TMAF Celebrates the Women of Trucking During Women’s History Month

Across the country, more and more women are supporting the industry that keeps America moving forward each and every day. This month, in recognition of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, TMAF is once again celebrating the women of the trucking industry.

TMAF is featuring women who work in various positions throughout the trucking industry to celebrate the work that each of these women do to keep the industry strong and help raise awareness of the diverse opportunities and careers available to women within the industry.

This month, TMAF interviewed the women to learn more about their careers and how they got started in the industry, and what they love most about trucking. The women will be featured on TMAF’s social media channels and blog throughout the month of March.

India Loth, Chairman, Texas Trucking Association Foundation

A second-generation member of the trucking industry, India first joined the trucking industry 27 years ago after she and her husband began working in the family business. By joining the industry, India followed in the footsteps of her father, Rex Acker, who has been recognized as a pioneer in the Texas trucking industry.

Working in the industry has been “truly priceless,” India told TMAF. The industry provided India with an opportunity to pursue her education and become a doctoral candidate.

As a member of the Board of Trustees for the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) Foundation, India said she is especially proud to serve on the board because their scholarship program funds educational opportunities in the industry. India said, “The greatest reward is making phone calls to scholarship recipients and their parents.”

Proud of her job and the work of the industry, India said, “This role allows me to see the tremendous generosity of the people of this industry. We have gained lifetime friends that genuinely care about each other and the collective success of the trucking industry.”

India would tell other women who are considering joining the trucking industry that “the opportunity in this industry for women is underestimated” and “there are many areas for one to succeed in trucking.” India said, “I am very proud of the amazing women that have stepped up to great responsibility in our company and the industry.”

Melissa Huddleston, Executive Director, Laredo Motor Carriers Association

With a degree in Early Childhood Education and 12 years of experience working in a church, Melissa never planned to join the trucking industry until a job in trucking “fell in her lap.” While job searching, Melissa was asked to help coordinate for a young trucking association and she “was up for the challenge.” Now, Melissa runs the association and trucking has become one of her passions.

The proudest moment of Melissa’s career is the growth of The Laredo Motor Carriers Association. In just three and a half years, Melissa grew the Association from 18 members to 234 members. Melissa is especially proud of their continued growth. Just this year, Laredo became the largest inland Port in the nation.

Melissa is also extremely proud of the Association’s legislative wins on issues important to the industry. Through the Association’s advocacy and education efforts, Melissa has the opportunity to speak on behalf of the industry at events, panels and on committees she’s invited to join; she’s also been invited to speak on leadership roundtables with Congressmen, Senators, and industry leaders.

The Laredo Motor Carriers Association recognizes their driver and carrier of the year annually. Melissa told TMAF that “hearing the stories behind the passion of why they do what they do” is special to her and a memorable experience.

Melissa encourages other women who are considering joining the trucking industry to “Go for it! Take the challenge!” Melissa said, “There are opportunities for growth and for you to become a successful businesswoman in the trucking industry.”

Kirsten Barringer, VP, Virtual Financial Services

One of Kirsten’s first clients as a consultant was a trucking company. Kirsten told TMAF that relationship opened her eyes to the trucking industry and trucking has been her life ever since.

Helping companies from all different backgrounds with their finances is what makes Kirsten most proud of her career. Kirsten said, “I’ve seen companies around for generations and those started by a driver who just thought he could create a business…Knowing that what I do helps all of these people be successful brings a definite sense of pride to me.”

Kirsten gives back to the industry as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) Foundation, which funds education and research projects for the state’s trucking industry. The TXTA Foundation provides scholarships to TXTA member employees or their family members to help ease financial burdens. One memorable moment in Kirsten’s career was celebrating the first ever Mike Craddock Memorial Scholarship with the recipient and her family. Kirsten said, “It means so much to me to give back to people that work so hard for their families and for ours.”

When asked what Kirsten would tell other women who are considering joining the trucking industry, she said, “I would love for other women to know that this is a wonderful industry to be part of. While it is traditionally male-dominated, women can be very successful and play an important role. The family culture is prevalent in trucking, as it is a network of people with a lot of respect for each other and for our communities.”

Jessica King Price, CFO, Palletized Trucking Inc.

After graduating college, Jessica began working for her grandmother at the trucking company her grandparents founded in 1969. After her grandparent’s sold the business to their kids and grandkids and retired, Jessica began taking on new roles and more responsibility within the company, which is when she began learning more fully about the family business.

When Jessica’s dad was sick with terminal lung cancer, he encouraged Jessica to “work hard and ‘take the bull by the horns,’” Jessica told TMAF. A few months after Jessica’s father passed away, she was promoted to CFO, one of her proudest moments. Jessica describes the achievement as “a huge accomplishment and a way to honor my dad and my grandparents, and an awesome way to serve my family and our industry.”

Jessica is especially proud of her company transporting NASA’s retired Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), a modified Boeing 747 dubbed NASA 905, in April 2014. The NASA 905, the main shuttle carrier for NASA’s space shuttle program, was used to transport space shuttles across the U.S., including Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. After months of preparation and planning to prepare the city of Houston for the 920-foot convoy of trucks, shuttle parts, electricians and engineers, Palletized Trucking hauled the aircraft to Space Center Houston. The aircraft was transported in seven large pieces over the course of two nights.

Some of Jessica’s most memorable experiences working in the trucking industry include working with organizations, such as the TXTA and TXTA Foundation. Jessica enjoys seeing what “awesome people” there in trucking. She is thankful for how much she has been able to learn others in the industry.

When speaking about job opportunities in trucking for women, Jessica said that in a male dominated industry, women “provide a new perspective and will only help the industry as a whole.” She encourages other women interested in joining this “fun” industry to “Get ready to be surrounded by hard working people who really have a passion for the industry and be ready to put in some time. This business never stops.”

Kendra Hems, President, Trucking Association of New York

Since the age of eight, Kendra has been around trucks and the industry. Kendra’s stepfather’s family owned a trucking company, and after college, Kendra joined the industry working as a dispatcher at her stepfamily’s company. Kendra has been working in the industry ever since — 25 years later.

Kendra told TMAF she has “had many memorable experiences” throughout her career and that working at her stepfamily’s company taught her early lessons that have guided and led her success in the industry. According to Kendra, some of those lessons include building relationships, treating drivers and customers with respect, listening to and acting on concerns, ensuring loads are delivered safely, and getting drivers home to their families safely.

One of the proudest moments of Kendra’s career in trucking was being awarded the American Trucking Associations President’s Trucking Association Executive Council Leadership Award in 2014. Kendra, who was nominated by her peers, was given the award in recognition of her work to promote the trucking industry and the industry’s image, and her work advocating on issues important to the industry in New York State. Kendra said, “My trucking association counterparts across the country are some of the most professional, dedicated and hard-working individuals I know. I can think of no greater honor than to be recognized by one’s peers, particularly when every one of them is deserving of the award as well.”

When asked what Kendra would tell other women who are considering joining the trucking industry, she said, “Do it!… There are so many opportunities in the industry that offer the flexibility women need to balance careers and raise families. Being in the trucking industry is like being part of an extended family — I have had some amazing experiences and met some of the most educated and professional individuals along the way. I can’t imagine working in any other industry.”

Khrista Bishop Roach, Assistant Vice President, Refrigerated Transport, Inc.

When asked how she joined the field of trucking, Khrista says that “trucking chose her,” as a third-generation member of the trucking industry proudly working for her family’s business.

While studying Agricultural Communications at Texas Tech University, Khrista said they talked a lot about Farm-to-Table, but recalled that in those discussions, everyone forgot about the “to.” Now working in the industry, Khrista sees first-hand the important role that trucks play in Farm-to-Table operations.

Khrista is proud of the work of her company and the industry. Working for a refrigerated trucking company, and seeing food come in everyday, has put the “to” in Farm-to-Table into perspective for her. Khrista told TMAF, “As cheesy as it sounds, I love being able to go to the grocery store and find the products that I know have been on our trucks.”

One of the proudest moments in Khrista’s career was participating in the Texas Trucking Association’s Call on Washington. Khrista recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for the program and spoke with her state’s representatives about the issues facing the industry. She said, “I was honored to represent not only our company, but our state and industry. Being able to have a voice and opinion on what will keep our industry going is something that I take great pride in.”

When speaking about the diverse career opportunities available for women in the trucking industry, Khrista said, “We are all capable of succeeding in any area of the trucking industry and life. We all have different talents and passions so wherever those fit within the industry use them in a way to serve the people around you.”