by Women In Trucking Staff, on Nov 02, 2026
More than 1,100 transportation professionals gathered in Dallas last week for the Women In Trucking Association's (WIT) annual Accelerate! Conference & Expo, held October 25–28 at the Hilton Anatole. This was the twelfth year WIT has hosted this conference.
From leadership and workforce development to safety, technology and industry economics, the Women In Trucking Association’s 2026 Accelerate! Conference & Expo delivered insights, connections and inspiration.
The four-day event brought together an exceptionally diverse cross-section of the trucking industry, including those with roles and responsibilities in company leadership, operations leaders, talent management specialists, sales and marketing, as well as professional truck drivers. Companies represented include companies with for-hire and private fleets, third-party logistics providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), technology innovators, and financial service providers.
While participants represented a diverse range of companies, career paths and perspectives, they shared a common purpose: to champion the employment and advancement of women in trucking, foster connections, and recognize achievements while helping to shape the industry's future.
According to WIT’s interim President & CEO, the Accelerate! Conference & Expo is a "movement that drives forward careers, empowers those who work in the trucking industry, shapes the future of trucking by advancing discussions and education on important topics that impact women in the industry.”
More than a traditional industry conference, the Accelerate! Conference serves as a catalyst for professional development, meaningful connections, and important conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing transportation.
Tackling the Issues Shaping Trucking: Today and Tomorrow
With more than 60 educational sessions featuring over 125 subject matter experts, the conference addressed some of the industry's most pressing issues.
Scores of breakout sessions enabled conference attendees to customize their personal experience and learning, based upon their career paths, professional preferences and responsibilities.
A quick look at the content of this year’s conference can help to inform the most critical issues and emerging trends in trucking.
Recruiting, retaining and engaging women in trucking remained a central theme, with discussions exploring effective talent strategies, workplace culture, career development, and the importance of creating environments where employees can succeed. Specific topics discussed involving talent management were:
- Minimizing risk and cost in employee screening
- Building inclusivity into your recruiting, retention, and workforce engagement strategy
- Mental health best practices for HR and safety leaders, and how to ensure overall wellness and reduce stress among office employees and professional truck drivers
- Leadership behaviors that build trust, belonging, and “her-performing” teams
- Building a strong workplace culture to create an engaged, efficient, positive workforce
- Innovations that make the driver experience easier, safer and more productive.
Safety and risk management, leadership development, emerging technologies, and regulatory discussions included:
- Best practices in safety in trucking – whether at facilities or on-the-road
- Cold chain challenges and solutions in operations
- How strong leaders can lead with clarity to reduce noise and drive results among their workforce
- Best practices in operations and home delivery for companies involved in last-mile segments of the supply chain
- Managing intergenerational leadership across family-owned enterprises
- Important changes in safety practices and legislative issues, how to navigate regulatory compliance, and how to align fleet safety strategies with FMCSA’s current priorities
- What legal issues companies need to know more about in the current trucking environment, such as nuclear verdicts and lawsuit abuse reform, independent driver contractor classification, commercial driver licensing and immigration compliance, English language proficiency requirements, cargo theft and cybersecurity, and driver safety practices and policies
- How to prevent human trafficking in the trucking industry.
Professional development and career advancement also were prominent themes in this year’s content. Topics included:
- Tools and tips that help to navigate difficult conversations in the workplace
- Recognize how imposter syndrome can undermine confidence and learn practices strategies to overcome self-doubt, embrace accomplishments, and pursue new opportunities with confidence
- Practices and proactive approaches to customer success that will strengthen relationships, anticipate customer needs, improve satisfaction and retention, and unlock new opportunities for sustainable business growth
- How to build sustainable systems and establish healthy boundaries that prevent burnout, enhance productivity, ensure work-life balance, and support long-term professional growth and career success
- The power of connection and networking in your career.
Of course, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation were recurring topics, particularly as companies explore how new technologies can improve efficiencies, enhance safety in operations, strengthen decision-making, and transform workforce requirements.
Industry economics also commanded attention. Eric Starks, Chairman of FTR Transportation Intelligence, examined five forces influencing trucking's business environment: regulatory policies, tariffs, inflationary pressures, capacity utilization, and freight rates. His insights provided perspective on current market conditions and what trucking professionals should anticipate in 2027.
A conference attendee gets a first-hand taste of life behind the wheel using the driver simulator in the WITney® Educational Trailer. The interactive experience challenges participants to navigate adverse weather, unexpected traffic situations, and tight turns while gaining insight into the skills required of professional truck drivers.
Throughout the conference, speakers emphasized the importance of adapting to change, developing new skills, and preparing organizations and individuals for an increasingly complex transportation environment.
Leadership Perspectives from the Top
Two prominent industry leaders provided important perspectives on leadership, organizational performance, and the future of trucking.
Shelley Simpson, President and CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, shared insights from her remarkable career journey, which began when she joined the company in 1994.
Opening Keynote Shelley Simpson, President & CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, explored the importance of mentorship, navigating business challenges, embracing innovation, and developing the leadership capabilities necessary to succeed in a constantly evolving industry. She also addressed the value of establishing personal boundaries and maintaining a clear sense of purpose throughout one's career.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Derek Barrs brought a federal regulatory perspective to the conference, reinforcing the importance of safety and the relationship between industry stakeholders and government.
His participation provided attendees with an opportunity to hear directly from federal transportation leadership as the industry navigates evolving safety priorities and regulatory challenges.
Connections That Create Opportunities
Beyond the educational sessions, the Accelerate! Conference & Expo provided an important environment for building professional relationships.
Attendees were able to check out the many tractors and trailers (and related technologies) at the Truck & Technology Tour, a dynamic feature of WIT’s Accelerate! Expo.
Attendees connected through networking activities, interactive discussions, informal conversations, and an Expo Hall featuring nearly 150 exhibitors and sponsors. The Expo showcased technologies, equipment, products, and services designed to improve transportation operations and support industry professionals. The Truck & Technology Tour provided additional opportunities to explore new truck equipment and technology innovations first-hand.
The Harvest Hoedown gave attendees the opportunity to celebrate relationships and friendships in the trucking industry.
Of course, the conference wasn't all business. Networking receptions gave attendees opportunities to build meaningful relationships, reconnect with industry colleagues, make new friends, and have some fun along the way. Sunday's "I Heart Trucking" Networking Reception kicked off the festivities, bringing attendees and exhibitors together for an evening of conversation, camaraderie, and valuable connections. The excitement continued Monday evening with the "Harvest Hoedown," where attendees traded business discussions for music, dancing, and plenty of laughter. These social gatherings reinforced one of the greatest strengths of the conference: to create a welcoming community where professional connections can grow into lasting relationships.
Energetic line dancing was just part of the agenda at the Harvest Hoedown Monday evening.
“These interactions were as valuable as the formal educational programming—creating opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, business development, and career advancement,” says one attendee.
Celebrating Women Who Make a Difference
Recognition and celebration remained defining elements of the Accelerate! Conference & Expo. Special events honored WIT's 2026 Top Women to Watch in Trucking and Top Companies for Women to Work in Trucking, recognizing both individual accomplishments and organizational commitments to building workplaces where women can thrive and feel included.
On Tuesday morning, finalists of the 2026 Influential Woman in Trucking took center stage to talk about how the got to where they are today in their careers. Pictured here are: Jill Quinn, President of Centerline Drivers (sponsor of this year’s program); Angela Lentz, Chief People Officer of Daimler Truck North America; Sauny Tucker, CEO of Tucker Freight Lines; and Lana Nichols, WIT’s Interim President & CEO.
Throughout the conference, attendees also heard compelling HERstories from women who have built successful careers. For example, Molly Borkgren, Enterprise Account Executive, and Chelsey Johnston, Director Human Resources with XPO, Inc., shared their career stories and advice during a special Top Women to Watch luncheon. These stories illustrated the diverse career paths available throughout the industry and the importance of visibility, mentorship, and professional support.
Turning Momentum into Meaningful Progress
Ultimately, the value of the Accelerate! Conference & Expo extends well beyond four days in Dallas. The conference provided attendees with practical knowledge to strengthen their organizations, fresh perspectives to navigate industry challenges, and relationships that can support their professional journeys.
It also reinforced the importance of bringing together people from different backgrounds, companies, and career disciplines to share experiences and advance common goals.
As WIT prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2027, this year's conference demonstrated the continued relevance of its mission: To champion the employment and advancement of women in trucking, foster connections, and recognize achievements. Because this conference isn't simply about advancing individual careers. It's about creating connections, inspiring action, and moving forward the entire trucking industry.
Related Articles:
- Celebrating Community, Growth, and Momentum at WIT’s 2025 Accelerate! Conference & Expo
- 2024 Accelerate! Conference & Expo Highlights
- 2023 Accelerate! Conference & Expo Highlights
- 2022 Accelerate! Conference & Expo Highlights
- 2021 Accelerate! Conference & Expo Highlights
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