ARLINGTON, Va. — The Women in Trucking Association (WIT) has grouped together six female trucking professionals for its 2024 Image Team.
Team members are considered experts in the opportunities, challenges and experiences of female professional truck drivers, according to a news release.
WIT Image Team participates in ride-along events for legislators, regulators and industry leaders to provide a deeper understanding of experiences and obstacles female drivers face on the road.
They also speak to the media and industry professionals at public events and industry conferences.
“Members of the Image Team educate the industry and the public at-large on critical issues faced by female professional truck drivers,” said WIT’s president and CEO Jennifer Hedrick. “They share their personal and professional stories through creative content and social media. They are the faces and voices of the female perspective in the trucking industry.” The Image Team represents the mission of the association, which is to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry, she added.
Class of 2024 members include: Jerri Baez, telematics safety specialist with Colony Hardware; April Crysel, professional driver with Chestnut Enterprises; Melissa Eauclaire, professional driver with Boyle Transportation; Ashley Finneran, transportation advisor with SRS Distribution; Yuma Haidara, certified driver trainer with Walmart; and Esther Parsons, feeder driver with UPS.
This new class joins the existing group of 18 legacy members, many representing the industry since the Image Team’s inception in 2015.
Legacy members include the following professional truck drivers: Carmen Anderson with American Service Line; Ingrid Brown with Rollin’ B LLC; Susie DeRidder with Day and Ross; Jodi Edwards with J.B. Hunt Transport; Allyson Hay with Walmart Private Fleet; Wyzeena Heeny with Covenant Logistics; Vanita Johnson with EPES Transport System; Deb LaBree with Castle Transport LLC, leased to Landstar; Joanne Millen Mackenzie with Highland Transport; and Kellylynn McLaughlin with Clean Harbors.
Other legacy members include: Cindi Alexander, co-owner and training instructor with Lake Cumberland CDL Training School; Jeana Hysell, senior safety consultant with J.J. Keller & Associates; Michele Joslin, director of training and compliance with Justified Diligence; Stephanie Klang, driver ambassador with WIT; Jill Maschmeier, director of safety and compliance with National Carriers; and KayLeigh McCall, driver training engineer with Schneider National.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
women in trucking are a bunch of Liars. notice they didn’t seek real drivers who have touched it out here on the road. using chains to get through mountains during horrible weather storms of winter. have you ever read an article from them about real women drivers having to choose trucking as single mothers to feed their families? They never seem to acknowledge individuals who are independent drivers with own authority struggling to keep their trucks on the road with all the expenses a O/O deals with regarding regulations? Never! Every article, I’ve read regarding their so called awarded women drivers all those drivers are employed with Mega carriers. I’m still wondering what the Women In Trucking did with all the money the government doled out to them? They’re a bunch of phoneys who cater to FMSCA regulators on how to screw the independent drivers under the guise of safety. They always can be seen patting each other on the back supporting Mega carriers. They’re an insult to the real women drivers out here for years on the road.