Earlier this week, 18 women trucking leaders from 10 states met with their members of Congress and White House officials for the American Trucking Associations’ inaugural Women In Motion Call on Washington.
The WIM members represented a wide variety of backgrounds and ranged from truck drivers to trucking executives.
Over the course of two days, they participated in multiple events, including
- roundtable with members of the House Education & the Workforce Committee
- roundtable with staff from House Republican leadership offices
- breakfast meet and greet with Members of Congress
- White House meeting
- multiple one-on-one conversations with trucking champions on Capitol Hill, including Congressman Rick Larsen, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.
Throughout their meetings, the WIM members shared their personal experiences in trucking and made the case for Congress to pass bills to foster safe and productive workplaces, reduce financial barriers to join the industry, and preserve pathways to entrepreneurship.
“Women In Motion was founded with the purpose of promoting the role of women in the trucking industry, highlighting their unique perspectives and bringing about positive change," said ATA COO Sarah Rajtik, co-chair of Women In Motion. "By leveraging ATA’s deep relationships on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch, we were able to deliver WIM’s message directly to our nation’s top policymakers."
“It was a pleasure to join my colleagues on Capitol Hill and in the White House for Women In Motion’s first Call on Washington, where we made encouraging progress on a number of our initiatives designed to create more opportunities for women in the trucking industry,” said Iowa Motor Truck Association President Brenda Neville, co-chair of Women In Motion.
“The trucking industry has provided me with a rewarding career and supported my family for many years. That is why I am so passionate about growing the ranks of female drivers so that more women can benefit from the same opportunities that I have had,” said Dee Sova, a professional truck driver for Prime Inc.
ATA established WIM to promote and support the advancement of women in the trucking industry. WIM provides access to training, mentorship, and networking programs; advocates for policies and practices that create a level playing field for women in the industry; and fosters communication and collaboration among women and their allies.
The diverse membership spans various roles, from truck drivers and technicians to HR professionals and CEOs.
FedEx is a founding sponsor of WIM.
