more about how to set better boundaries at work – and even outside of work. For example, Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, President and CEO of Garner Trucking (a familyowned transportation, warehousing and thirdparty services company), says she makes it a point to not overcommit to outside organizations: “My priorities are faith, family and friends, and my business and employees. When I’m over-committed, I don’t do any of these things well so I focus on staying organized. I prioritize my ‘to-do’ list and check things off as I get tasks completed.”
However, while establishing boundaries is important, in the transportation industry that’s not always a rule you can follow 100% of the time, admits Ashley Wiederhoeft, Assistant Vice President of Partners Funding
continued on page 12
Sherri Garner Brumbaugh
Barb Bakos
Aria Logistics
The story of Arelis Bonilla and how she built a minority and women-owned trucking and home delivery service is one that defies stereotypes. It is a testament to grit, passion, and the audacity to dream big.
“This isn’t just my story; it’s a collective narrative for dreamers,” she said. “In the beginning, it was a one-person show. I wore every hat imaginable — sales, marketing, customer service — you name it. It was tough. There were moments when I questioned everything, but each challenge taught me something new.”
From the start, Bonilla had a knack for transforming setbacks into lessons; her refusal to let adversity dictate the course turned every obstacle into a stepping stone for growth. The transformation of Aria Logistics from a solitary truck to a formidable fleet and the My Home Delivery App is a masterclass in strategic planning and operational finesse. She was recently honored with an ACE award for operational excellence, which is not just a recognition of her achievements; it’s a validation of her relentless pursuit of excellence in every aspect of operations. This reflects her commitment to quality, efficiency, and exceeding customer expectations.
Being a female entrepreneur in a maledominated industry has its challenges, but for Bonilla, it has underscored the
FEARLESS FEMALE LEADERSHIP, PAVING THE WAY TO RAPID GROWTH.
importance of fostering a workplace culture that values equal opportunities. “Collaboration and the amplification of voices from all backgrounds are key aspects of my leadership style,” she emphasized. Her active involvement in mentorship programs and outreach initiatives is a testament to her commitment to creating pathways for aspiring female entrepreneurs in the trucking industry.
Embracing innovation and sustainability has been crucial to staying competitive. Bonilla is a loud voice for environmentally conscious practices and technological advancements. “My journey is about creating a more inclusive and progressive future for the entire trucking community,” she added.
Looking ahead, Bonilla’s vision extends beyond personal success to contribute to a more seamless and advanced lastmile delivery ecosystem. Her dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in digitization reflects a firm commitment to driving positive change in the industry.
“We are inspired to continue innovating, collaborating, and striving for excellence in everything we do,” she said. “We aim to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of last-mile logistics.”
continued from page 10
and Great Plains Transportation Services. “In today’s world, where technology blurs the lines between office and home, achieving work/ life balance is a growing challenge,” she says.
“My commitment to a strong work ethic is unwavering, especially in the trucking industry where the concept of a 9-5 schedule is nonexistent. This is a value I instill in my son by having him at work at times and seeing me work during nontraditional hours, which are the same values my mother instilled in me in this same business. I’m grateful for my husband and son who understand this industry and the need to be accessible, even when we’re enjoying our time together.”
Wiederhoeft’s associate Sherri DeJong, Vice President, agrees: “My passion for years has been helping trucking companies big and small succeed and seeing my staff succeed. At times, these passions are all consuming and finding work/life balance is hard. I learned early on in my career to include my kids, so they would know and understand at some point everything is hauled on a truck and trucking families sacrifice so much. Surrounding myself with awesome support staff and setting boundaries on personal time also helps.”
5. Reflect, refine, repeat.
Whatever actions you decide are needed to create a good work-life balance, though, you should be conscious of the fact that you will likely need to continue to refine it over time. Big life changes can take time, so reflecting on your approach and refining it periodically will likely be integral parts of the process.
“Your best work can only be accomplished with balance,” says Camilla Moore Kirsch, CEO of Kirsch Transportation Services, a womanowned logistics company based in Omaha, NE.
“Be intentional and take time to ensure you are fueling yourself with healthy options, be wellrested, and remain in a positive state of mind.
Schedule time on your calendar each day to work out, meditate, take a walk, or have coffee with a friend.” She also encourages women to seek out mentors who may have struggled with their own work-life balance and can offer practical tips.
“Work life balance is achieved by namely understanding what ‘acceptance’ means,” concludes Joyce Brenny, President and CEO of Brenny Transportation, a Minnesota-based transportation solutions company. “Acceptance of purpose, acceptance that everyone is on their own journey and you cannot control that. Acceptance that you must have faith in a higher power and lastly, acceptance that everything good or stressful is presented to provide you with the experience to live out your purpose of serving others! Breath, accept, now go kick some trucking butt!” n
Joyce Brenny
Sherri DeJong
Camilla Moore Kirsch
Ashley Wiederhoeft
2024 TOP WOMAN-OWNED
Congratulations to 2024 Top Woman-Owned Businesses
AGT GLOBAL LOGISTICS
agt3pl.com
Angela Eliacostas, Founder & President
A full-service, certified woman-owned third-party logistics company which leads in the nuclear, fossil, and power industries. Expanded offerings into heavy haul and building projects.
ANDY TRANSPORT andytransport.com
Andreea Crisan, President & CEO
A privately-owned, asset-based transport company with operations in Canada and the US. Evolved from a single-truck operation to approximately 400 trucks and 800 trailers over the last decade.
ARIA LOGISTICS arialogistics.com
Arelis Bonilla, Founder & President
Specializing in large retailers, ensures seamless delivery to customers’ doorsteps through strategic partnerships. Commitment to innovation ensures expectations are consistently exceeded in a constantly evolving market.
Tammy Bennett, President Logistics provider with focus on drayage services. International and domestic container trucking services from the port and rails in Jacksonville, Florida.
BENNETT FAMILY OF COS. bennettig.com
Marcia G. Taylor, CEO Woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC)-certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through fourteen affiliated operating companies, delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide.
BRENNY TRANSPORTATION brennytransportation.com
Joyce Brenny, Founder & CEO
An asset-based 3PL that provides truckload transportation needs in 49 states as well as globally. Serves a wide range of customers including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and individuals.
GARNER TRUCKING garnertrucking.com
Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, President & CEO
Dry truckload, asset-based carrier composed of a diverse workforce including drivers, technicians, and staff. Has been recognized as a Best Fleets to Drive For for eight consecutive years.
HASSETT LOGISTICS hassettlogistics.com
Michelle Halkerston, Owner, President & CEO, Hassett Logistics
A full-service transportation company that specializes in domestic air freight and offers personalized transportation solutions tailored to meet and exceed customer needs.
HTR LOGISTICS htrlogistics.com
Lindsey Haught, Founder & President
Freight brokerage specializing in cohesive operations, transportation services, and warehousing that can be scaled and customized to customers’ needs. Includes truckloads, LTL, disaster relief, rail, intermodal, and warehousing.
KIRSCH TRANSPORTATION SERVICES kirschtrans.com
Camilla Moore-Kirsch, Founder & CEO
Leveraging rich history, knowledge, and industry connections, has grown into a multi-million-dollar transportation company. Driven to manage any magnitude of freight demand while providing exceptional customer experience.
PARTNERS FUNDING partnersfundinginc.com
Sherri DeJong, Vice President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner Family-owned accounts receivable factoring company striving to provide personalized, top-notch service for each client. Brings a level of enterprise expertise to help drive you toward your goals.
POWERSOURCE TRANSPORTATON powersourcetrans.com
Barb Bakos, Owner & President
A 100% owner-operated, non-asset based $20 million trucking company with 89% female employees and an all-female management team, ensuring 120 owneroperators keep rolling and customers stay satisfied.
continued on page 14
2024 TOP WOMAN-OWNED
continued from page 13
RIHM FAMILY COS.
rihmkenworth.com
Kari Rihm, President & CEO
92-year-old family-owned and operated business including Rihm Kenworth, the second oldest Kenworth truck dealership group in the world, RMC Truck Parts, Rihm Leasing, and Rihm Global Sales.
S-2INTERNATIONAL s-2international.com
Jennifer Mead, CEO
Provides reliable and customized, multi-modal solutions. Backed by technology, specializes in the management of time and service sensitive shipping, drayage, truckload, white glove, LTL, and heavyweight air.
TUCKER FREIGHT LINES
tuckerfreight.com
Sauny Tucker, CEO
Specializes in transporting various cargo types, including dry van, open deck, and specialized freight. Provides dedicated and spotting services and prioritizes eco-conscious transportation practices to minimize environmental impact.
The Top Woman-Owned Businesses program is part of Redefining the Road goal to support WIT’s mission to recognize accomplished women in the industry. Criteria used to identify qualified companies include verifiable status as majority ownership by a woman or women, demonstration of financial stability and growth, innovation, and the entrepreneurial spirit of the female owner.
www.womenintrucking.org/accelerate-conference
Your future starts at Schneider
At Schneider, we don’t just talk the talk when it comes to empowering women in the workplace. We walk the walk.
Endless job opportunities.
› Driving jobs.
› Office positions.
› Diesel technician roles.
Career development resources.
› Tuition assistance.
› Learning and development courses.
› Mentorship opportunities.
Networking and resource groups.
› Schneider’s Women’s Network.
› LGBTQIA+ Alliance Group.
› Black Organization for Learning and Development.
› Latinx Connect.
Award-winning benefits.
› Health care.
› Paid time off.
› 401(k) with match.
› And more.
Get the support you deserve. Apply at SchneiderJobs.com.
BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLES: THE NEW KING OF THE ROAD?
For private and for-hire fleets, deploying battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as part of their fleets has had some challenges, but the results of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) Q3 2023 Run On Less (ROL) pilot reveals that the road ahead may be evening out.
In particular, ROL participant PepsiCo observed some trucks in its fleet of class 8 Tesla BEVs making the mountainous trek from Sacramento to Nevada and recovering their charge on their return, thanks to regenerative braking.
PepsiCo’s fleet of Teslas demonstrated their ability to achieve high range with a fullyloaded tractor. The vehicles combined with 750KW charging stations that can restore bars to 95% from five or 10% in 20-30 minutes, shows the potential for beverage shippers performing regional deliveries with different shifts of drivers sharing trucks.
“In addition to the benefit of regenerative breaking to extend charge, we have also gathered key learnings in the value of a high rate of charge to maintain business continuity and neutralize charging in slip seat, continuous transportation operations,” says Amanda DeVoe, Director of Fleet Transformation and Strategy at PepsiCo.
Another ROL participant, OK Produce, which distributes produce throughout California, experienced a regenerative boost as well. Their Freightliner eCascadia semis ran 80- to 120-mile delivery routes
Shown: Mike Roeth interviews Dejan Antunovic, Electrification Program Manager, PepsiCo, with Tesla SEMI in background.
Photo credit: NACFE Run on Less – Electric DEPOT
through hilly terrain and returned to base with charges as high as 47%, according to OK Produce Director of Transportation, Bob Thomason.
OK Produce’s Orange EV yard tractors benefited from regenerative braking too—but from frequent starting and stopping. OK Produce’s experience in ROL showed regenerative breaking, the ease of onsite charging, and the reduction of
COMPANY & LEASING OPPORTUNITIES
OPEN DECKDRY VAN SPOTTING
It’s Who You Know.
Jelena Kacavenda explains the importance of a financial partner that offers more than one essential service for her 50+ truck company, Lupus Superior, LLC. Scan our QR to read her story.
What Are the Solutions?
New statistics show that there is only one parking space for every 11 trucks on the road – which has resulted in deadly consequences for road users across the United States. In July 2023, on Interstate 70 near St. Louis, MO, a professional truck driver had to stop for the night or risk violating federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. Since the Illinois rest area he was at was full, he parked on the wide shoulder of the exit ramp leading to it – a common practice for truck drivers. Just before 2am the driver was awakened to a frightening jolt that sent him airborne into his dash. He got out and saw the horror: A burning Greyhound bus rammed into his trailer, with passengers pushing and kicking at windows trying to escape. The accident caused the death of three of the 22 bus passengers and left 14 other injured.
While the national truck parking shortage in long-haul trucking can increase safety risks like this, it also can create additional challenges on many levels. The lack of truck parking can decrease productivity and increase fuel usage because a lack of parking forces drivers to waste time and burn fuel as they seek legitimate parking. HOS violations can result in hefty fines, sometimes reaching thousands of dollars. Certainly for women professional truck drivers, not being able to find parking in legitimate, well-lit parking areas also can pose additional personal safety concerns.
Truck Stops: Part of the Solution
“Lack of parking at truck stops forces drivers to park on highways or unauthorized lots, leading to tickets, accidents, and safety risks,” according
to Tara O’Banion, Account Executive with Camargo Insurance, which offers specialized commercial trucking insurance.
“Female drivers face heightened dangers, often attracting unwanted attention. They have to be constantly alert, carry self-defense tools, and keep doors locked. The risks are significantly higher when they can’t find a spot at a truck stop.”
One of the largest truck stop chains, TravelCenters of America (TA), is a fullservice travel center network operating 300 locations in 44 states.
“We see the need for truck parking as an opportunity to further demonstrate that we are a home on the road for professional drivers,” says Debi Boffa, CEO of TA. “We aim to provide services and amenities that they need to refresh, refuel and repair
“Investing
(both their trucks and their mental health and well-being.)”
Boffa says her organization continues to grow its network of travel centers, adding ample truck parking spaces with each new opening: “As of midyear 2024, we added over 1,100 new truck parking spaces to our network. Additionally, we provide services like our Reserve-IT! Parking program which allows drivers to plan ahead and reserve a parking spot, similar to reserving a hotel room. Having this option available provides peace of mind for a professional driver- they know there is a parking spot waiting for them when they get to a location. Also, we have gated parking lots in busier suburban areas where truck parking may not be as accessible.”
continued on page 22
Debi Boffa, CEO, TravelCenters of America
in secure, well-lit parking spaces designed for trucks enhances driver safety and reduces risks, particularly for female drivers. Leveraging technology with apps for real-time parking availability and reservations increases efficiency. Collaborating with local governments on policies to develop additional parking areas and establishing company-sponsored facilities can further ensure comprehensive protection and convenience for all drivers.”
—Tara O’Banion, Camargo Insurance
continued from page 21
Boffa emphasizes that TA operates with safety as a top priority. For example, parking lot layout is critical to accommodate turning radiuses and parking angles and provide appropriate signage and lighting. “These are key for avoiding safety problems, from fender benders to security events,” says Boffa. “By the end of 2024, TA will have reengineered and updated all of our lots based on a safety traffic management plan, to include re-striping – painting – and new signage. A lighting survey of all locations is also occurring to help identify those sites that need to be upgraded. This year, we have assessed 50 sites and made the determination to relight 18 locations this year.” She adds that TA also formed a Women’s Safety Advisory Panel earlier this year to better understand the needs of professional drivers – including the issue of truck parking.
Additional Solutions to the Lack of Truck Parking
But solutions don’t just start and end at truck stops. Because the current infrastructure supporting the trucking industry remains insufficient to address the shortage of temporary truck parking, many new private companies are emerging to meet the need.
One such company is Truck Parking Club, a network of instantly reservable hourly, daily, weekly and monthly truck parking locations throughout the United States comprised of property owners with locations adequate for truck parking.
“The lack of truck parking impacts our customers every single day,” says Evan Shelley, Co-Founder and CEO of Truck Parking Club. “We have 24/7 customer service and frequently get calls at night with drivers needing a place to park at the very last minute, oftentimes in areas they aren’t always familiar with. Whether it’s a place to park for a night, or a place to
Solving Truck Parking Challenges with Innovation
TPM bridges trucking, real estate, and tech to tackle urgent truck parking needs. Our state-of-the-art, reservable facilities offer secure and dependable parking, equipped with advanced security systems to protect drivers and their cargo. Download the Trucklots
drop a trailer or leave their truck for a few days, our customers are frequently left scrambling looking for solutions that aren’t easy to find.”
“We believe the solution to the truck parking crisis has 3 components: public investment in new construction, private investment in new construction, and better utilizing existing space,” continues Shelley. “The first two involve new construction which takes considerable time and money. Better utilizing existing space means we can bring new parking spaces onto our marketplace very quickly and cheaply and drivers can oftentimes start parking in these spaces same day.”
According to Shelley, Truck Parking Club focuses on the third component by using technology to connect truckers looking for
TRUX PARKING SUPPORTS WOMEN IN
TRUCKING
With 8 locations nationwide, TRUX Parking offers safe, secure, and accessible facilities for truck drivers. Partnering with Women in Trucking, TRUX promotes women’s employment in the industry, celebrates their achievements, and helps them find safe parking every day.
Evan Shelley, CEO, Truck Parking Club
parking with properties suitable for truck parking. Oftentimes these are trucking companies, tow truck companies, truck repair shops, or truck parking operators. Truck Parking Club has made available more than 2000 never before publicly available truck parking spaces so far in 2024 alone, according to Shelley. “We are adding two to three locations a day as of June and are only speeding up.”
Another company tackling the truck parking shortage issue head-on is Truck Park Management. “TPM is the intersection of the trucking, real estate, and tech sectors – working tirelessly to address the urgent needs of truck parking,” says Danny Loe, CEO and Co-Founder of Truck Park Management. “Our mission is to provide dependable, reservable, and safe state-of-the-art facilities for the trucking community.”
“Finding safe, reservable truck parking should be available for all drivers at all times,” continues Loe. “Drivers need to be able to plan, reserve, and rely on knowing that they have a parking spot ready for them. At TPM, we are building technology through our TruckLots app and software to not only provide a nationwide map of reservable parking locations but also to provide lot management software for the parking lot owners so that they can ensure that they can keep and honor the driver’s reservation.”
However, the focus needs to be on the specific needs of the professional truck driver, says Joey Goodman, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of TRUX
Loe, CEO, Truck Park Management
Parking, which is a platform in this niche real estate business. “We have a truckerfirst mentality,” says Goodman. “We’re on the phone listening to drivers to better understand their needs for safe, secure, easily accessible parking.”
There also is increased momentum for increased truck parking and road safety through the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act – bipartisan legislation which would dedicate U.S. $755 million to increase safe parking for commercial trucks, which ultimately increases roadway safety.
“When truck drivers don’t have a safe place to park, they end up parking on the side of the road, near exit ramps, or elsewhere,” says Todd Spender, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which has led the way in creating the Safety Improvement Act.
“As an organization committed to promoting truck safety, we support for the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act,” adds Harry Adler, Principal of the Institute for Safer Trucking. “If we are going to improve safety throughout the
trucking industry, it is essential to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of commercial truck drivers. By providing safe and accessible truck parking facilities, we can help ensure that drivers are well rested.”
Part of the solution is to continuously educate legislators, the general population, and the industry at-large about the importance of resolving this issue – and WIT is doing its part. Discussions on potential solutions continue to be facilitated at its annual Accelerate! Conference & Expo and in the members-only Engage discussion platform. Redefining the Road magazine continues to publish its ongoing series of articles on the issue and potential solutions, and will be publishing a Truck Parking Solutions Guide this fall. WIT also is a supporter of the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act. For more information, visit WomenInTrucking.org. n
Danny
Joey Goodman, COO, TRUX Parking
Empower Yourself with Confidence
Dominicana
Figueroa, the first female regional rental manager for Home Depot, says she learned how to empower herself and others by seeing the value in taking risks.
It all started for her at a young age when she realized she wanted to have goals in life. She was raised by a single mother who worked three jobs, and Figueroa faced numerous family challenges throughout her life. She did not let those obstacles stand in her way.
“I want you to delete everything in your mind that doesn’t move you forward,” she says.
Let Go of Self-Doubt
Figueroa outlines several things you need to do to get what you want out of life.
• Believe in yourself
• Be bold and brave
• Practice the 80/20 mindset
• Don’t be afraid to put your two cents on the table
• Don’t self-eliminate
• Be ready to hear “no” “Always assume that you’re good enough,” she says.
Figueroa put herself out there and went for a position within her company that she did not believe she would get. She knew deep down that she could accomplish great things and help the organization grow. Even with doubt, she pushed herself to go for it. She surprised herself by making it to the final two candidates. Though she didn’t get the job, she learned a great
deal from the experience and made new connections.
Use Optimism as Your Guide
A good place to start is to assume good intent and picture positive outcomes. Surround yourself with a circle of people that want you to win and spend time with them. Figueroa says a mentor can also be a champion for you and can help you make real change happen.
Figueroa still gets anxiety when she feels an urge to put her two cents on the table.
“I go back to this little sticky note here that I have – a strong woman looks a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink,” Figueroa says. “I try to look at that as my inspiration to, you know what, just do it. Assume that these people want to hear it. Assume that my two cents is valuable and I’ll put it on the table. And again, sometimes they’re not going to pick it up. But whatever the challenges that you’ve identified, I want you to visualize yourself right on the other side of it.”
What’s Your Fear?
Imposter syndrome
You’re a work in progress! Allow yourself to celebrate those wins.
Failure
Learning from these experiences will be a huge component in your growth.
Getting Laughed at Dare to be different and showcase your authenticity.
Too Old/Young Opportunities to learn and grow do not discriminate with age.
Self-Doubt
Get rid of negative thinking and focus on the outcome you want to achieve.
Sounding dumb
What you think sounds dumb can generate ideas and buy-in from others.
Dominicana Figueroa
Figueroa says imposter syndrome makes you “feel fraudulent about achievement.” This can include self-doubt, sabotaging your own success, not accepting recognition, or undervaluing your contributions.
“The more success you have, the more obstacles you overcome, the more challenges you know you achieve, you will find yourself doubting yourself more and more,” she says.
Allow Yourself to Succeed
When you identify your fear, the next step is to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Consider the worst-case scenario. How detrimental is the outcome going to be if it doesn’t go your way?
Though it may take time to sit and wrap your head around it, Figueroa says the key is to get comfortable with it and focus on the realities.
“Be so positive that negative people don’t want to be around you. Be confident, believe in yourself that you can move through these scenarios not only in your mind, but in the real world,” she says.
Figueroa was scared to become the first female regional rental manager for Home Depot. She was comfortable being an assistant general manager leading 650 associates in a warehouse. When a divisional HR manager reached out to her and tried recruiting her for the regional rental manager position, Figueroa turned the job down several times. It was a push from her supervisor telling her to go for it that gave her the confidence to take the leap.
Now, Figueroa is the only female in her network of male counterparts. She realizes
that her lens is different from her peers, and her different experiences give her a unique strength.
“In order to succeed in a male dominated industry, not only do you have to believe in your own abilities, but you can’t let selfdoubt creep in,” she says. “The minute you do, and you start seeing yourself as less than, you’re going to fade to black. You’ve got to believe in yourself. n
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WIT Engages With FMCSA In Our Roads, Our Safety® Campaign
WIT continuously advocates for safety on the road through relevant driver content via all its communication channels, at Women In Trucking’s Accelerate! Conference and various webinars. With this in mind, WIT participated in the Federal Motor Carrier Association (FMCSA) Our Roads, Our Safety® fair on May 8th at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters in Washington, D.C.
This event brought together members of the safety community and representatives of the transportation industry to share handson experiences with the community.
As the lead federal government agency responsible for regulating and providing safety oversight of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), FMCSA’s mission is closely aligned with WIT’s interests in this area:
To reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. According to the FMCSA, this national, annual safety observance week was created to educate road users on sharing the road safely with mid-sized and heavy-duty trucks.
WIT has provided representation in the past, but when FMCSA invited WIT to participate in 2024 President & CEO Jennifer Hedrick recommended a way to make a bigger impact: Bring the association’s WITney® Educational Trailer. She and Jenny Fall, WIT’s Director of Driver Engagement, quickly got to work in making it happen, including all the logistics planning, identifying an available WIT Ambassador Driver, and securing a location and approval to locate WITney® in front of DOT headquarters (no small task)!
The day of the fair was action-packed, according to Hedrick: “It kicked off with an introduction and welcome by FMCSA’s Acting Deputy Administrator Sue Lawless, who addressed the importance of roadway safety. Lawless encouraged all to interact with the exhibitors, which included a range of government agencies as well as other associations and education institutions. More than 60 people experienced WITney ® and her simulator, educational kiosks, and stories told by female professional truck drivers.”
Adds Fall: “Attendees really enjoyed the simulator (as always) and in some cases were surprised at the actual mimicking of the movement of driving a tractor, as well as the size and scope of courses. Lawless appreciated listening to the HERstories
The WITney® Educational Trailer was stationed outside of the DOT’s headquarters to help educate lawmakers, key stakeholders, and others about careers in trucking and share stories of successful female professional truck drivers.
featured and getting to know more about WIT and our mission.”
“Several people noted the appeal of the actual compensation potential notated inside the trailer,” continues Fall. “Many took part in the quizzes to determine if they have the DNA to be in trucking and some were surprised with the results based on their answers to the questions. One thing that seems to consistently stand out with the ‘Facts’ quizzes is the Hours Of Service questions – understanding that drivers can
be behind the wheel for 11 hours of driving straight.”
What were the benefits for WIT and WITney® to participate in this event? “We were able to meet and interact with industry regulators and share the mission with those who may not have heard of WIT in the past,” says Hedrick. “This national exposure prominently highlights the importance of engaging more women in the industry and removing barriers for them to be successful.” n
FMCSA’s Acting Deputy Administrator Sue Lawless addressed the importance of roadway safety and thanked the Women In Trucking Association and others who participated in the “Our Roads, Our Safety” event.
Scores of people attended the event, including (at left in red) WIT’s Director of Driver Engagement Jenny Fall, JoLynn Kelly (professional truck driver with Walmart and the WIT Driver Ambassador who drove WITney® to Washington, D.C. and navigated her in front of DOT’s headquarters) and WIT President & CEO Jennifer Hedrick. Thank you JoLynn and Walmart for helping WIT to make this happen!
WIT’s President & CEO Jennifer Hedrick, FMCSA Acting Deputy Administrator Sue Lawless, and WIT’s Director of Driver Engagement Jenny Fall collaborate inside the walls of the WITney® Educational Trailer.
WIT President & CEO Jennifer Hedrick, FMCSA’s Acting Deputy Administrator Sue Lawless, and WIT Director of Driver Engagement Jenny Fall. JoLynn Kelly, professional truck driver with Walmart and a WIT Driver Ambassador navigated the WITney® Educational Trailer in front of DOT’s headquarters.
WIT Announces Class of 2024 Image Team
What’s the role of the Women In Trucking (WIT) Image Team? It’s a group of subject matter experts in the opportunities, challenges and experiences of female professional truck drivers. WIT Image Team members participate in ride-along events for legislators, regulators, and industry leaders to provide a deeper understanding of experiences and obstacles female drivers face on the road. They also speak to the media and industry professionals at public events and industry conferences.
“Members of the Image Team educate the industry and the public at-large on critical issues faced by female professional truck drivers,” says WIT’s President and CEO Jennifer Hedrick, CAE. “They share their personal and professional stories through creative content and social media. They are the faces and voices of the female perspective in the trucking industry.”
WIT recently announced its Class of 2024 Image Team: Jerri Baez, Telematics Safety
Specialist with Colony Hardware; April Crysel, Professional Driver with Chestnut Enterprises; Melissa Eauclaire, Professional Driver with Boyle Transportation; Ashley Finneran, Transportation Advisor with SRS Distribution; Yuma Haidara, Certified Driver Trainer with Walmart; Esther Parsons, Feeder Driver with UPS.
This new class joins the existing group of 18 legacy members, many representing the industry since the Image Team’s inception in 2015. Legacy members include the following professional truck drivers: Carmen Anderson with American Service Line; Ingrid Brown with Rollin’ B LLC; Susie DeRidder with Day and Ross; Jodi Edwards with J.B. Hunt Transport; Allyson Hay with Walmart Private Fleet; Wyzeena Heeny with Covenant Logistics; Vanita Johnson with EPES Transport System; Deb LaBree with Castle Transport LLC, leased to Landstar; Joanne Millen Mackenzie with Highland Transport; and Kellylynn McLaughlin with Clean Harbors. Other legacy members
include Cindi Alexander, Co-owner and Training Instructor with Lake Cumberland CDL Training School; Jeana Hysell, Senior Safety Consultant with J.J. Keller & Associates; Michele Joslin, Director of Training and Compliance with Justified Diligence; Stephanie Klang, Driver Ambassador with WIT; Jill Maschmeier, Director of Safety and Compliance with National Carriers; and KayLeigh McCall, WIT Driver Ambassador and Driver Training Engineer with Schneider National. n
THE LANDSTAR ADVANTAGE
WIT Names 2024-25 Board of Directors
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announces its 2024-2025 WIT board of directors, which was predominantly elected during WIT’s annual meeting earlier this year.
Newly elected WIT officers are: WIT Chair Kary Schaefer, Chief Engineer of Cab, Entire Vehicle & DT Mexico Engineering, Daimler Trucks North America; WIT Vice Chair Sarah Smith, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Penske Transportation Solutions; WIT Treasurer Jim Taber, National Accounts Manager, Arrow Truck Sales; and WIT Secretary Lori Taylor, Director Carrier Administration, C.H. Robinson.
Newly elected board members are Ingrid Brown, Owner-Operator with Rollin B LLC; Nicole Wiggins, Chief Diversity Officer,
Navistar; and Bonnie Michael, Vice President Transportation, UPS. Directors continuing their terms on the
Ryan McDaniel, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain with Walmart; Jennifer Plumlee, Vice President of Transportation
Kary Schaefer, WIT Chair
Sarah Smith, WIT Vice Chair
Jim Taber, WIT Treasurer
Lori Taylor, WIT Secretary
Female Professional Truck Drivers: We ‘Salute’ You!
To salute someone is to make a gesture of respect or acknowledgement of valued accomplishment. On March 22, Women In Trucking (WIT) hosted its 13th annual Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event during the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY. Nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate female professional truck drivers who hold their CDLs. Attendees ranged from prospective CDL students, professional drivers, friends, families and industry representatives – all attending to share in the celebration of women behind the wheel.
During the event, women professional drivers ‘rocked’ their complimentary red T-shirts and demonstrated their excitement, passion, dedication and pride of their careers in the trucking industry. Collectively, the women in the room represented over 1,500 years of professional driving experience. n
The event wrapped up with the iconic traditional photo taken each year which showcases and celebrates female CDL holders in their red Salute shirts. Female CDL holders – we Salute you!
WIT President & CEO Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, along with Jenny Fall, WIT Director of Driver Engagement, spoke passionately about the hard work and inspiring stories of women professional truck drivers who help drive the U.S. economy.
Upon entering the doors of event, female truck drivers were greeted with a chorus of support, cheers, high fives, and of course, an upbeat music track – all in an effort by WIT to show appreciation for the sacrifices and time that is spent by these professional drivers delivering our nation’s freight.
Three female professional truck drivers were awarded as 2024 winners of the Driver of the Year recognition program, sponsored by Walmart: Deb LaBree, Castle Transport LLC, leased to Landstar; Jodi Edwards, J.B. Hunt Transport; and Carmen Anderson, American Service Line.
Salute attendees who are female professional truck drivers engage with the many supporters who attend the Salute event to cheer them on and recognize their passion for a career on the road.
Candy Bass, 2023 WIT Driver of the Year, is recognized as the female professional truck driver with the most experience in the room who attended this year’s Salute event.
More than X companies exhibited at the Salute event and gave away goodie bags and merchandise to attendees.
What It Takes to Become a Distinguished Woman in Logistics
Sarah Ruffcorn of Trinity Logistics Shares HERstory
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT), Truckstop and the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) recently announced Sarah Ruffcorn, President of Trinity Logistics as the winner of the 10th annual “Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award” (DWLA).
Ruffcorn was chosen among three finalists who included Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, President and CEO, Garner Trucking. and Ramona Hood, President and CEO, FedEx Custom Critical. The finalists and winner were recognized during the TIA 2024 Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition.
“We are thrilled to recognize Sarah as the 2024 Distinguished Woman in Logistics, particularly on the ten-year anniversary of this award,” says Jennifer Hedrick, WIT President and CEO. “Sarah’s significant career accomplishments and passion for mentoring others embody the key characteristics of this honor.”
Ruffcorn is responsible for leading a complex People-Centric freight solutions company arranging freight for businesses of all sizes utilizing truckload, less-than-truckload, drayage, intermodal, expedited and technology solutions.
Trinity has seven regional service centers, team members working in more than 25 states and more than 130 agent offices nationwide providing creative logistics solutions. Ruffcorn leads all aspects to include strategy, engagement, customer experience, execution, growth, and profitability.
Redefining the Road magazine recently caught up with Ruffcorn at the TIA annual conference in Orlando, FL, to ask her about her leadership role and career accomplishments.
RTR: Tell us about your younger years that helped to form the person you are today.
Ruffcorn: I was born and raised in the same house in Burlington, IA. I spent most of my elementary years in a small private school, was homeschooled (before it was common practice!) in middle and high school, and played sports at a local public school. I began working when I turned 14 at a coffee shop, then at an events and wedding business. I played flute and performed often in a quartet, and I also attended leadership camps and was very involved in our church youth group going on several mission trips to third-world countries. Looking back, these experiences taught me a lot about leadership and how to solve some challenging problems, both independently and in a team, at a very young age.
RTR: How did you get into the transportation/logistics industry?
Ruffcorn: I attended Western Illinois University and my Marketing professor mentioned in class one day that he was working with a great company and to talk to him if we were interested to find out more.
Long story short, I spoke with him about Trinity Logistics, then interviewed with Jeff Banning, the CEO and owner of the company at that time. Jeff asked me if I could help him grow the company. I remember feeling like I could genuinely help him, so I accepted the entry-level position of Dispatcher he offered me. When I began my career at Trinity, I had no idea what this industry was about, but I was very curious and wanted to contribute in any way I could. I would go home and practice on our software so I could be faster at finding good carriers in our system and booking loads. I also took on a project with another teammate to write the company’s education materials and processes because we had learned everything through shadowing and osmosis—and we knew there was a better, faster way!
RTR: What’s a typical day in the life of Sarah Ruffcorn today as President of Trinity?
Ruffcorn: A typical day starts with dropping my kids at the bus stop at 6.30am. Other that that, it depends on the week! Some weeks are more strategic, where I lead business planning or set strategy, provide
Sarah Ruffcorn
input on initiatives and priorities that we have set, or visit with potential acquisition targets. During other weeks I am involved with our Burris enterprise initiatives and collaboration across business units, or I am visiting our Regional Service Centers, agents, customers, or attending industry events. One of the things I like most about my leadership role is that no two days or two weeks look the same.
RTR: What is your biggest gratification in being the leader of Trinity?
Ruffcorn: It is so exciting to see team members succeed. We have had multiple team members start in entry-level positions and move their way up into Director, Vice President, and Senior Vice President roles over the years. We also have several team members and agents who have expanded their knowledge of transportation, supply chain, and the market to become true experts in the space—ultimately creating an excellent experience for our shippers and carriers. It is exciting to be a part of truly living our purpose: Improving lives and supply chains by solving tough problems.
RTR: Do you have any advice for other women in this industry?
Ruffcorn: Understand and truly accept that there are chapters in our lives. Be courageous in the times when you can go for opportunities presented. Say YES to even the toughest projects or initiatives that will push you past your comfort zone. But also acknowledge there are chapters where you need to be brave to say NO, because you can’t take it on at that time or be honest with yourself that the opportunity doesn’t fit your strengths to better the organization. As I look back at my own career, I have had to do both - and this takes some serious introspection and honesty with yourself for the betterment of the team. n
Jennifer Hedrick, President & CEO, Women In Trucking; Sarah Ruffcorn, President, Trinity Logistics; Kendra Tucker, CEO, Truckstop (sponsor of the award).
WIT Staff Team Visits Peterbilt Dynamic Truck Plant
When the Peterbilt truck plant in Denton, TX opened in 1980, it was originally designed to manufacture only 16 trucks a day. Fastforward today, and the factory is able to produce more than ten times the original amount or trucks each day. It’s what one might call a well-oiled machine – and five members of the Women In Trucking Association’s (WIT) staff team experienced it first-hand earlier this year prior to a board of directors meeting in February.
“The sheer volume of trucks that can be made in a day was eye-opening,” says WIT President and CEO Jennifer Hedrick, CAE. “Given the complexities of the manufacturing, the size of the job, that painting is included, and the number of supplies/parts needed.
Just a few months earlier, Peterbilt celebrated the production of the 750,000th truck assembled at this manufacturing facility. This milestone truck, a Model 579, represents Peterbilt’s dedication to excellence in manufacturing and the commitment of our employees to maintain superior production quality since the facility opened, according to Erik Johnson, Denton plant manager.
During the two-hour tour, the WIT team learned that it requires less than a single
DRIVING CAREER
shift from the time the chassis starts to be built until the final product rolls out the door.
“Seeing the facility’s truck manufacturing process first-hand is impressive, considering the fact each truck is customized for its customers,” says Brian Everett, Group Publisher and Editorial Director for Redefining the Road, WIT’s official magazine.
To illustrate Everett’s point, the tour leader mentioned that company made trucks in over 1,200 different colors last year. They even have over 50 different hues of white.
“This was an outstanding tour and an opportunity for our team to see the process for manufacturing trucks and the systems that are used—from human effort, to automated vehicles and robotics—all working together in a seamless, coordinated process,” says Carleen Herndon, who leads Member Services and Sales for WIT.
“To me, the small amount of time it takes to complete one vehicle was astonishing,”
says Jenny Fall, WIT Director of Driver Engagement. “I understand it requires less than a single shift from start to finish. The speed that it takes to go through every process was amazing. For me, getting a glimpse at the mechanics and the technology involved with this sort of production is incredible.”
Peterbilt Pride Is Apparent
“It was obvious the pride that employees took in the work they are doing and this was further evident from the average tenure of Peterbilt employees,” says Hedrick. “The training that the company is willing to provide employees, from entry level to those with more seasoned experience, is impressive. And, a small tidbit of information mentioned in passing that I have a hard time grasping is that most of their parts inventory is there just two hours before it’s used.”
Cassidy Mullins, Special Projects and Accelerate! Conference Manager, agrees: “It was extremely impressive to walk through and see how smoothly everything ran on the production lines. You can tell their employees are trained to work quickly, but not once did I see someone rushing around. With so much going on, it seemed relatively calm. Not to mention the employees seemed to be having fun while working – which is always so nice to see.”
“I was impressed with the magnitude of the plant, but more importantly, the precision and speed they can complete a full tractor,” concludes Fall. “Witnessing the technology in action and the positive attitudes of the staff were highlights on this facility tour.” n
Belt bag (top) and Black tumbler (right) are top sellers.
Director of Product Planning & Strategy
Pamela Marquez Manufacturing Project Engineer
Carly Weidenbach Production Area Manager
Noelle Parlier
A Road for Everyone
In May 2020, driver Cara Boyle joined the Walmart Private Fleet. After her husband Mark saw how happy she was, “he decided that Walmart was where he wanted to be, too. And now he loves his job!”
“Being a woman in a predominantly male-driven business – I’m very proud of her,” says her husband of 33 years. “I’m proud of all the women on the road who take the initiative to go out there and get it done.”
