Elly the Electric Truck tells the story of a determined electric semi as she embarks on a big delivery adventure, outrunning fuel-powered vehicles and recharging after a full day’s work. Packed with bold illustrations by Tanya Matiikiv and a strong female lead, the book introduces young readers to electric truck technology while also challenging old-school gender roles.

Keith, a U.S. Navy veteran and third-generation trucking professional, knows the industry inside and out. Her experience spans truck manufacturing, engineering, leadership, and even professional driving—making her uniquely positioned to bring this story to life. The idea for the book came after she noticed the lack of female representation while reading to her young daughter.

Whether you’re behind the wheel or raising the next generation of truck lovers, this book is a reminder that the industry’s story is evolving—and there’s room for everyone in the driver’s seat.

Source: KOLO 8

The post She Grew Up Around Semis—Now Her Book Is Inspiring the Next Generation appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Meet Lori, a Visionary for Progress

With over 34 years of experience, Lori has dedicated her career to driving innovation in the trucking industry. From working with private and for-hire fleets to her pivotal role in business development within a Fortune 100 company, Lori has done it all. Today, she stands at the helm of a leading female-owned driver-lead generation company with a remarkable 80% female workforce. Her mission is clear—to enhance the trucking industry’s image and advocate for drivers nationwide.

Recent highlights from Lori’s career include building an online trucking community of over one million followers and creating content that reaches up to 50 million people monthly. She launched initiatives like Driver.jobs, which connects drivers with the right opportunities, and the Haul of Fame, which celebrates the unsung heroes of the industry. Lori also partnered with NFI’s SheDrives initiative to empower women in trucking and spearheaded the development of an innovative platform that matches drivers and companies based on tailored needs. Through her unwavering leadership, Lori is paving the way for the next generation of women in trucking.

Katy, the Advocate Every Driver Needs

Katy is all about putting drivers first. Her career began in driver retention, evolved into recruitment marketing, and now focuses on operations at Truck Drivers USA, where she ensures that every initiative, campaign, and message resonates with drivers. She’s instrumental in fostering the company’s driver-centric culture, where the well-being and needs of those on the road are always the top priority.

Katy has delivered significant results during her time at TDUSA, including leading the company’s driver-focused messaging and building critical backend processes for long-term growth. She also developed the company’s streamlined onboarding approach, making it one of the most efficient in the industry. Recently, she launched the Thank a Driver program, which honors the hard work of America’s drivers. Katy also dedicates her time to mentoring new associates, sharing her insight, and helping them grow into leaders in their own right. Her forward-thinking approach and empathy have made her a vital force in the trucking community.

Taylor, Building Bridges That Drive Change

Taylor’s background and family ties in the trucking industry uniquely position her to excel in her role at Truck Drivers USA. Originally trained as a licensed counselor, Taylor’s people-first skills have helped her cultivate meaningful relationships with clients, offering solutions beyond surface-level needs. For her, trucking isn’t just a career; it’s a network of individuals and communities she’s deeply passionate about serving.

Taylor’s commitment is reflected in her impressive track record, which includes earning Top Salesperson honors and holding the company’s highest client retention rate. She has also played a crucial role in connecting Truck Drivers USA with initiatives like Wreaths Across America, strengthening the bond between trucking and veteran communities. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Taylor actively mentors new sales team members, sharing strategies and encouraging growth. Her dedication to drivers, veterans, and women in trucking is evident in all that she does.

Championing Women Who Lead

The dedicated women of Truck Drivers USA are more than just leaders; they are innovative minds and compassionate mentors shaping the future of the trucking industry. Their dedication to drivers, passion for breaking barriers, and relentless pursuit of positive change have made a lasting impact on the industry.

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate Lori, Katy, Taylor, and all the women transforming the trucking landscape. Together, they’re not just leading today’s trucking workforce but building a future where the industry is more inclusive, innovative, and driver-focused than ever before.

The post Celebrating the Women of Truck Drivers USA: Leadership, Innovation, and Impact appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Source: WIT

From Childhood Fascination to Industry Leadership

Christine’s passion for all things motorized began at an early age. Growing up, she was surrounded by the hum of the trucking world. Her father operated a Husqvarna saw shop located behind the iconic Jubitz Truck Stop. Coincidentally, this was just steps away from the Freightliner dealership where Christine has built her career over the past decade.

Reflecting on her early experiences, Christine shared, “The trucking industry was always coming and going in the backyard of my pre-CDL life. I had stars in my eyes pretty early on and eventually went to IITR Trucking Driving School to make it official.”

A Proven Career on the Road to Excellence

Christine kick-started her career in October 2014 at Premier Truck Group, and her impact has resonated across the dealership. She wears many hats, providing top-tier diagnostic support while assisting management, service technicians, service writers, and foremen. Her work spans across new and used sales, collision, and service departments—always ensuring exceptional customer service.

Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Some of her accolades include:

• Being named one of Premier Truck Group’s 2024 Winning Women

• Receiving the Premier Truck Group’s Safety Excellence Coin #056

• Earning an honorable mention at the Jubitz Truck Light Parade

Advice to Women in Trucking

Christine has empowering advice for women already in—or considering entering—the trucking industry.

“Do it. Always trust your intuition, be patient with yourself, believe in your greatness, be bold, and communicate with confidence. Support, don’t compete. Make a great playlist to get through it and get over it.”

Congratulations to Christine Iva Britton, WIT’s Member of the Month!

Source: The Trucker

The post Christine Britton Honored as WIT Member of the Month appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

On October 30, the Women in Trucking Association revealed its 2024 list of “Top Companies for Women to Work in Transportation.” Based in Plover, Wisconsin, this organization annually acknowledges companies that prioritize inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.

“Companies named to this prestigious list must demonstrate corporate attributes that are essential to any successful enterprise committed to gender diversity as part of their corporate strategy,” stated Brian Everett, publisher of Redefining the Road magazine.

Everett highlighted key attributes necessary for selection:

• A corporate culture that promotes gender diversity

• Flexible work hours and requirements

• Attractive compensation packages

• Quality benefits, such as paid maternity leave

• Opportunities for training, ongoing education, and professional growth

• Career advancement potential

• Access to well-maintained and secure equipment and facilities for drivers

Norita Taylor, director of public relations at OOIDA, emphasized the organization’s groundbreaking efforts in tackling challenges within the trucking industry.

“OOIDA has fought for the rights of all truckers for more than 50 years and looks forward to seeing more and more women join the industry as drivers and small-business owners,” Taylor shared with Land Line. “At the heart of our mission is to improve conditions for all small-business truckers, which makes it that much better for women to enter and remain in an industry traditionally dominated by men.”

Taylor further noted OOIDA’s unwavering dedication to fairness across the board, which is mirrored by its diverse workforce.

“OOIDA also exemplifies this dedication in its approach to building and maintaining a workplace that respects and acknowledges the unique contributions of its female staff,” Taylor remarked. “By integrating women fully into its ranks, OOIDA leads by example, showing that a more inclusive industry is possible and preferable.”

This year’s compilation by Women in Trucking features a “diverse range of company types” within the trucking realm, including “motor carriers, third-party logistics companies, and original equipment manufacturers.” The acknowledged companies will be celebrated later this month during the 2024 Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas.

Source: Land Line

The post OOIDA Honored as a Leading Employer for Women in Trucking appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Andrea McFarland’s remarkable career in the trucking and logistics sector exemplifies that women can achieve anything they set their sights on. In a recent episode of the She Drives on Radio Nemo, Andrea, a prominent figure at NFI, opens up about her personal and professional path in an industry increasingly seeing women rise to prominence. With a deep-rooted family history in trucking, Andrea’s narrative is filled with passion, tradition, and barrier-breaking achievements.

A Legacy of Trucking

Andrea’s introduction to the trucking world was almost inevitable. The host comments:

“When you were a kid and you would get to visit work. So this is quite almost literally in your blood and kind of all you know.”

From a young age, Andrea was immersed in the industry, accompanying her father, who has spent over 30 years working, including 27 years with NFI. She fondly remembers after-school hours spent at the Lawnside and Vineland shops with her father.

“He would take me into the shop, and I would just sit there and watch him talking to the drivers and working on the trucks. The relationship he had with them felt so welcoming.”

This early exposure to both the technical and community aspects of trucking ignited Andrea’s interest. Her memories include joining her father on nighttime road calls to assist drivers with mechanical issues.

“He’d be like, ‘Hey, 9 o’clock on a Wednesday night, you want to come on this road call with me?’ And I’d hop in the truck with him, and we’d play games on the way.”

These experiences instilled in Andrea a lasting respect for the profession. Her father’s dedication went beyond repairing trucks—it was about forging relationships and fostering a sense of community.

Crafting Her Own Career Path

Inspired by the influence of her father and uncle, each with extensive careers at NFI, Andrea awaited her chance to join the company. She began her career at a Pennsylvania truck stop, familiarizing herself with the drivers and biding her time for the right moment. That opportunity arose four years ago when she stepped into NFI’s safety department.

“I started as a safety person, worked in that department for two years, and then a dispatcher position opened up. I knew I wanted it.”

Two years into her role as a dispatcher, Andrea’s enthusiasm for her job and colleagues is evident:

“I love my job. I love the drivers I work with, I love everything about it. They make my job so much easier,” she says, giving a shoutout to her team.

Andrea attributes her achievements to NFI’s supportive environment, where management and even the CEO prioritize employee welfare.

“They’re always there to make sure all your needs are filled,” she shares.

Women Paving the Way in Trucking

The trucking industry is evolving as more women step into leadership roles and Andrea is proud to contribute to this shift. What was once a male-dominated field is now welcoming more female leaders and proving their essential role.

“It’s very empowering…it’s becoming less and less of a ‘Wow, a woman in trucking,’ and more of the standard,” Andrea says.

Andrea participates in the Women in Trucking convention annually, celebrating and empowering women in every facet of the industry. She is determined to show other women that success in logistics is well within reach.

“A lot of women probably don’t think they can do this, but we’re proving that we can, every day.”

Personal Triumphs and Professional Growth

On the episode, Andrea also announced a personal triumph—purchasing her first home. As she nears her 30th birthday, she balances a thriving career with significant personal developments.

“I’ll be 30 in June…and I’m about to move into my own house,” she reveals, excited yet busy with this new chapter.

Her hosts celebrated her achievement, emphasizing that buying a house is indeed a milestone worth honoring. Andrea’s commitment to her career, family, and personal aspirations highlights her relentless drive to advance, both in life and within the industry.

Andrea’s evolution from a young girl observing her father in the truck shop to a dispatcher at NFI is a powerful narrative of perseverance, passion, and breaking down barriers. Her story serves as a testament that women can do anything and are thriving in fields like logistics every day.

To explore Andrea’s full story, listen to the complete She Drives episode here.

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