WIT plans first annual salute to women truckers during MATS in 2010
The event will be held March 27, 2010, at the Kentucky Exposition Center, site of the trucking show.
The Trucker News Services
10/14/2009
PLOVER, Wis. — Although women comprise less than 6 percent of the professional driving force, many have reached commendable levels of safety and experience and the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) plans to recognize these women and their accomplishments at the first annual “Salute to the Women Behind the Wheel” during the Mid-America Trucking Show at Louisville next year.
The event will be sponsored in part by Daimler Trucks North America and Frito-Lay North America and will be held March 27, 2010, at the Kentucky Exposition Center, site of the trucking show.
“Our goal is to reach out to the 180,000 female professional drivers and invite them to a celebration in their honor,” Ellen Voie, WIT’s president/CEO and a CDL holder herself, said. “All women with Class A licenses are invited to attend, and will be provided with a t-shirt and lots of tokens of our appreciation. We will take a group photo of the largest gathering of female CDL holders in the world.”
Daimler Trucks and Frito-Lay will be the primary hosts of the celebration.
“We support diversity in all areas of transportation and are especially excited to be able to honor these women and their families for their contribution to the trucking industry,” Trudy Houghton, Daimler Truck’s manager of recruiting and diversity, said.
"Frito-Lay is committed to strong diversity and inclusion programs as evidenced by being a Charter member and Gold Partner of WIT, among many other company-wide programs,” said Mark Rousseau, Frito-Lay’s national logistics manager and member of the WIT board of directors. “Events like this one are important to support the Women that are now in Transportation and to encourage others to become a part of the industry.”
Participants do not need to be a member of the Women In Trucking Association and families are also welcome to accompany the woman driver.
Pre-registration is required (online at www.salute2women.com or at the WIT booth during the Mid America Trucking Show).
Doors open at noon and the photo shoot is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Still in the planning stages are entertainment and refreshments as well as special gifts from corporate sponsors.
Women In Trucking Association was formed in March 2007 as a nonprofit corporation dedicated to encourage women to explore career opportunities in the trucking industry, to minimize any obstacles that might keep women from succeeding, and to celebrate the success of those already working in the trucking industry.
Membership is not limited to women, but anyone who supports WIT’s mission. Visit www.WomenInTrucking.org for more information or to become a member.
Dorothy Cox of The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at dlcox@thetrucker.com.
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