March
2011
"STORIES"

We recently joined Women In Trucking, an association "formed to promote employment of women in the trucking industry, remove obstacles that might keep them from succeeding, and to celebrate the successes of its members."

I feel that an association like this one is an asset to us all and has many benefits and resources available to its members. As a driver for 33 years and a woman a little bit longer, I am excited to be a part of such a worthwhile (and long overdue!) organization.

 The founder and President of the association is Ellen Voie, a woman I first became acquainted with some 15 or so years ago when we both were involved in doing a video for the BBC called 'Trucking USA.'  At that time Ellen was the co-owner of a small fleet and was responsible for dispatch, billing, payroll, licensing, permitting, etc., and all things running a small fleet entails. She was very knowledgeable then, and has only built on her repertoire since then.

In 2008 she attended Tri-C Truck Driver Academy in Cleveland, Ohio and earned her CDL, but she has been seriously involved in all things trucking since 1980. She has been, and continues to be, one of our biggest advocates and has been directly involved in promoting the trucking industry to the public. Ellen worked as an advocate for women married to truck drivers and assisted in promoting and expanding the Families of Truckers Support Group where she was active in providing a network for women who felt isolated because of their lifestyle.

She earned a diploma in 1980 in Traffic and Transportation Management while working as Traffic Manager for a plant in Wisconsin, then worked as a dispatcher for a grain hauling carrier before becoming co-owner of that small fleet. She worked as a consultant to carriers in Wisconsin, licensing and permitting for more than 16 years after she became a mother, while earning her Master's Degree in Communication from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, where her Thesis was done on the complex identities of women married to professional drivers.

From March 2000 through January 2006, Ellen served as the Director of Trucker Buddy International, Inc., a pen-pal mentoring program that matches professional drivers with elementary school classes. She serves on the board of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association and was a member of the Wisconsin DOT's Motor Carrier Advisory Committee, but of all her accomplishments, my favorite is that she was involved in adapting the Wisconsin Driver's Manual to include information on sharing the road with big trucks.

Ellen Voie has extensive experience in all things trucking and is an eloquent voice for us all. Women in Trucking reflects all of her integrity and conviction and membership in it is something we are very proud of and excited about. You may go to their website www.womenintrucking.org to find out more, but Ellen told me the only requirement for membership is that you believe in their mission. Men make up 14% of their membership, so it is open to everyone.

Women In Trucking is hosting an event at the Mid-America Truck Show on Saturday, March 27th, called "Salute To Women Behind The Wheel." There will be guest speakers, including Anne Ferro, newly confirmed head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, who will also be presenting some awards at the event. All female CDL holders, and all Women In Trucking members may attend, free of charge, but pre-registration is required. You may register at www.salute2women.com.

Free t-shirts will be given to all women registered in order that a group picture may be taken of the world's largest gathering of female professional drivers. Please join us for this event, we are going to be attending MATS this year especially because of it.

I would like to encourage all of you to join Women In Trucking, since through them, our voices may be heard. If integrity and conviction mean anything to you, this would be a good fit. Since I know its founder personally, I can vouch for her sincerity and passion for all things trucking, especially as far as it concerns women!

Hope to see you in Louisville, be sure to stop by our booth and say Hi. 'Til next month, y'all stay safe out there and God Bless!