by Jenny Fall, on Sep 14, 2026
Every year, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week gives us a reason to pause and say what we should be saying every day: thank you. As Director of Driver Engagement at Women In Trucking Association, I spend my days talking with drivers, hearing their stories, and learning from the women who keep economy moving. This week is personal for me, and I want to use it to recognize two things: the newest class of our Image Team, and the broader community of drivers who make this industry what it is.
Welcoming the Image Team Class of 2026
I'm proud to introduce the newest members of the WIT Image Team, sixteen professional drivers who were selected to serve as the faces and voices of women in trucking. They'll speak to media, sit on panels, take legislators on ride-alongs, and create content that shows the public what this job actually looks like - because nobody tells that story better than the people living it.
Please join me in welcoming: Casandra Altidor, Nita Brown, Krista Cardoso, JoLynn Kelley, Lisa Ray, Desiree Robbins, and Cinthia Sanchez Altamirano of Walmart; Nicole Dudon of Old Dominion Freight Line; Paula Harper and Tracy Larsen of FedEx Freight; Gina Jones and Heather Wolff of Werner Enterprises; Su Schmerheim of ClassAct Horse Transport; Jenna Walker of Walker Sand & Stone; Barbara Herring of J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Shawnta Wortham of Boyle Transportation.
Between them, this class carries millions of safe miles, decades of driver training experience, military service, entrepreneurship, and a shared commitment to mentoring the next generation. Several are already Certified Driver Trainers or Ambassadors within their own fleets. Over the next 3 years, they'll commit their time to regular meetings, media training, interviews, storytelling, event volunteering, all on top of the demanding schedules they already keep behind the wheel. That's not a small ask, and I'm grateful every one of them said yes.
To Every Driver, Thank You
The Image Team represents something bigger: the hundreds of thousands of professional drivers who show up every day, often invisibly, to keep this country running. This job asks a lot. Long hauls away from family. Holidays spent in a truck stop instead of at home. Unpredictable weather, tight delivery windows, and hours of solitude that most jobs never require. Add to that the physical toll of being behind the wheel for sometimes up to 11 hours a day, irregular sleep, and the patience it takes to navigate roads full of drivers who don't understand or respect how much space and time an 80,000-pound vehicle needs.
And yet, the freight keeps moving. Grocery shelves stay stocked, hospitals get their supplies, and homes get their deliveries, because someone chose to make this their career and takes real pride in doing it well.
This National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, to every driver — new or veteran, company driver or owner-operator, Image Team member or not — thank you. Thank you for the miles, the sacrifice, and the professionalism you bring to a job that doesn't always get the recognition it deserves. We see you, we value you, and we're honored to advocate for you every single day.
If you know a driver who deserves recognition, consider nominating them for the Image Team or reaching out to share their story with us.
Related Articles:
- Celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
- Thanks to Women Drivers Who Go the Extra Mile Every Day
- Thank You Professional Truck Drivers!
- Recap: National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
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