Member of the Month

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Stephanie Klang as its June 2023 Member of the Month. As a professional driver for 38 years with 4 million miles, she provides her knowledge and perspective as an industry advocate and driver ambassador.

Klang began her career in the trucking industry in January of 1980. At the time, there were very few driving schools and the regulations were more relaxed, so when she took the written test for her class A license, her husband was allowed to teach her on the job.

The pair drove as a team for 15 years, traveling through 48 states. However, she was often treated as her husband’s helper or as an extra logbook.

This changed in 1987 when she started her career at CFI, a growing company with an open-door policy, commitment to safety and providing excellent equipment. From the first day, she was treated like a fully qualified driver and was able to flourish. 

Klang learned about WIT and its mission when Founder Ellen Voie was promoting ride-alongs in 2010. The next year, she was chosen to pick up Debbie Hersman, board member for the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in Washington D.C. and drive her to the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Ky. A film crew was hired by Conway, her employer at the time, to capture the experience, launching Klang’s media career. Due to this successful event, she received Conway’s Constellation award in 2012, an honor only awarded to five out of 30,000 employees. 

In 2013, she joined America’s Road Team (ART). As the only woman nominated, she became the third female driver in the history of ART. With the support of her company, Klang was able to attend several events a year and make a difference in enhancing the trucking industry’s image.

In 2015, WIT developed its Image Team, a volunteer group comprised of professional drivers and industry experts who represent the spirit of the association and share their knowledge and experience with the media, at events, and more. Klang immediately jumped at the opportunity to be involved. Additionally, she offered her perspective and expertise by serving on the WIT board of directors. 

Klang achieved her goal of retiring from driving at the age of 60, but her influence on the trucking industry was far from over. After retirement, she transitioned into CFI’s marketing department to continue attending high school career days and truck shows. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March of 2020, she took it as a sign to retire.

However, in the fall of 2022, she felt called to continued her involvement with WIT as an Image Team member and driver ambassador for the association’s WITney trailer program, educating and amplifying how a career in transportation can be rewarding for women. She speaks at industry events, truck shows, and career days.

“In my 4 million miles of driving in transportation, I came away with a few things,” said Klang. “Do the right thing when no one is watching; nothing great is achieved easily or without grit; if you do not like where you are in life, improve yourself and move up; practice and improve every day; and be positive and kind. On the days I did not feel my best, I got up and fulfilled my obligations anyway and they turned out to be some of my best days.”

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Michaela Nejaime as its May 2023 Member of the Month. Nejaime is the enterprise sales manager at TruVideo, a video-first texting platform designed to create more transparency in the vehicle sales and service process.

Nejaime’s professional career began at a technical recruiting and staffing company, where she quickly learned some hard lessons experienced by women in business. In meetings, Nejaime noticed that she was typically looked over and questions were directed at male counterparts. As a result, she would often defer to suggestions submitted by others, knowing it was wrong to not make her voice heard.

After her career transition to TruVideo, a heavy equipment dealer contacted the company, as he had mistakenly received a TruVideo link meant for an automotive dealership nearby. Accidentally clicking the link, he was impressed by the high-definition video of RO being performed, combined with the capability of texting updates back and forth between dealer and customer. The dealer asked TruVideo if the same solution could be implemented at his dealership, however, at the time, this could not be done because TruVideo was co-founded by a retail automotive dealer and lacked visibility into the trucking industry.

Immediately recognizing the opportunity to enter a new market, Nejaime pitched the transportation industry to her leadership team, which agreed to give her the chance to prove her instincts correct. 

“The trucking industry is the lifeblood of our country,” said Nejaime. “There isn't anything that we touch that hasn't been brought to us by a truck.”

Taking on this initiative by herself with no additional resources, Nejaime began asking dealerships questions regarding their goals, customer experiences, and areas that needed improvement to better understand how they conducted business. It didn’t take long for Nejaime to discover the value TruVideo could bring to this industry, expediting the service process and ensuring trucks were back on the road sooner rather than later.

By following her instincts, Michaela discovered a new sales channel for her company and the results speak for themselves. Due to her diligent efforts, TruVideo has now been implemented by several hundred similar dealerships within the industry in the U.S. and Canada. One dealer, for example, averaged $3,100 more per RO in a 30-day time period with TruVideo versus without the platform. 

“Typically, there are only a few women sitting at the same table with you during business discussions,” said Nejaime. “As a woman in this space, it is sometimes natural to doubt yourself and to doubt your ability to contribute. We need to remember we have a lot to offer.”

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Angelika Mangino as its April 2023 Member of the Month. Mangino is the culture and engagement manager at Clean Harbors, North America’s leading provider of environmental and industrial services.

Originally from a small farming community in Ohio, surrounded by acres of farmland and farming equipment, Mangino, a dedicated champion for women in her industry, gained a new meaning for the word “trucks.” Unbeknown to her at the time, Mangino’s professional career would someday grow into working for the largest North American hazardous waste and environmental services company.

As a lead employee engagement ambassador of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Mangino celebrates drivers across the company and is an active participant in all seven employee resource groups at Clean Harbors. Last year, at the 2022 Women In Trucking Accelerate! Conference & Expo, Angelika had the honor of presenting the first female truck wrap to Cathy Spencer on behalf of Clean Harbor’s Employee Resource Group, Women Advancing our Values in Environmental Services (WAVES).

Additionally, she leads and manages the companies Commercial Driver’s License Sponsorship Program and supported more than 200 employees in receiving their CDL in 2022.

“Employee engagement can only be achieved through the active participation of our employees,” said Mangino. “They are the change we want to see and without them, diversity and inclusion wouldn’t exist.” 

A mentor and advocate, Mangino continues to champion and promote change across the industry for females by being an active member of the Women In Trucking Association and company liaison. Her leadership and dedication to females across the transportation and logistics industry is evident through her ongoing efforts and work.   

“Continue to strive for change within our industry and aim to improve the perspectives of females behind the wheel of a truck,” said Mangino. “In this industry, we still believe it’s all about males and that is not the case. We are making strides and seeing change, as the percentage of females in the transportation and logistics industry increases each year.”

The Women In Trucking Association has announced Ashley Leiva as its March 2023 Member of the Month. Leiva is the co-owner of Noemi Trucking in Corpus Christi, Texas.
 
Shortly after graduating high school, Leiva enlisted in the Army. During her 15 years in the military, she was a Sergeant First Class, E7 and worked as a Culinary Management NCO, hauling equipment, food, and personnel to training and danger areas. She trained in many parts of the world, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia, as well as serving two tours in Iraq.
 
Leiva’s mother, who has been her lifelong inspiration, was a professional driver for more than 20 years. After her passing in February 2021, Leiva took a leap of faith, taking over her trucking company, formerly Leiva Trucking, with her brother, Johnny Leiva, and obtained her CDL to continue her mother’s legacy of hauling crude oil. Leiva and her brother have co-owned what is now Noemi Trucking, named in honor of their mother, for two years.
 
“The unique part of my job is not everyone can do what we do,” said Leiva. “Hauling crude oil is definitely a tough job and it requires a lot of training and knowledge of your truck and trailer.”
 
In 2022, Leiva received the annual “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award during a special ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. The award is part of an overall effort to inspire the hiring of more service members into the trucking industry and to recognize their contributions to the workforce. Additionally, this award included a Kenworth T680 Next generation, equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and PACCAR Powertrain featuring a PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. “I’m still in shock that I received such a prestigious award,” said Leiva, “I am so grateful blessed, honored and humbled.”
 
Leiva is thankful for the support from her family, community and mentor, Lynette Cervantes, the director at Del Mar College where she obtained her CDL. 
 
“As women, we are taught at a young age to be nurtures, but times have changed,” said Leiva. “We are strong, smart, adaptive, and intuitive. My daughter just turned six and I hope one day I make her as proud as I am to be my mother’s daughter. My mom always told me to take the job that no one wants, and you will always be on top of the list to get the call first!”

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Cara Howes as its February 2023 Member of the Month. Cara is a parts distribution center manager at PACCAR Parts, a division of PACCAR Inc.
 
Cara has been interested in the trucking industry for as long as she can remember. Her mother was a PACCAR employee, and Cara has fond memories of “bring your daughter to work day” as a child. Her grandfather owned a tanker business in Oregon and was a longtime Kenworth customer. Cara loved spending summers with her father, befriending Kenworth truck drivers, and making trucks her playground. One of her favorite games growing up was playing “name that truck” on family road trips. For Cara, joining PACCAR was an easy decision. 

Cara has worked at PACCAR for almost 15 years and has held key positions, including assistant director of customer service and assistant director of materials before switching to the operations side of the business.

The way stuff moves has always fascinated Cara. She loves coordinating the movement of truck parts from point A to point B and takes pride in getting things where they need to be, when they need to be there. Cara believes working in operations and logistics requires creative thinking and problem solving as no two issues are the same. While there are guidelines, every situation is unique and requires perseverance regardless of obstacles. She motivates herself and her team with the mantra that a truck is a driver’s home, and it’s critical they have access to the parts they need to stay on the road. She understands the direct impact PACCAR employees have on a driver’s life. 
 
In addition to Cara’s impressive professional career, she also serves in the United States Navy Reserve as a supply corps officer and was recently selected for the rank of commander. She serves as officer-in-charge for the Fuels Detachment supporting Fleet Logistics Center San Diego. Cara deployed to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012 as part of a Logistics Mobile Training Team focused on training the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police on logistics best practices across the country. Her personal awards include two Navy Commendation Medals, an Army Commendation Medal, and five Navy Achievement Medals.



Cara’s husband also works at PACCAR Parts as a supplier quality manager. They met while playing on the corporate softball team in 2007. Now, they stay busy raising their seven-year-old twin daughters. The girls know that mom and dad work for PACCAR, the company that owns Kenworth and Peterbilt. Cara has passed down “name that truck” to her daughters with an “is it a Kenworth or a Peterbilt” twist. They cannot wait to work at PACCAR when they are older. 
 
Cara’s advice to women wanting to break into the trucking industry is, “just do it. Take your comfort zone and smash it because growth comes from new challenges!” 

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Alicia Wilson as its January 2023 Member of the Month. Wilson is an equipment cleaning technician at Highway Transport, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based company providing bulk transportation of specialty chemicals.
 
Growing up, Wilson’s father would take the family on long road trips, usually an 8-hour trip to the Rockies or drives from Colorado to California.
 
“There’s nothing quite like randomly finding new mom-and-pop restaurants and watching the scenery change,” Wilson said. 
 
Wilson learned to drive on one of the California trips driving across Donner Pass. These cherished experiences served as her driving force to pursue a career in the transportation industry. In 2018, Wilson started her professional driving career in the tanker division at a large logistics company. From there, a truck breakdown in Houston, Texas, led to some unexpected friendships and a big career change.
 
In 2020, Wilson became a professional tanker driver at Highway Transport and in 2022, she transferred to her current role to remain closer to home. As an equipment cleaning technician, she is responsible for performing all aspects of tank trailer and International Standard Organization (ISO) cleaning, including inspecting trailers for residual product and conducting post-cleaning inspections. She is one of the few women to have held this position at Highway Transport, and the work-life balance affords her time to care for an aging parent while remaining active in the industry she loves.
 
Wilson is not afraid of going after any job and highly encourages other women to continue or pursue careers in the transportation industry. If there’s any doubt or intimidation, she advises: “take what the guys say with a grain of salt. With the understanding of what you yourself can do, plan your day with that in mind and ignore the words of people who don’t think you can do it. You do you!”
 
Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance as well as a master’s in library science, and she also maintains her CDL. She enjoys the freedom of driving a tanker and hopes to return to that passion soon. In her spare time, Wilson enjoys reading and baking.

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Deb Beecher as its December 2023 Member of the Month. Beecher is an area risk manager I for J.B. Hunt Transport and recently celebrated 40 years with the company.

Raised by a 3-million-mile safe driver, Beecher was familiar with the trucking industry and had an appreciation for drivers and the work they do across the nation. She remembers passing by J.B. Hunt on her way to church every Sunday and shortly after graduating high school, her best friend’s father who was a vice president of transport at the time encouraged her to apply. The decision was easy as the passion for the industry was already there.

Celebrating 40 years with the company in 2023, Beecher did not start her time there thinking she was going to make a full career out of it. “My intention was to go into nursing, but I ended up on a different path,” said Beecher. “Since the start, I have really enjoyed working at J.B. Hunt. I look back now, and know transportation is where I was meant to be. I have held various roles at this company but have always come back to the operational side and working with the heart of our company, the drivers.”

Beecher understands the importance of safety within her company and values deeply the opportunity to provide safety resources to its drivers. “Many drivers have connected with me to say thank you and I love that about my role,” said Beecher. “Whenever our drives utilize new safety resources, it’s like a lightbulb turns on for them and it’s not just a good feeling, it’s a great feeling.”

A fond memory of her time at J.B. Hunt was before driver load sheets were digital and one that was essential to an important load has been misplaced. Mrs. Hunt personally took the time to help Beecher look for the load sheet until it was found. She enjoyed the time she got to spend with Mrs. Hunt saying, “she has always had a heart for the drivers of J.B. Hunt and would do whatever it took to make sure their time at the company was successful.”

In 2018, Beecher received the Rodney Horton award that is given in recognition and appreciation of commitment to J.B. Hunt and compassion for others. The award is in honor of Rodney Horton who was a long-time employee and exemplary person who passed while employed with J.B. Hunt. In this same year, Beecher and her team received the Pillar award for Q1 for Truckload Support category.

Beecher is a champion for women in the trucking industry saying, “I encourage women within our industry to show up to work, do your job well, and you will be recognized for your work. Believe in yourself and never think you aren’t capable.”

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Maria Cardenas as its November 2023 Member of the Month. Cardenas is the marketing manager at Sworkz, a nearshoring and staffing service provider.

Cardenas’ father’s first job was providing food to truckers on the highways. Years later, as a little girl, he used to sit her on his lap, and she would steer the wheel in a parking lot while he drove slowly. Those moments with him sparked her fascination with driving. “It's funny how it all comes full circle,” said Cardenas. “From those childhood memories to now working in an industry that's intrinsically tied to my family's history.”

She is now 27 years old and believes being a young woman in this industry has its own unique set of challenges such as feeling the need to prove yourself and fighting against stereotypes of how a woman should conduct herself or act. However, Cardenas considers herself lucky to have been born into a family where her grandmother, mother, and sister all exuded leadership and strong character. From their example, she has learned to be a strong woman and unapologetically herself. 

As a result, she has held onto her values and principles, and surrounds herself with empowered women who have guided her through her journey. Cardenas is determined to carve a path not just for herself, but for other women too; enabling them to shine even brighter by staying true to themselves, even in a world that often casts being unique in a negative light.

Cardenas feels her journey wasn't conventional as she has worked in various marketing agencies, spanning B2B and B2C industries to e-commerce to NGOs and education platforms. But it was Sworkz that led her to the nearshoring industry and its unique challenges.

“The idea of empowering women in this male-dominated field resonated with me deeply. As part of the leadership team, I have the privilege and ability to make impactful decisions, advocating not just for women's talents but also helping some of them as business owners to grow their companies,” said Cardenas. “At Sworkz, we are more than just hollow words – we realize we need to lead with our actions. Our leadership team is 50% women, and our marketing team is almost 90%. As a nearshoring and staffing service provider, we have a responsibility to embody the change we want to see in the industry.”

Cardenas hopes her story inspires women to keep breaking more barriers saying, “if you're a woman considering working in this industry, never apologize for being yourself. Embrace your uniqueness, your skills, and your passion. I hope my journey can be a testament that age and gender are not a barrier and what truly matters is your dedication, kindness, and the mark you want to leave on the world.”

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Lauren Keeney as its October 2023 Member of the Month. Keeney is a regional driver from S&H Express, Inc. based in York, PA.

Keeney was inspired to earn her CDL while waiting at a traffic light. As she finished making Amazon deliveries for the day, she glanced at the tractor trailer beside her and saw a woman was behind the wheel. “I realized that if she could do it, I could too,” said Kenney.

Shortly after, Lauren enrolled at the Shelly Truck Driving School in York, PA. Training Supervisor Bob Grimaldi remembers Lauren as someone who always in high spirits and quick to master even the most complicated material. “Lauren never shied away from a new challenge and never settled for good enough,” said Grimaldi, who has closely followed her career at S&H Express which is affiliated with Shelly Truck Driving School. “She wanted to be the best she could be, and she worked with her classmates to help them reach the same level.”

S&H Express Recruiting Manager Andrea Whipple has known Lauren since they were teens working together at Tom’s Gas Station and says, “Lauren has always been a hard worker. Even as a kid, she strived to do better. She has one of the biggest hearts and would help anyone out, whenever.”

Lauren’s desire to help others and her drive to succeed continues. In September 2021, after earning her CDL, Keeney signed with S&H Express. She has recently begun to train new drivers and is earning rave reviews. Last year, Dispatcher Tina Bailey assigned Keeney to an important dedicated account in Richmond, VA and Keeney has achieved 100% on-time service for the customer. “What is notable is that this is a five-times-per week York, PA to Richmond, VA run to a very difficult, very tight dock location,” said Bailey. “It’s a location that many other drivers have refused after their first run. Not Lauren, and she is always willing to help other drivers, even from other companies, who are having trouble backing into that customer location.”

S&H Express Director of Operations Doug Forry adds, “Lauren has a bright future in trucking. She’s smart, determined, and always willing to go above and beyond in this male-populated industry. She is one of a kind!”

Keeney’s advice for anyone who is thinking about trucking as a career, especially women, is to do their research stating, “talk to the director of a reputable school, ask to talk with a few of their graduates, and call the recruiting department of a small, large, and mega trucking company. Interview them and a few of their female drivers so that you can make an informed decision for yourself.”

Further showcasing her love for the road, Keeney enjoys travel. Her York to Richmond assignment affords lots of opportunities to appreciate beautiful scenery and take note of sites that would be great for vacation.

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Laura Duryea as its September 2023 Member of the Month. Duryea is the Director of Driver Recruitment and Professional Growth at Boyle Transportation, a specialized transportation logistics provider.

Duryea got her start in the transportation industry as a professional driver which was inspired by driving the shuttle bus while attending Carnegie Mellon University. After graduating with a Viola Performance degree and a change of heart, she ultimately decided to attend Pittsburgh Diesel Institute, resulting in a 25-year driving career.

The last two of those driving years were spent as a team driver at Boyle Transportation before transitioning to the Manager of Recruiting, Retention, and Driver Development for 5 years. She has been the Director of Driver Recruitment and Professional Growth since July 2023 and believes her 25-year driving career brings a unique perspective to the position.

In 2022, Duryea was named as a member newly established Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB) of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The mission of this advisory board is to support women pursuing careers in trucking, expand scholarship opportunities for women in the trucking industry, and enhance trucking training, mentorship, education, and outreach programs for women. She was also recently named as a mentor in the Women in Motion Mentor Program with the American Trucking Association (ATA).

Outside of her impressive career in the transportation industry, Duryea is also a member of the Savannah Professional Women for Good which supports local non-profit organizations in her community. She was also the secretary of the Dover Volunteer Fire Department for 10 years and ran LaDa Farms, an organic farm that supplied organic produce to local natural food stores for 15 years.

Duryea is a passionate member of WIT and its mission saying, “women are collaborative by nature and when we come together for a cause we can change the world and this industry.”

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Vontyna Durham as its August 2023 Member of the Month. Durham is the founder and president of Xcelente Trucking and Logistics Training Services in Memphis, Tennessee.

Following in the footsteps of her cousin and fiercely determined to dominate a male-populated industry, Durham attended trucking school and obtained her CDL. She was the only woman in her class at the time, as women were not widely accepted in these professions, but she knew she could do it like the guys – if not better.

Now, with more than 18 years of driving under her belt, Durham is fueled by her dedication to her community and is a firm believer in second chances. As a result, she is the first woman in the State of Tennessee to establish a CDL apprenticeship program specifically developed for women, youth, and justice-involved individuals.

“I’m a game changer and I focus on making a difference and changing lives,” said Durham. “My goal is to show people that whether you have been homeless or have been incarcerated, you can still have a rewarding career. You could say I’m like the underground mother of the trucking industry.”

Durham’s commitment to the empowerment of the next generation sparked the development of the first-ever youth trucking dispatcher and CDL program. The program is available to individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 and provides mentorship, job shadowing, and advanced skill building. In 2022, she received the Leaders and Legends award by the City of Memphis for these efforts.

She is also a member of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) Program.

Durham is creating a movement by training highly qualified drivers to meet the growing demand of the transportation industry. She encourages all women to have confidence in themselves and pursue a career in the trucking industry saying, “if you’re determined and you’ve decided this career path is what you want to do – just go for it. Set yourself up for success, stay focused, and accomplish your goals.”

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Liana Castro as its July 2023 Member of the Month. Castro is a driver trainer at LGT Transport, a leading transportation company in the cryogenic industry.
 
Driven by the freedom, flexibility, sense of adventure, and opportunity to travel, a career in trucking was the perfect fit for Castro. She began pulling reefers, followed by going local to deliver food service. She then transitioned to linehaul and pulled doubles and triples. Later, when Castro was interested in hauling fuel, the company she applied to needed cryo drivers. That was the moment she was introduced to the cryogenic industry.
 
"I found it absolutely fascinating and was glad I got into that division instead,” said Castro. “It opened more doors for me and ultimately led me to LGT Transport.”
 
With 14 years of experience in truck driving, Castro has established herself as a skilled, reliable, and dependable driver. She is meticulous about her equipment, follows the customer's requirements, and consistently goes above and beyond. Proving to be an invaluable member of the LGT team for the past six years, she was promoted to driver trainer in February of 2023. As the first female to hold this position at the company, she is paving the way for other women to follow in her footsteps. 
 
Today, Castro trains drivers to transport cryogenic materials such as CO2, liquid oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. Her role is crucial, as she ensures that new drivers learn to follow all safety protocols. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience to help others thrive in the industry. 
 
With perseverance, determination and passion, Castro demonstrates that anyone can succeed in pursuing their dreams. “Don't be intimidated or put off by the industry just because it's male-populated,” she said. “Trucking is a great opportunity for anyone willing to put in the effort. Keep at it.”