When Women in Trucking's Ellen Voie ran into the president of a toy maker in an airport lounge, it was the genesis for a new plush doll depicting a female truck driver.

"Clare" stands 13” tall and features an official Women in Trucking cap atop a wind-blown blonde head of hair. The doll wears an “I Heart Trucking” tee, red-collar shirt, jeans, and boots. Her package shares the story of her journey into the driver’s seat of her very own 18-wheeler.

The doll is the brainchild of Ellen Voie, founder and CEO of Women In Trucking, a nonprofit group that encourages the employment of women in the trucking industry.

“The launch of this doll is a long-time dream come true for me," Voie said. "The world is wide open for girls today and I’m thrilled to be providing a toy that tells them that whatever they want to be is just great – whether that’s a teacher or an ad exec or a professional driver.”

Voie bumped into Lea Culliton, president of toy manufacturer Haba USA, in an airline lounge. The two talked and agreed to partner, with a sponsorship from the National Transportation Center to offset some of the production costs.  

The doll will also star in this summer’s I Heart Trucking Photo Contest put on by Women in Trucking. Themed “Clare’s First Road Trip," the contest will ask professional drivers to submit photos from the road featuring Clare.

Clare will be available at truckstops, including TA/Petro Stopping Centers, beginning in March, or on Amazon or at the Haba USA website.