Daphne Jefferson, deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has been presented the seventh annual Influential Woman in Trucking award by the Women In Trucking Association and Freightliner Trucks.

The winner was announced at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Kansas City, Missouri, and Jefferson was presented with the award by Mary Aufdemberg, chairwoman of WIT and an executive with Daimler Trucks North America.

"As the female demographic grows in our industry, more and more women are gaining recognition for their outstanding leadership and professionalism," said Aufdemberg. "Women In Trucking is an important organization and I am proud to be part of this community and honored to present this award to Daphne Jefferson."

As deputy administrator of the FMCSA, Jefferson is the senior career official responsible for truck and bus safety on our nation’s roadways. In 2016 she received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service, the government’s top award for excellence in civil service.

“The Pew Research Center did a study about women and leadership. Even though women are as capable as men in positions of power, barriers continue to persist," Jefferson said. "As a public servant on the regulatory side of the trucking industry, I try every day to remove the barriers and dispel any myths about women in this industry and in leadership."

The Influential Woman in Trucking award recognizes women in the trucking industry who make or influence key decisions, have a proven record of responsibility, and mentor and serve as a role model to other women. The award was developed in 2010 as a way to honor female leaders in trucking, and to attract and advance women within the industry.

The finalists of the 2017 Influential Woman in Trucking award also included Tana Greene, CEO and founder, Blue Bloodhound; and Traci Crane, senior manager fleet services, Contract Freighters.

“We are truly honored to have such a positive relationship with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration through Daphne Jefferson,” said Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT. “She took the time and made the effort to spend two days in the truck with two of our female drivers in order to better understand the industry from the driver’s perspective, and this helped her lead the agency. She is one of the most influential women in the trucking industry and we are pleased to recognize her with this award.”