TMAF Recognizes the Women of Trucking Throughout Women’s History Month

TMAF is once again recognizing the women of the trucking industry during Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. To celebrate the more than 200,000 women of trucking who help keep America moving forward, TMAF is featuring several women of trucking on our social media channels and blog throughout the month of March.

TMAF interviewed several women in various job positions throughout the industry to recognize their dedicated work in the industry and help shine a light on the diverse jobs and careers available to women within the trucking industry.

Donna Brough

Donna Brough, a Region Manager at Pilot Travel Centers, has been part of the trucking industry for 25 years. She first started working with Pilot Flying J as an overnight cashier and has been a regional manager for the past 14 years.

According to Donna, to say the trucking industry has always been a part of her life would be an understatement. Growing up, Donna remembers going to Union 76 Truck Stop for breakfast with her dad, where she saw firsthand how, day in and day out, employees at truck stops can impact the drivers’ daily lives. More so, along with these fond memories, Donna also met her husband, Cary, a former owner/operator and tank driver, through her job and they have been married for the past 23 years.

Through her experiences at truck stops and her understanding of what her husband went through as a driver, Donna has a unique perspective that she brings to her job on what it takes to do what she does every day. Donna said that her goal as Regional Manager is to make an impact on her team and the truck drivers that shop at their restaurants and fuel with Pilot Flying J, to truly to make their day better and make them feel like family.

April Coolidge

April Coolidge, a former real estate broker, is a professional truck driver for Walmart Transportation. Throughout her six-year trucking career, April has accumulated more than 650,000 accident-free miles and has received many safe driving awards.

After the economic collapse in 2008, when the real estate market declined, April joined the trucking industry. April’s father was a truck driver, which is what sparked her interest in joining the industry. In an interview with Transport Topics, April was quoted saying, “I can’t find words to describe how it makes me feel, but I am proud to be a woman in this industry and to be as successful as I have been.”

Earlier this year April was appointed to the American Trucking Associations’ 2019–20 America’s Road Team. April is a member of the Arkansas Road Team and was named the USA Truck driver of the month by her previous employer in January of 2018. April has finished 2nd place for the past two years at her company truck driving championship. April also placed 12th at the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship in 2018.

Anna Faford

Anna Faford is the Vice President of Strategy at C&K Trucking. In her management role, Anna helps define the company’s strategic direction and is involved in many aspects of the business, including budgeting, evaluating acquisitions, and growing customer relationships.

Prior to joining C&K Trucking, Anna worked in various departments at Bank of America doing analysis and advisement for real estate, middle market, and transportation entities. While working with the transportation industry and trucking companies, Anna developed a passion for trucking.

In her free time, Anna is dedicated to giving back to her community and improving park programs in her neighborhood. Serving as President of the Independence Park Advisory Council for over seven years, Anna spearheaded the effort to raise over $100,000 for a new playground in her town by organizing an annual fundraising event in the community.

Marcia Faschingbauer

Marcia Faschingbauer is the founder and president of Excargo Services Inc. In 1979, Marcia founded Excargo Services to support her family’s business, First Prize Foods, which was in need of reliable transportation.

Marcia serves on the board of the American Trucking Associations Intermodal Conference, Greater Houston Port Bureau, Mercury Chamber Orchestra and recently joined the University of Houston Supply Chain Advisory Board. She is a past chair of the Texas Trucking Association.

Marcia is committed to her community and contributes her time and resources to the industry she loves, as well as to her passions: the arts, education and gardening.

Soona Lee

Soona Lee is the Director of Regulatory Compliance at EROAD. In her role, Soona interprets regulatory context and policies and technical requirements, and translates them to develop the company’s compliance products. These products help improve the industry’s compliance, safety and efficiency outcome.

At a recent industry event, EROAD hosted a Lunch and Learn session to help attendees better understand how Electronic Logging Device (ELD) captures data. At the event, Soona explained useful skills, such as how the data is transferred to the safety official at roadside inspections.

Allison Meiners

Allison Meiners, the Director of Safety Programs at Ruan Transportation Management Systems, has 10 years of experience in the transportation industry. As the Director of Safety Programs, Allison oversees the company’s Megasafe Safety Program, which focuses on training, technology and self-discipline initiatives to keep Ruan’s professional truck drivers safe on the road. Allison also leads regulatory compliance and safety policies and develops and executes safety programs across the organization.

In 2017, Allison was recognized as a leader in safety when she was presented with the American Trucking Associations’ President’s Award, which is the highest safety honor a carrier can receive in the industry. She serves on the Iowa Motor Truck Association’s Safety Management Council and is the chairman of the Iowa Motor Truck Association’s 2019 Truck Driving Championships. She has also served on many American Trucking Associations’ committees and was chosen to participate in the leadership program, LEAD ATA.

Allison is heavily involved with a non-profit organization, Help-A-Heart, which provides monetary and emotional support to families who have children born with congenital heart defects.

Tina Peterson

Tina Peterson knew she wanted to be a driver since she was seven years old. Her childhood dreams became a reality and she’s been a professional truck driver for 15 years now. Tina is currently a driver for Ravenwood Transport signed on to FedEx Ground and has accumulated over 1.8 million accident-free miles throughout her career.

Tina is a member of the American Trucking Associations’ 2019–20 America’s Road Team. She is the 2017 recipient of the FedEx Humanitarian award, and has also participated in the Convoy for Special Olympics representing FedEx. She is a member of the FedEx Ground Safety Committee at the St. Paul, Minnesota terminal and is a 14-year recipient of their Safe Driving Award.

Theldorine “Dee” Sova

Dee, a professional truck driver for Prime, Inc., is a 27-year veteran in the industry and has accumulated over 2 million accident-free miles.

Dee was appointed to the American Trucking Associations’ 2019–20 America’s Road Team this year. She received Prime Inc.’s 2017 Highway Diamond of the Year award and was a Real Women in Trucking “Queen of the Road” finalist the same year. Dee is a member of Prime Inc.’s Driver Advisory Board and Highway Diamond’s program.

To help motivate women, Dee founded Trucking Divas Rock, an online community that shares the stories of women in trucking and encourages more women to join the industry. Dee also speaks at schools about the career opportunities for women within the industry.

Dee was a member of Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) from 2004–2014. During Dee’s time at MADD, she held several leadership roles ranging from Secretary to President of the organization.

Lisa Trotogot

Lisa Trotogot is a Region Manager at Pilot Travel Centers. Lisa didn’t anticipate joining the trucking industry, but she started working with Pilot Flying J as a General Manager 15 years ago. Through her work with Pilot Flying J, the trucking industry has become her passion and Pilot Flying J has become her home away from home.

Lisa said that with her lack of knowledge of the trucking industry, she did not appreciate the “items” or “goods” she had and how they got places. Part of what makes the job so special to Lisa is having an opportunity to connect with those who provide for our families and communities.

Serving as Regional Manager for the past eight years, Lisa’s hope and mission is to create a sense of purpose in her team each and every day. Lisa wants them to realize that this is more than just a job — it’s a family culture — and drivers should have that same feeling of overwhelming welcome and sense of family that she’s felt the last 15 years, each and every day, in their Pilot Travel Centers locations.

Nicolette “Nikki” Weaver

Nikki Weaver, a professional driver for FedEx Freight, has been working in the industry for 18 years and has accumulated over 1.7 million accident-free miles. Nikki has described the trucking industry as one big happy family.

Nikki received Fed-Ex’s 8-year Safe Driving and the 2016 Bravo Zulu Awards. She placed 3rd in Twins at the 2017 Pennsylvania Truck Driving Championships.

Nicolette has also organized and presented in six meetings for drivers in the 2017 Spec Meeting at FedEx.