“The Top Women to Watch in Trucking list honors women for their career accomplishments, their influence on company success, and their contributions to the broader industry,” said Jennifer Hedrick, WIT President and CEO. “These professionals exemplify the mission and values of Women In Trucking and are impressive leaders to watch in our industry.”

Katy Payne’s Impact on Truck Drivers USA

Katy has built her career from the ground up, gaining hands-on experience in trucking and the challenges drivers face every day. She began focusing on driver retention and then expanded into creating communities where drivers can learn, gain recognition, and thrive. Today, her work guides Truck Drivers USA’s community growth and development strategy.

As Operations Manager, Katy serves as the consistent voice for drivers at Truck Drivers USA. She works to improve the professional image of truck drivers while ensuring they are connected with companies that value and support their careers. Her approach combines operational discipline with empathy, making her a trusted leader in the company’s ongoing evolution.

Key Achievements Over the Past 12–18 Months

• Haul of Fame Launch – Katy developed the Haul of Fame section of the Truck Drivers USA website, giving drivers recognition and visibility to elevate their professional standing.
• Enhanced Driver-to-Company Matching – She led the development of a matching algorithm that connects drivers with companies aligned with their skills, goals, and values.
• Driver Career Coaching Program – Katy is actively developing a career coaching solution to help drivers maximize earning potential and career growth with driver-focused carriers.

Supporting Women in Trucking

Katy also coaches women within Truck Drivers USA, helping them expand their transportation knowledge and understand how economic factors impact drivers and carriers. By amplifying driver stories, she highlights professionalism and diversity in the industry and helps broaden public perception of trucking careers.

About the Women In Trucking Top Women to Watch Program

The Top Women to Watch in Trucking list, now in its ninth year, recognizes women across a variety of roles, including operations, corporate management, sales, HR, technology, and professional driving. Selection is based on character and measurable accomplishments over the past 12 to 18 months. This year’s list includes 75 women from a range of companies, emphasizing leadership, innovation, and industry impact.

Looking Ahead

Katy Payne’s recognition reflects her leadership in building communities for drivers, supporting professional development, and advancing the trucking industry. Her work at Truck Drivers USA continues to strengthen the connection between drivers and the companies that value them, setting a standard for operational excellence and advocacy in transportation.

Congratulations, Katy!

The post Katy Payne of Truck Drivers USA Recognized on the 2026 Women In Trucking Top Women to Watch List appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Addressing a Critical Need

As NGT President and Co-founder Lindsey Trent explains, engaging younger generations is essential to the future of trucking. “These award winners are tackling one of the industry’s most pressing challenges,” Trent said. “They’re leading the way in demonstrating how to build career paths that young people not only want to begin but stay in.”

Honoring Innovation

The inaugural Career Catalyst Awards, sponsored by The National Transportation Institute, highlight fleets redefining recruitment and retention strategies. These forward-thinking companies have implemented initiatives such as offering CDL and diesel mechanic training, providing career advancement opportunities, and leveraging technology to make roles more efficient and appealing.

2025 Career Catalyst Award Winners:

• Alaska West Express
• Averitt
• Ben E. Keith Foods
• Boyd CAT
• Cal Valley Trucking
• Christenson Transportation
• Garner Trucking
• Ginsberg’s Foods
• Keller Trucking
• Kenan Advantage Group
• Key Oil
• Old Dominion Freight Lines
• Performance Food Service
• Republic Services
• Ryder System
• Upper Lake Foods

Building the Pipeline for Future Talent

Efforts by Career Catalyst Award winners include outreach programs such as high school and community college partnerships to launch CDL training, host student tours, and promote leadership development. “It’s about meeting young people where they are,” Trent emphasized. “Technology, advancement opportunities, and creating a vision for a long-term career are critical to engaging this demographic.”

Next Gen Trucking’s founder, Dave Dein, actively works to advance these efforts. “High schoolers are hungry for alternatives to traditional career paths,” he noted. “These awards highlight companies that provide those very opportunities, showing there’s a meaningful future in trucking.”

The Urgency of Youth Engagement

“Nearly half of today’s workforce is made up of Millennials, but they only account for 20% of the trucking industry,” said Leah Shaver, CEO of NTI and NGT board member. “It’s crucial to attract younger talent. The fleets recognized this year prove we can succeed in this effort.”

What’s Next for NGT?

Founded in 2021, NGT has partnered with schools and colleges nationwide to launch CDL programs for young adults. The organization aspires to cement trucking as “the career choice” for future generations by showcasing the importance of trucking and delivering on career promises.

For more details about the Career Catalyst Awards and NGT’s initiatives, visit nextgentrucking.org.

Source: The Trucker

The post NGT Recognizes 16 Fleets with Career Catalyst Awards for Inspiring the Next Generation in Trucking appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

“There’s nothing better than sitting over in that passenger seat and watching the driver over here and seeing that big old smile because they just did something,” Hallada said. “They accomplished a maneuver they never thought they could do.”

Addressing the Truck Driver Shortage

The trucking industry is facing a pressing need for skilled drivers, with hundreds of thousands of job openings expected yearly. Veriha Trucking’s academy offers a comprehensive training program designed to prepare individuals for careers on the road. The program combines classroom learning with hands-on driving experience to give students the skills they need for the job.

“We not only teach you the fundamentals of driving a truck, but we teach you how to drive a truck,” Hallada emphasized. “How to survive out on the road, how to pick up loads. The day-to-day operation of the truck.”

Financial Support Makes Training Accessible

Tim Kordula, the safety, training, and development director at Veriha, shared how the academy is making training more affordable for students.

“We just received a grant from the state of Wisconsin that will reimburse Wisconsin-resident students half of their tuition,” Kordula explained. “They can come here, get their CDL, and we’re going to reimburse them half their tuition. If they decide to stay on with Veriha, we will reimburse them the other half after a year.”

While the academy’s training program spans six weeks, students also receive four weeks of paid training once they join the Veriha team, which has helped boost retention rates.

A Personalized Approach to Training

Veriha’s academy isn’t just for over-the-road drivers. For Joe Krueger, co-owner of Chipper Guys Tree Service in Wausaukee, the academy was a way to enhance his family business by earning his CDL.

“It’s not like a big tech school where you’re getting grouped in with a bunch of people,” Krueger shared. “It’s a little more personalized.”

Preparing Drivers for Success

The ultimate goal at Veriha Driving Academy is to provide students with the skills and confidence to succeed as truck drivers.

“I believe we take it a step further and we actually turn these folks into living, breathing truck drivers,” Hallada said. “They’re going to be safe; they’re going to be productive and be able to do the job by the time we’re done with them.”

A Path to a Stable Career

Training programs like Veriha Driving Academy play a vital role in preparing the next generation of skilled drivers as the trucking industry continues to grow. With comprehensive training and real-world experience, individuals are equipped with the tools they need to pursue a long-term and successful career in trucking. For more information visit Veriha’s Website.

Source: Spectrum News 1
Image Source: Spectrum News 1/ Nathan Phelps

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