The Trucker News Staff

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Corra Group is assisting trucking and transportation companies with their U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance needs by offering both a la carte and batch files for the company’s annual motor vehicle driving records requirements. The El Segundo, California, headquartered background checking service can deliver driving records for every state in the union, plus Canada and Puerto Rico. “It is essential that trucking and transportation companies meet all Department of Transportation compliance mandates,” Corra Group Co-Founder Nick Gustavson said. “This standard is vital at a time when there is a driving shortage and trucking groups are struggling to find new drivers and to keep their current drivers compliant and on the road. Gustavson said Corra Group offers batch file uploads of minimum 50 drivers. “The driving records return in less than a 48-hour turnaround,” he said. “Employers also have the option of ordering MVRS individually, at which point for most states they return in about 60 seconds.” Gustavson underlined that Corra Group offers driver PSP driver safety reports as well as CDLIS, criminal records searches and DOT employment verification. He noted that clients can request custom trucking packages in any way they see fit. He added that some of the services are necessary for DOT compliance, while some are elective background checks. “Clients simply upload to us a spreadsheet containing the required information in order to conduct batch file motor vehicle driving records,” Gustavson said. “Clients will provide release forms for each driver Corra Group is checking, and that’s about it. In 24 to 48 hours, the driving records are returned to clients. For those companies with less than fifty drivers, they are free to order each record individually. It’s a simple process and turnaround is very fast in most states.”  

PLOVER, Wis. — The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) recently announced its fifth annual list of Top Women to Watch in Transportation. These women were selected because their significant career accomplishments in the past 12 to 18 months, as well as their efforts to promote gender diversity within the industry. “This year, we were impressed with the number of nominations we received for highly-qualified and outstanding women who have excelled in a male-dominant industry,” said Brian Everett, group editorial director and publisher of WIT’s Redefining the Road magazine. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to recognize and highlight the achievements of 84 incredibly talented and valuable women.” Those recognized on the 2022 Top Women to Watch in Transportation list work for a broad range of company types, including motor carriers, third-party logistics companies, equipment manufacturers, retailer truck dealers, professional services companies, technology innovators and private fleets. Their job functions include corporate management (32%), operations/safety (27%), human resources/talent management (19%), sales/marketing (11%) and engineering/product development (6%). Another 5% are professional drivers. Individuals recognized as 2022 “Top Women to Watch in Transportation” are, in alphabetical order: Jennifer Albers, engineering manager, Yellow Peggy Arnold, road driver, Yellow Georgy Barlow, director of business development strategic accounts, Yellow Sanya Beard, owner/principal, Melrose Trucking and Transportation Jill Bezner-Ray, program manager, Peterbilt Motors Lisa Black, operations compliance manager, Aurora Elaine Bodnar, professional driver, CFI Kasey Brough, safety advisor, NAPA Transportation Inc. Ingrid Brown, CEO/independent owner-operator/FreightWaves HOST/FMCSA Voice of Safety, Rollin’ B LLC Naomi Brutscher, CDL examiner, Prime Inc. Navolia Bryant, chief people officer, Premier Trailer Leasing Susan Cagley, transportation manager of Toyota operations, Carter Logistics Inc. Cynthia Chiari, operating center manager, May Trucking Co. Sadie Church, director of recruiting and marketing, Artur Express Inc. Maria Coley, human resources director, CFI Traci Crane, Sr Manager Fleet Maintenance, CFI Paige Creo, director of marketing, Maven Machines Bronagh Curley, corporate services manager, New West Truck Centres (Freightliner Inc.) Melissa Davis, regional director of sales, Old Dominion Freight Line Lina DeJongh, terminal manager, Trimac Transportation Hayley Dobson, group vice president, Trinity Logistics Alexa Ekberg, product manager, Maven Machines Betty Elrod, chief marketing officer, Inflection Poynt Julia Epperly, account staff manager, Venture Connect Sondra Freeman, North America credit and collections manager, Trimac Transportation Molly Gibson, senior digital media strategist, CDLLife Nicole Glenn, founder and CEO, Candor Expedite Lindsay Goodman, vice president of national accounts, J.B. Hunt Kami Green, manager of payroll and accounts payable, John Christner Trucking Elizabeth Halko, vice president of operations, Proficient Auto Transport Inc. Angela Hargesheimer, group director of national accounts maintenance operations, Ryder System Inc. Amber Henson, account manager-operations, CFI Jackie Jacobs, senior fleet transaction analyst and project manager, Fleet Advantage Joëlle Jantzen, manager of human resources compliance, Yellow Tamar Jimenez, service center manager, XPO Logistics Inc. Katerina Jones, vice president of marketing and business development, Fleet Advantage Foster Kaman, manager of sales planning and support, Yellow Jennifer Karpus-Romain, executive director, Transportation Marketing & Sales Association Samka Keranovic, vice president and COO, US Truck Driver Training School Frederique Klein, director of finance, Navistar Alyssa Lamport, operations manager, Yellow Nona Larson, director of customer service, PACCAR Parts Rachel Lovell, vice president of people operations, Ascend Caroline Lyle, president, Virago Marketing Kelsey Mahay, Dealer Communications Manager, Navistar Michelle Mahoney, assistant director of operations, Carter Express Inc. Ann Marie Manos, associate director of service engineering and serviceability, Navistar Yvonne Mauriello, senior director of rental, Ryder System Ashley McClain, autonomous truck operations specialist, Aurora Jennifer Meyer, group logistics manager, Ryder Transportation Solutions LLC Britta Miano, director of customer excellence, Red Classic Veronica Millares, group director-sales strategy and operations, Ryder System Beth Paholke, fleet leader, Veriha Trucking Inc. Emily Phillips, vice president of advanced solutions, XPO Logistics Inc. Jennifer Piatt, elite support and diversity manager, Stoops Freightliner Ginny Polach, director of human resources, Sunset Transportation Kristi Randall, vice president, Artur Express Melissia Reeves, managing director of field operations, FedEx Freight Lorraine Reynoso, customer care and servicing manager, Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance Becca Ridge, vice president of client services, CDLLife Su Schmerheim, independent owner-operator, Class Act Horse Transport LLC Michelle Siebert, director of finance, Artur Express Inc. Heather Smith, head of operations management, Aurora Robyn Smith, operating center manager, May Trucking Co. Carrie Snider, controller, Certified Express Jennifer Snyder, co-founder and general counsel, Fluid Truck Jin Stedge, co-founder and CEO, TruNorth Transportation Susan Stencel, director of customer logistics, Ryder Supply Chain Solutions Kim Stewart, regional vice president, Hogan Transports Lisa Strader, vice president of expedited operations, Covenant Roberta Tamburrino, president-freight audit and payment, AFS Logistics Angela Tracy, director of enterprise sales, Penske Truck Leasing Kendra Tucker, COO, Truckstop.com Amisha Vadalia, senior director of operations, Plus Raquel Valle, vice president of people and culture, Venture Logistics Ginnapher Velez, senior vice president of asset management, Clean Harbors Kathryn Venis, group director of customer logistics, Ryder System LouAnn Wagner, CEO, Texas Auto Carriers Inc. Tracy Walker, director of safety, Yellow Amy Wettstein, regional vice president of van truckload, Schneider Michelle Wiggins, director of sales, ReedTMS Logistics Pamela Wilday, independent contractor/driver, Prime Inc. Shelly Willingham, manager of engineering, Yellow Stacey Woods, senior vice president of human resources operations, XPO Logistics Inc. “This exceptional group of women have persevered through the uncertain times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, exhibiting the true example of a leader,” said Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT. “The resilience displayed by these women supports and furthers the mission of the Women In Trucking Association to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.”

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) recognized several women who are forging new roads in the trucking industry. Amber Edmondson, president, CEO and co-owner of Trailiner Corp., is one of those women. In 1999, Edmondson’s grandfather, who founded the Springfield, Missouri-based refrigerated truckload carrier, encouraged her to join the family business while she was completing a college degree in business. Following graduation, she was asked to remain with the company and mentor with one of the executives. “Now it’s 23 years later and I’m still here,” she said, noting that she has learned all aspects of the business since joining the team. In 2018, she and three cousins joined together to buy the company. As president and CEO of Trailiner, Edmondson focuses on the business strategy, working to position the company for future opportunities and growth. In addition, she ensures the business runs smoothly and that her team has the support it needs. “I work to empower my team to do the things they need to do,” she said. Life in the trucking industry is ever-changing, and that’s just fine with Edmondson. “What I love most about trucking is that no day is the same. There’s always something that keeps it interesting,” she said. “You also get to interact with a broad, diverse group of people.” She says some of the most memorable moments during her career include being affiliated with American Trucking Associations and the Truckload Carriers Association. “I have gotten to meet people across the industry, and it’s interesting to hear other people’s stories — especially those with similar stories to mine,” she said. “I like hearing the stories of other people who are working in a family business — those who are working to keep the family atmosphere while keeping the business running from generation to generation.” Edmondson encourages other women who are considering a career in trucking to join the industry. “There are an unlimited number of opportunities for women in trucking,” she said. “Women have the freedom of being out on the open road as a driver or working their way up in a company. There are a lot of women in executive leadership positions in trucking now,” she continued. “The opportunities are out there if you’re willing to put in the work and pursue those opportunities.”

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) recognized several women who are forging new roads in the trucking industry. Erica Denney, director of sales for Denney Transport, is one of those women. Even though her family owned a trucking company, working in the industry was not something Denney planned for. In fact, the former college volleyball player says she never really looked beyond collegiate athletics while at Penn State, other than thinking she might “go into the beef industry.” “But I did love my transportation class the most, so maybe that was a hint (of things) to come,” she said. After college, Denney took a job in insurance. After about a year, her father called and asked her to help out with the family business, Denney Transport. “I never looked back, and have been at Denney for six years,” she said, adding that her job involves selling niche services for the company’s truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) services. When asked what she loves most about trucking, Denney is quick respond: “The people, and what we are all trying to do.” The trucking industry plays a pivotal role in the supply chain, delivering the necessities of everyday life as well as the luxuries. “When I go to the grocery store, I think, ‘We brought that.’ Your favorite dessert at Starbucks? We brought that. Your designer bag, the medicine you need. If we stopped, the country would stop.” Denney encourages young people to enter the industry. She served as a coach for the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Trucking U, where she spoke to college students studying business or transportation. In addition, she was part of the LEAD ATA Class of 2019, where she shared business practices with peers. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Denny said she quickly discovered a need for more education about the trucking industry and how critical it is to the supply chain. “Trucking is here to stay. We are flexible, and we work on the fly,” she said. Denney also expressed concern about the industry’s worker shortage, noting that the average age of drivers is now close to retirement age. Her advice to young people who are interested in a career in trucking? “Trucking can open so many doors, and you can feel good about what you do. It’s such a large industry, but it has a close-knit, family feel. We back each other,” she said. “What other industry does this? It’s so cool to think that at the end of the day, we aim to accomplish the same thing.”