Mark: Hello Ellen. Thanks for taking some time out of your busy schedule to talk with me. We've known each other a long time, so it is exciting to have the chance to do an interview with you! Would you mind beginning by telling our readers a little about yourself and background? How did you get involved in the trucking industry?

Ellen: Thanks Mark, I am honored to be featured on your website!

To understand how I began my career in the trucking industry I’ll take you back to my high school days. I wasn’t interested in taking Home Economics class, because I wanted to take Shop class and learn welding, woodworking, drafting and mechanics. Because of these skills, I was hired to do drafting at a material handling manufacturer. I basically drew pallets, racks and bins.

One day I was asked if I would be interested in moving to the Traffic Department. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but my salary was increased considerably. So, I made the move and they sent me to school where I earned a diploma in Traffic and Transportation Management. I learned how to audit freight bills, read tariffs, and manage a traffic department. I was promoted to Traffic Manager and was responsible for all incoming raw materials, and all outbound finished material handling products.

Once I started my family, I became a freelance Transportation Consultant, and for the next eighteen years I worked with carriers in central Wisconsin and kept their drivers and trucks legal.

During that time, I raised two children, (a son and a daughter), earned a bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point. At the time, I was married to a professional driver and we had a small fleet, which I managed.

My Master’s Degree Thesis was titled, “The Complex Identities of Women Married to Professional Drivers,” which focused on the marriages of couples where the husband was an over-the-road driver and away from home for extended periods of time.

Since then, I’ve used my background in transportation management in all areas of my career.

Mark: I'm trying to remember when we first met, I think it might have been at the Iowa 80 Truckers Jamboree sometime in the late 90s, I remember hanging out with you at the Trucker Buddy booth. Can you tell our readers about Trucker Buddy International? How long were you involved with that organization?

Ellen: I had met Gary King, the founder of Trucker Buddy, years earlier and served on his board of directors for a few years. When Mr. King retired in 2000, I was hired as the Executive Director and ran the organization for six years.

Trucker Buddy International is a pen pal program between professional drivers and elementary classrooms. It is a great image program, but also helps children learn about the trucking industry and its importance to the economy.

Mark: In 2007 you founded Women In Trucking. How did this come about?

Ellen: After I left Trucker Buddy International in 2006, I went to Schneider, Inc, where I became the Manager of Recruiting and Retention Programs. I was responsible for corporate level initiatives to attract and retain drivers, specifically focusing on nontraditional groups, such as seniors, returning military, Hispanics and women. I realized the industry as a whole wasn’t doing a good job attracting women.

At the time, I was earning my pilot’s license and belonged to an organization called, Women in Aviation. I felt that the trucking industry needed a similar group, and started the Women In Trucking Association, Inc. in March, 2007.

Our very first meeting was held in Las Vegas during the Truckload Carriers Conference. We had twelve women on the board of directors. Our attorney helped us through the paperwork process and we were incorporated and recognized as a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization by the IRS.

Mark: Would you please tell us about the goals and objectives of Women in Trucking?

Ellen: Women In Trucking Association’s mission is to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, address obstacles that might keep women from entering, or succeeding in the trucking industry, and to celebrate the success of its members.

Basically, our goal is simply to increase the percentage of women in the trucking industry. We represent the women who design, build, sell, own, fix and drive trucks. We are very proud that eighteen percent of our members are men who believe in our mission. We’re not FOR women as much as we are ABOUT women.

Mark: How many members does Women in Trucking currently have? How can a company or individual become involved with WIT?

Ellen: We currently have nearly 4,000 members in the United States, Canada, Mexico and eight other countries. Anyone can join Women In Trucking if they wish to support our mission. They can check out our website at www.WomenInTrucking.org or call (888) 464-9482.

Mark: Women in Trucking recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary! Congrats! When you look back over the last decade, how does it make you feel? What do you think has been your greatest accomplishment to date? What are the future plans for WIT moving forward?

Ellen: We’ve done so much in the past ten years. Some of the things I am most proud of are:

• Girl Scout Transportation Patch -- We worked with the Greater Chicago, Northern Indiana Girl Scout Region to develop the curriculum and design the patch. So far, over 400 young girls have learned about careers in transportation.
• The Women In Trucking Scholarship Foundation, www.WomenInTruckingFoundation.org, was formed in 2010 to provide grants to anyone seeking training in transportation careers to include safety, maintenance, leadership and commercial driving. Last year the foundation gave out more than $22,000 in grants.
• We created an Image Team to speak to the media, attend trade shows, visit groups and offer ride-alongs with elected officials, regulators, and safety advocates.
• In 2012 we were recognized by the White House as being “Transportation Innovator Champions of Change.”
• We work closely with truck manufacturers on truck cab design and ergonomics to provide feedback from our driver members on how trucks can better accommodate women.
• To celebrate success, we have our annual “Salute to Women Behind the Wheel,” where we honor female professional drivers, and our “Distinguished Woman in Logistics” and “Influential Woman in Trucking” awards.
• We want to be seen as a resource, and we have created the WIT Index to monitor the percentage of female drivers and managers at carriers, an “Anti-harassment Employment Guide,” and a “Guide to Attract and Retain Female Drivers.” We are also working on a "best practices" guide which outlines the culture of carriers with a higher percentage of female drivers.
• In 2015 we held our first annual conference and this year are looking at nearly 500 attendees for our third event.
• Our board of directors now includes both men and women from major trucking industry companies and vendors.

Some future goals include a female professional driver doll, a virtual community platform for our members, greater participation at US DOT events and more. Watch us as we grow and bring more women into the trucking industry.

Mark: Have you seen in increase in Women Truck Drivers since starting Women in Trucking? What do you tell Women who are interested in pursuing a career in trucking?

Ellen: Since we started the WIT Index last year we’ve seen an increase in female professional drivers from six percent to seven percent. We tell women that there are great careers in the trucking industry and they are both wanted and valued.

Mark: Do you hold a Commercial Drivers License?

Ellen: Yes, I earned my CDL in 2008 when I attended the Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland Ohio.

Mark: I gotta know, do you have a favorite truck show?

Ellen: My favorite truck show is the Richard Crane Memorial Truck Show held in St. Ignace, Michigan. The 200+ trucks turn off their headlights and parade across the Mackinac Bridge with their trucks lit up. The communities on both sides of the bridge come out for the evening parade every September.