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Jennifer Hedrick is the President and CEO of the Women in Trucking Association, where she’s driving meaningful change across the transportation industry by championing opportunities for women behind the wheel and beyond. With over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, coalition building, and strategic planning, she’s known for building authentic relationships that turn stakeholder engagement into real impact. From Capitol Hill to conference halls, Jennifer’s thoughtful mission-driven leadership style has made her a respected voice in transportation and association circles alike.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [03:00] How Jennifer accidentally found her way into the transportation industry through association work
- [05:00] Women in Trucking’s mission: from job creation to eliminating barriers across the industry
- [06:00] Growing from hundreds to 8,000 members spanning “from the driver’s seat to the C-suite”
- [09:00] Key challenges women face entering and staying in the trucking industry
- [11:00] How carriers can create environments that attract and retain women drivers
- [13:00] The importance of male allies in championing women’s advancement in trucking
- [16:00] The power of conferences in connecting isolated women professionals
- [18:00] Flexible arrangements and local driving opportunities for work-life balance
- [20:00] The Image Team: rock star volunteers spreading awareness at schools and events
- [22:00] Whitney the educational trailer: bringing trucking awareness across the country with interactive simulators
- [27:00] Essential advice for women entering trucking: find mentors, read widely, and pick what you love
In this episode…
The transportation industry has long been male-dominated, but what does it take to create meaningful opportunities for women across all levels of trucking? From addressing safety concerns at truck stops to building pathways from entry-level positions to the C-suite, the challenges are real but so are the solutions.
According to Jennifer Hedrick, President and CEO of the Women in Trucking Association, the key lies in eliminating barriers, celebrating successes, and creating authentic connections within the industry. She highlights how her organization has grown to 8,000 members by focusing not just on drivers, but on women in all aspects of trucking—from technicians to executives. Through innovative programs like their Image Team and Whitney the educational trailer, they’re changing perceptions one school visit at a time.
In this episode of Roadrageous, hosts Liam Hoch and Chad Lindholm sit down with Jennifer to explore how the Women in Trucking Association is breaking down barriers and building up opportunities. They discuss practical strategies for carriers, the power of mentorship, and why the industry’s chronic driver shortage makes gender diversity not just the right thing to do, but a smart business strategy.
Quotable Moments:
- “Our tagline we like to say: from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.”
- “A lot of women think that there isn’t a place for them here because it is a male dominated industry, and that’s certainly not true.”
- “Drivers get into the industry largely through word of mouth. So if a driver’s working with a carrier who is treating them well, they tell others.”
- “We really need male allies. Be male allies and build up the women around you.”
- “I’m one of two women working in my company, or I’m the only woman working in my company. So to come here with 1,800 other women who I can talk to—that’s empowering and valuable.”
- “Find a mentor, find someone within the industry. It doesn’t have to be somebody in your career path. It doesn’t have to be a woman.”
Action Steps:
- Champion women in your workplace: Offer opportunities, education, and conference attendance to female colleagues
- Improve safety infrastructure: Advocate for better lighting, individual facilities, and secure parking at truck stops
- Create flexible arrangements: Offer local driving options and flexible schedules to accommodate different life situations
- Invest in education and outreach: Partner with organizations like Women in Trucking to visit schools and community events
- Build mentorship programs: Connect experienced professionals with women entering or advancing in the industry
- Support industry events: Encourage attendance at conferences like Accelerate for networking and professional development
Transforming Transportation Through Inclusion and Education
In a recent episode of Roadrageous, hosts Liam Hoch and Chad Lindholm welcomed Jennifer Hedrick, President and CEO of the Women in Trucking Association, to discuss the evolving landscape of gender diversity in transportation. The conversation centered on breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and leveraging innovative outreach to transform industry perceptions.
The Evolution of Women in Trucking
Jennifer shared her journey into transportation through association work, eventually leading the Women in Trucking Association as it grew from a few hundred members to 8,000 today. Founded in 2007 by Ellen Voie, the organization focuses on three core areas: job creation, celebration of successes, and elimination of obstacles and barriers.
Key Discussion Points:
- Comprehensive Membership Approach: The association serves members “from the driver’s seat to the C-suite,” including drivers, technicians, management professionals, and executives across all career stages.
- Addressing Safety Concerns: Jennifer highlighted crucial safety improvements like better lighting at truck stops, individual shower facilities, and secure parking options that make the industry more accessible to women.
- The Power of Word-of-Mouth Recruitment: Drivers who have positive experiences with carriers naturally become advocates, encouraging other women to enter the profession through personal recommendations.
- Male Allies as Champions: With 15% male membership, the association emphasizes the critical role of male colleagues in championing women’s advancement and creating inclusive workplace cultures.
- Conference Impact: The annual Accelerate conference brings together nearly 2,000 attendees, with 80% being women who often work as the only female professional in their companies.
- Innovative Outreach Programs: The Image Team of volunteer speakers and Whitney the educational trailer bring trucking awareness to schools and community events nationwide, featuring interactive simulators and real-world role models.
- Flexible Career Paths: Modern carriers are creating more local driving opportunities and flexible arrangements to accommodate different lifestyle needs and career preferences.
The Future of Industry Diversity
The episode concluded with a discussion about practical strategies for carriers and individuals to support women’s advancement in trucking, emphasizing that addressing the industry’s chronic driver shortage requires tapping into underutilized talent pools.
Conclusion:
Jennifer’s insights demonstrate that transforming the trucking industry’s gender landscape requires a comprehensive approach combining infrastructure improvements, cultural change, innovative education, and strong advocacy. By eliminating barriers and creating authentic opportunities for connection and advancement, organizations like Women in Trucking are proving that diversity isn’t just about fairness—it’s about building a stronger, more sustainable transportation future.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Jennifer Hedrick on LinkedIn
- Women in Trucking Association
- Liam Hoch on LinkedIn
- Chad Lindholm on LinkedIn
- IMPROVLearning
- Whitney Educational Trailer Information
- Women in Trucking Annual Accelerate Conference
- Contact for Whitney bookings: jenny@womenintrucking.org
- Walmart Transportation Partnership
Sponsor for this episode:
This episode is brought to you by IMPROVLearning.
At IMPROVLearning, we’re dedicated to transforming driver education through innovative, research-backed training methods.
Our SPIDER™ Driver Training platform combines humor with proven brain-training techniques to help drivers anticipate and avoid potential dangers on the road.
With over four million students trained, we know that learning sticks best when it’s engaging, short, and actively tested — resulting in fewer crashes, violations, and safer drivers overall.
To learn more about how IMPROVLearning makes roads safer one driver at a time, visit improvlearning.com.
