Mari Roberts, a senior vice president overseeing North American supply chain operations at PepsiCo, has received the 2026 Influential Woman in Trucking award from the Women In Trucking Association (WIT).
The association announced Roberts as this year’s recipient on October 27 during its Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas. Sponsored by TrueBlue’s Centerline Drivers, the annual award recognizes women whose leadership and accomplishments have made a significant impact on the trucking industry.
Roberts was selected from three finalists, including Angela Lentz, chief people officer at Daimler Truck North America, and Sauny Tucker, CEO of Tucker Freight Lines.
Roberts’ Career in Transportation and Fleet Leadership
Roberts currently serves as senior vice president of North America Supply Chain for PepsiCo Beverage US and PepsiCo Foods US. Her responsibilities span manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, fleet operations, and other supply chain functions.
She has spent 26 years with Frito-Lay, holding positions in field operations and corporate transportation management. Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management from Arizona State University and received her Certified Transportation Professional designation in 2009.
Her involvement in the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) has also been a significant part of her career. She chaired the organization’s Institute Board of Governors from 2014 through 2022 and currently serves as chair of the NPTC Board of Directors.
Beyond her transportation responsibilities, Roberts has supported employee development through several Frito-Lay and PepsiCo employee resource groups. Her leadership roles have included the Women’s Inclusion Network and PepsiCo Asian Network, along with serving as executive sponsor of the EQUAL employee resource group.
Roberts was previously a finalist for the Influential Woman in Trucking award in 2022. Earlier this year, she also received an Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award from the Asian American Business Development Center.
Award Presented at Women In Trucking Conference
The announcement followed a conference panel titled “The Ripple Effect: Influence That Lifts Others,” featuring Roberts, Lentz, and Tucker. Jill Quinn, president of Centerline Drivers, moderated the discussion, which focused on the finalists’ professional experiences and approaches to leadership.
WIT interim CEO Lana Nichols praised Roberts’ career and her contributions to the industry.
“Her influence reaches across supply chain, private fleets, and the communities she serves,” Nichols said in the association’s announcement.
Quinn also congratulated Roberts, recognizing her commitment to supporting others throughout her career.
Established in 2010, the Influential Woman in Trucking award honors women working across transportation, including corporate leadership, manufacturing, fleet operations, and professional driving. Previous recipients include executives and industry professionals from Old Dominion Freight Line, J.B. Hunt, UPS, and PACCAR.
Roberts joins that group following more than two decades of work in transportation and supply chain leadership.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: November 3, 2026
Source: Truckers News
Image Source: Women In Trucking, Truckers News
