For some female professional truck drivers, the dream started early. As little girls, they watched big rigs command the highway and could already picture themselves behind the wheel. Others found trucking through unexpected turns in their careers and their lives.
But regardless of how they arrived, many have one thing unmistakably in common: They were made for the road. Throughout 2026, as part of its mission WIT has highlighted these remarkable women for their accomplishments, professionalism and contributions to the industry. They work hard, take enormous pride in what they do and share a deep commitment to safety in their roles as drivers.
As the industry celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, WIT shines a spotlight on these seven professional truck drivers once again — not only to recognize the essential work they do, but also to celebrate the example they set for others. They are passionate ambassadors for an industry they love, using their experiences and voices to encourage more women to explore the opportunities available behind the wheel. Their journeys are different, but they share a powerful sense of purpose. They work hard, drive safely, lift others up, and make a difference along the way. Seven female drivers. Seven life journeys. And seven inspiring women helping to move forward both freight and the trucking industry.
Named as WIT’s 2026 Driver of the Year, Ingrid Brown has built a 46-year career in trucking defined by determination, safety advocacy, and leadership. An independent owner-operator of Rollin’ B LLC, she also serves as Operations Manager for a specialized refrigerated fleet and continues to drive for Blackjack Express LLC, hauling heavy, oversize, and refrigerated freight. She is well-known for championing awareness and mentoring for the next generation of drivers.
A passionate advocate for highway safety, Brown serves as FMCSA’s Voice of Safety for the Our Roads, Our Safety campaign and has appeared in national PSAs, billboards, on SiriusXM, and in social media outreach. Her honors include the 2015 NASTC America’s Road Team and Woman Driver of the Year, the 2025 NASTC Ambassador of the Year, and the 2018 TA/Petro Citizen Driver Award.
Active in advocacy initiatives and building dialogue with policy makers, including FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, she has been a notable voice for truck drivers in DC for years. A charter member of WIT since 2007, Brown serves on the WIT Board of Directors.
Read more in “Ingrid Brown’s Personal Journey in Advocacy.”
When she first joined FedEx Freight, Fabiola Campos-Buenavista had little driving experience, yet by the age of 22 she was confidently operating an 18-wheeler, launching a career defined by safety, leadership, and service.
In 2014, Campos-Buenavista became the first female Driver Development Instructor at FedEx Freight. Since then, she has trained more than 40 drivers, helping them develop the skills, confidence, and discipline needed to safely operate commercial trucking equipment. Known for her encouraging and hands-on approach, she takes pride in mentoring new drivers and helping them succeed.
Today, Campos-Buenavista serves as a FedEx Road Team Captain and is actively involved in community outreach, school safety education, and disaster relief efforts. She was a 2026 WIT Driver of the Year Finalist.
She still remembers the feeling of sitting in the car with her family as a little girl, pumping her arm in the air and waiting for a truck driver to answer with a blast of the horn. Paula Harper was about nine years old, mesmerized by the sight of drivers in western shirts, blue jeans, cowboy hats, and boots with big belt buckles. To her, truck drivers were larger than life.
When she heard about a job fair hosted by FedEx Express years ago, she decided to take a chance and was hired as a part-time courier driving a step van. From there, she trained to drive a straight truck and later earned her CDL to operate a tractor trailer. Today, Harper has worked for FedEx for 17 years total, eight with FedEx Express and nine with FedEx Freight. In 2017, Harper became a Road Team Captain and later a Road Team Captain Ambassador for the Tennessee Trucking Foundation. In 2020, she was named a Road Team Captain for the FedEx Freight Road Team. Through these roles, she visits schools and community events to educate students and families about safely sharing the road with large trucks. In 2024, Harper placed third in the four-axle competition at the Tennessee Truck Driving Championships.
Harper’s motivation to keep advancing is rooted in love for her work and for the people around her. She wants to encourage more women to pursue careers in trucking saying: “Go for it! It is the best decision I ever made, and it will give you independence, strength and courage. I am living my dream.” Harper was named as WIT’s Member of the Month in March 2026 (“Paula Harper: Living the Dream, Leading the Way”).
After a successful career in retail management, Gina Jones earned her CDL at age 50 to join her husband, Steve, on the road. With more than 1.5 million accident-free miles, Jones has received the 2024 TA Citizen Driver Award, the Werner Safe Driver Award, and the NTA President’s Safe Driver Club Award.
For Jones, 2025 was a banner year, highlighted by an invitation to speak at the White House on the real-world impacts of electric vehicle mandates. As a 2022-2023 ATA America’s Road Team Captain and Werner Road Team alumna, she mentors future drivers through school programs and recruitment. Jones and her husband proudly drive for Werner’s Operation Freedom Fleet in a specialty-wrapped truck and participate in the 50 Mile March. Off the road, she supports charitable causes, enjoys her grandchildren, and loves riding her Harley.
Jones was a 2026 WIT Driver of the Year Finalist.
A professional commercial driver with more than 10 years of experience in dry-van operations, driver training, specialized equine transport, and over-the-road hazardous materials, Kellylynn McLaughlin drives for Clean Harbors Environmental Services. She previously served as WIT’s first Driver Ambassador, traveling nationwide to educate the public about the vital role of trucking and promoting career opportunities in the industry.
Before becoming a driver, McLaughlin earned a degree from Oklahoma State University, served in the Peace Corps, and worked internationally for a nonprofit organization.
A passionate advocate for professional drivers, McLaughlin shares the driver's perspective with industry leaders through speaking engagements, interviews, and advisory roles. She has served on several industry groups, including the FMCSA Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB), TAT Advisory Council, and the Travel Centers of America Women’s Safety Advisory Panel.
McLaughlin was a 2026 WIT Driver of the Year Finalist.
The day after turning 18, Jenna Walker wasted no time starting her career in trucking. She earned her CDL permit and immediately immersed herself in the business at Walker Sand & Stone, Inc. She rode along with every operator who would let her, learning first-hand from experienced drivers, absorbing knowledge, and building confidence.
Today, she is a professional driver for the company. Her family’s relationship with Western Star dates back to 1974, and today their fleet includes powerful 49X trucks equipped with Detroit DD13®, DD15®, and DD16® engines. These machines are built for demanding off-road work while delivering every-day reliability.
While Walker is proud of her roots, what truly sets her apart is the way she is helping shape the future. She is deeply involved in community outreach and actively works to inspire the next generation, especially young women, to consider careers in trucking. Her pink Western Star is more than eye-catching, and it represents individuality, confidence, and a platform to raise awareness for breast cancer. Walker was named WIT’s Member of the Month in May 2026 (“Jenna Walker: Carrying a Family Legacy Forward One Mile at a Time”).
A Critical Cargo Specialist with Boyle Transportation, Shawnta Wortham is a Highway Diamond lease operator and a member of the Class of 2026 WIT Image Team. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to safety and professionalism, earning a Driver Safety Award as a Landstar Ranger.
Wortham’s father served in the military and later became a truck driver, but she had never pictured herself following in his footsteps. After the loss of her mother, she leaned on her faith in God and found herself searching for a new direction in life. After earning her CDL, she quickly realized trucking would challenge her in ways she had never experienced.
Ultimately, Wortham wants her story to serve as encouragement for anyone who may be facing uncertainty or wondering what comes next. Her path into trucking was unexpected, but it opened the door to opportunities she never imagined, from purchasing her own truck and becoming a business owner to advocating for professional drivers on Capitol Hill. Through it all, she has remained grounded in the belief that perseverance and faith can help carry you through difficult seasons and toward something better. Wortham was named WIT’s Member of the Month in September 2026 (“Shawnta Wortham: Finding a New Direction on the Road”).
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