by Women In Trucking Staff, on Nov 18, 2025 11:43:47 AM
The Women In Trucking Association’s 11th annual Accelerate! Conference & Expo rolled into Dallas Nov. 9–12, bringing more than 1,000 attendees to the Hilton Anatole for four days of learning, leadership, and community. What began more than a decade ago as a bold vision to elevate, educate and encourage women in the trucking industry has grown into one of the most anticipated events in transportation—an energy-filled gathering where professionals at every career stage come to connect, build skills, and champion progress across the industry.
WIT Chair Sarah Smith of Penske Transportation Solution unveils WIT’s new Mission and Vision Statements, while WIT President & CEO Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, addresses 1,100+ attendees.
Conference Spotlights Key Opportunities, Challenges For Women In Trucking
This year’s event delivered a powerhouse lineup of relevant content, education, and professional development, with sessions spanning everything from operational excellence and emerging technologies to leadership growth, career advancement, and workforce culture. Whether attendees were fleet managers, safety leaders, drivers, HR executives, or industry newcomers, the agenda offered something for everyone—practical takeaways, fresh insight, and inspiration to drive meaningful change in their organizations.
Three Opening Session Keynotes each day addressed the general assembly: Rachel Kuhlen, Special Veteran’s Day Speaker Angela “Strike” Stephens, and Courtney Ramsey.
Some of the key learnings from educational sessions reflect key opportunities (and challenges):
How to Harness Your Emotional Intelligence. Opening Keynote Rachel Kuhlen with Amplify Your Impact Now guided attendees through practical ways to lead with integrity and intentionality, showing how clear boundaries and decisive action can create a greater sense of certainty. She also shared strategies for strengthening self-awareness, amplifying personal impact, and building genuine accountability within teams and organizations.
How to Have Tough Conversations and Talk About the Hard Stuff. During the Closing Keynote, Courtney Ramsey explored what happens when emotions run high and tough conversations can no longer be avoided—the moments when emotional intelligence is truly put to the test. She showed attendees how to recognize and push past the instinct to delay difficult decisions, while using self-awareness as a tool to strengthen relationships and foster more authentic, productive communication.
From Fake Carriers to Cargo Theft: Outsmarting Fraudsters. With cargo theft surging 27% year-over-year in 2024, a panel of subject matter experts took a hard look at the growing sophistication of criminal activity in the industry. Panelists walked attendees through the true scope of the problem, breaking down the most common types of fraud and the tactics thieves use to exploit vulnerabilities. They also shared practical strategies for detecting and preventing theft—from stronger carrier and broker vetting protocols to the latest technology tools and standard operating procedures designed to keep freight secure.
Guarding the Load & the Life: Rethinking Safety in Modern Trucking. Safety executives explored the full spectrum of safety challenges drivers face both on and off the road. They discussed how companies can address these risks through proactive strategies and proven best practices, while also highlighting emerging trends and innovative solutions reshaping modern safety programs. From stronger training approaches to new technologies and support systems, the conversation emphasized how thoughtful, forward-looking safety efforts protect not just the freight—but the people behind the wheel. Fatigue remains the leading contributor to serious crashes because long hours, tight delivery windows, irregular sleep schedules, and demanding work conditions. Other major risks include distracted driving, speeding, poor weather conditions, and unsafe actions by passenger vehicles.
From Gears to Gigabytes: How Trucking Runs on Tech. Executives heavily involved in leading and leveraging technology explored cutting-edge tools and platforms that are transforming everything from day-to-day operations to HR workflows – with an emphasis on automation and artificial intelligence (AI). They highlighted how digital onboarding, AI-driven scheduling, telematics, and predictive analytics are reshaping the way fleets manage people and equipment. All agreed that AI-driven and automating technologies can streamline processes, enhance productivity, and minimize costly downtime.
Mining the Data: What We Know About Women Truck Drivers. Drawing on more than a decade of demographic research, Dan Murray, SVP of ATRI, has uncovered a detailed picture of women’s experiences and expectations in the trucking industry. His analysis highlights that while the industry hasn’t been able to make huge strides in recruiting more professional truck drivers who are women, key reasons why they do become truck drivers include independence, enjoy driving, competitive pay, every day is different, and job security. Higher driver detention involving women, lack of access to restroom facilities, shortage of safe parking, harassment and discrimination, and inadequate “home time” are key concerns by women drivers.
Other topics included:
- How To Effectively Build and Lead A Generationally Diverse Workforce
- Using Compensation to Drive Behavior Change
- Top Legal Issues Currently Facing Motor Carriers
- Compliance Under Pressure: Mastering Today’s Complicated Regulatory Landscape
- Driving Change in the Fight Against Human Trafficking
- Leveraging Your Team’s Skills for Maximum Impact
- Cannabis, Hazmat, Pharma: Handling High-Value High-Risk Regulated Commodities
- Unlocking Veteran Power: Transitioning from Military Service to Supply Chain Careers
Peer Connections to Transform Your Career in Trucking
Beyond the classrooms and keynote stages, the heartbeat of Accelerate! was the peer networking woven throughout the conference. Facilitated networking sessions, speed networking, Interactive Roundtable Discussion Groups over lunch, networking lounges on the Expo floor, and coffee lines became buzzing hubs where women and male allies shared experiences, swapped advice, and built relationships that will carry far beyond Dallas. For many, the chance to connect with professionals who understand the challenges — and the opportunities — within trucking is one of the conference’s most valuable elements.
As part of WIT’s new mission, fostering connections is a significant part of the Accelerate! Conference – ranging from peer networking and receptions to a comprehensive expo.
A major highlight again this year was the comprehensive expo, featuring more than 130 exhibitors and sponsors showcasing products and services tailored to the needs of trucking companies. From cutting-edge technology solutions, for-hire and private carriers, and fleet equipment to recruiting tools, financial services, and safety innovations, the expo floor offered attendees hands-on access to the latest resources shaping the industry’s future.
Many trucks, trailers, and related technologies comprised WIT’s Truck & Technology Tour as part of the expo.
The WITney® Educational Trailer is a key part of the Truck and Technology Tour, bringing WIT’s mission directly to communities across the country. Designed to raise awareness about the opportunities women have in trucking, the trailer highlights career paths in trucking and celebrates the accomplishments of female drivers. The WITney® Trailer features interactive kiosks on trucking 101, common myth busters, general Q&A, headset kiosks to hear inspirational HERstories of professional drivers, a female trucker uniform display, and a state-of-the-art driver simulator that allows attendees to experience truck driving in different scenarios, regions of the country, weather conditions, and more.
The WITney® Educational Trailer, featuring a sophisticated driver simulator, was part of this year’s Truck and Technology Tour. In addition, many WIT Image Team members comprised of professional drivers and trainers were in attendance (Legacy and Class of 2024 members).
Related Articles:
- 2024 Accelerate! Conference & Expo Highlights
- 2023 Accelerate! Conference & Expo Highlights
- 2022 Accelerate! Conference & Expo Highlights
- 2021 Accelerate! Conference & Expo Highlights
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