Freightliner Trucks and the Women in Trucking Association presented the eighth annual Influential Woman in Trucking award to Angela Eliacostas, founder and CEO, AGT Global Logistics.

The winner was announced during the panel discussion of “Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women” at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas, Texas. The panel was facilitated by Joann Lublin, a Pulitzer-prize winner and news editor for The Wall Street Journal. Eliacostas was presented the award by Kary Schaefer, general manager, Product Marketing and Strategy, Daimler Trucks North America.

“From occupying seats in the truck to chairs in the boardroom, it is important that we recognize and celebrate the outstanding leadership contributions being made each and every day by women in our industry,” said Schaefer. “Through involvement in organizations like Women in Trucking, we want to highlight the career opportunities available to women in our industry. I am privileged to present this award to Angela Eliacostas, founder and CEO, AGT Global Logistics, and proud to be part of Women in Trucking, which is focused on attracting top talent and promoting influential leaders across all roles within the truck industry.”

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.

With more than 30 years in transportation, Eliacostas has worked her way from the ground up. Following generations of relatives with expertise in the transportation industry, she made the natural transition to her own career by learning the processes at trucking companies to running third-party logistics.

In 2005, Eliacostas formed All Girls Transportation and Logistics Inc. As offerings and services grew, a name change was required to fit their expansion and AGT Global Logistics was born. The company, headquartered in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, provides a broad range of third-party logistics (3PL) services.

Eliacostas has been recognized for making AGT Global Logistics one of the top 50 in Illinois and top 1,000 woman-owned businesses in the United States.

Eliacostas’ father once told her that as a woman in the industry, she would face many challenges, but hard work knows no gender. “These are words to live by and I'm honored to help encourage and hopefully inspire women in the world of trucking,” she said.

The finalists of the 2018 Influential Woman in Trucking award also included Nozuko Mayeza, managing director, Tulsawiz Logistics, and Brooke Willey, vice president-human resources, CRST International.