by Women In Trucking Staff, on Jan 3, 2024 8:05:53 AM
ARLINGTON, Va. – Jan. 3, 2024 – The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Kierra Meyer as its January 2024 Member of the Month. Meyer is the Senior Manager of the Operations Academy at Sysco Corporation.
Meyer knew when she was in college that there was more extensive training needed for truck drivers. Little did she know though that she would end up being an intricate part of that training and so involved in the trucking industry.
While in college, she was privileged to help coordinate the One Republic concert that was performing at the campus. The night before the show, everyone was getting ready and setting up for the performance. A driver that was arranging the stage had to do a blind reverse, with a 90-degree turn into the parking lot. He had a crew member out there with him helping to guide him to the dock. It would have been fine if the hospitality manager had moved his van, but that was not the case, and the spotter signaled the driver to turn too late causing the DOT bumper to smash into the back of the van making it undriveable. Meyer remembers her first thought at the time was “I feel like there should have been some type of training to prevent this.” Fast forward to today and we find Meyer developing curriculum for trucking, warehouse, and logistics!
Meyer started her career in the trucking industry from a friendly referral. A previous coworker started a new job at a Bakery Supply Distribution Company and mentioned Meyer’s name to the company’s director. Meyer met, interviewed, and eventually became the DOT Safety Manager and Assistant Warehouse Manager. She started her role in 2016 and has been working in the trucking industry ever since. In March of 2022, Meyer started working at Sysco Corporation as the Senior Manager of the Operation Academy.
Meyer and her team work on curriculum design for Sysco’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training facilities. Their in-house training is offered to existing employees to help them advance their career at Sysco by becoming CDL certified drivers. The program will help increase the number of qualified drivers at Sysco and increase the career earnings potential of those trained. The program is taught by professional trainers employed by Sysco and the company covers all costs of training, licensing, and certification. After graduating and obtaining a CDL, each qualified driver will be offered a position as a driver at Sysco. Along with the CDL program, Meyer also manages the curriculum for all new Sysco Delivery Partners, whether they already have their CDL or have just graduated from the CDL program.
This course dives into the skills needed to help their Delivery Partners stay safe while working efficiently. They also collaborate with Veterans giving them opportunities after their training to drive for them. They have several training classes, including backing, all done in a safe environment with the emphasis on safety.
When Meyer is not working, she tries to live sustainably. She once bought a table that did not last long. When it broke, she decided that she was going to fix it, and she did. Since that time, she tends to buy things that are used or make it herself. Her current project includes refinishing an oak dining table and six chairs. Last year, she built shelves with scrap wood that was given to her. She finds fun in gaining new skills because you never know when they will be useful. It is wonderful to be able to have the skills to change things and make them even better than they were.
Meyer believes women are the movers and shakers of the trucking industry. In a traditionally male-led industry, women now have the unique opportunity to push boundaries, make significant changes, and bring in new opportunities! She would love to see the trucking industry workforce be closer to 50/50 men and women. We have come a long way, but we can still bring it even closer. The more women hear about the opportunities available to them, the more excited they become and want to be a part of the trucking industry.
Her advice to women wanting to break into the trucking industry is to make your voice heard with any new or helpful ideas that will lead you to make your mark! She also states, “Don’t be afraid to jump into projects or work. People will always remember your initiative, not if you did everything perfectly the first time.”
It is truly amazing how Meyer never saw herself working in the trucking industry, but looking back to her college days and remembering how she felt more training should be done to help the truck drivers and here she is designing the curriculum to help drivers be able to learn to do all their backing skills. She wants to make work easier for others and by seeing the big picture that can happen. “Just take it day by day!”
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About Women In Trucking Association, Inc.
Women In Trucking Association, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Arrow Truck Sales, Bridgestone Americas, Daimler Truck North America, FedEx Freight, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Michelin North America, Navistar International, Inc., PACCAR, Penske Transportation Solutions, Ryder System, Walmart, and WM. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. For more information, visit www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.
