Women in Trucking Association

Women in Trucking Association
Name	Women in Trucking Association
Formation	2007
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Frisco, Texas
Region served	United States, Canada
Leader title	President & CEO
Leader name	Ellen Voie

Women in Trucking Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 to promote the employment of women in the trucking industry and to address gender-related challenges within trucking and logistics sectors. The association engages with companies, government agencies, trade groups, and educational institutions to improve recruitment, retention, and recognition of women in driving, management, safety, and technical roles. Through partnerships with industry leaders and transportation stakeholders, the organization advances diversity initiatives and workforce development across North America.

History

The organization was established in 2007 amid shifting labor dynamics in transportation and increasing attention from entities such as the American Trucking Associations, U.S. Department of Transportation, and regional carriers. Early interactions included collaborations with trade publications like Transport Topics, Overdrive Magazine, and Fleet Owner and engagement with professional networks such as Women in Logistics and Delivery Services and National Association of Women Business Owners. During its formative years, the association worked alongside stakeholders including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, and major carriers like Schneider National, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and Werner Enterprises to develop outreach programs. The growth of e-commerce and the rise of companies such as Amazon (company), Walmart, and FedEx intensified industry demand for drivers and logistics professionals, prompting coordinated responses from the association and partners including Association of American Railroads and International Brotherhood of Teamsters chapters. Over time, the association’s trajectory intersected with initiatives from organizations like Society of Women Engineers, National Safety Council, and state-level workforce boards.

Mission and Objectives

The association’s mission emphasizes recruitment, retention, and recognition within the context of commercial trucking and supply chain operations. Core objectives align with workforce development priorities articulated by entities such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, and public agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau that monitor labor trends. Objectives include fostering partnerships with academic institutions such as Texas A&M University, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Tennessee for research and training; collaborating with certification bodies like Commercial Vehicle Training Association and National Institute for Trucking Safety; and engaging with standards organizations including American Society of Safety Professionals and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The association also prioritizes alliances with corporate diversity programs at UPS, DHL, and XPO Logistics.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs encompass scholarship funds, mentorship, leadership development, and safety campaigns developed alongside stakeholders such as Women in Transportation Seminar, National Association of Small Trucking Companies, and National Tank Truck Carriers. Initiatives include conferences and expos featuring partners like CES, Mid-America Trucking Show, and regional events hosted with associations such as Missouri Trucking Association and California Trucking Association. The group administers award programs comparable to honors from FreightWaves and Transport Topics and coordinates training initiatives with institutions such as Community College Consortium for Health and Safety Training and private trainers like NATMI. Partnerships with technology firms including Omnitracs, Trimble Inc., and Geotab support programs on fleet safety, telematics, and autonomous vehicle transitions. Collaboration with unions and advocacy groups such as Teamsters for a Democratic Union, National Women’s Law Center, and Institute for Women’s Policy Research informs policy programming.

Membership and Leadership

Membership includes individual drivers, fleet operators, executives, and corporate sponsors drawn from firms like Knight-Swift Transportation, CRST The Transportation Solution, YRC Worldwide, Roadrunner Transportation Systems, and logistics providers such as CEVA Logistics and Kuehne + Nagel. Leadership has involved industry executives, safety professionals, and advocates who liaise with institutions like American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and academia. The organization’s governance model reflects practices used by Society for Human Resource Management and nonprofit standards promoted by BoardSource. Advisory relationships have connected the association to corporate diversity officers from Target Corporation, Home Depot, and Caterpillar Inc..

Advocacy and Public Outreach

Advocacy efforts engage lawmakers, regulatory agencies, and standards bodies including U.S. Congress committees on transportation policy, Federal Highway Administration, and state departments of transportation such as Texas Department of Transportation and California Department of Transportation. Public outreach leverages media partnerships with outlets such as Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, and industry press like American Shipper and Logistics Management. Campaigns emphasize workplace safety, facility design, and equipment ergonomics in collaboration with vendors and associations including Navistar International, Volvo Trucks North America, Penske Truck Leasing, and aftermarket suppliers. Educational outreach coordinates with vocational systems such as Career and Technical Education consortia, veterans’ programs tied to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and workforce development boards.

Impact and Recognition

The association’s impact includes increased visibility of women in driving and managerial roles and recognition through industry awards and citation in research by institutions like RAND Corporation, Pew Research Center, and Brookings Institution. Corporate partners and sponsors from Walgreens Boots Alliance, PepsiCo, and Anheuser-Busch have highlighted hiring initiatives influenced by the association’s programs. The organization’s work has been cited in analyses by McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, and Accenture regarding diversity and talent pipelines in logistics and supply chain. Honors and acknowledgments have come via collaborations with trade shows such as Work Truck Week and grants or endorsements from foundations including Ford Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Category:Organizations established in 2007 Category:Transportation organizations in the United States