Joyce Brenny, owner of Brenny Transportation and Brenny Specialized, received the second annual "Influential Woman in Trucking" award at the Truckload Carriers Association's annual meeting yesterday.

The award, presented by Navistar and the Women in Trucking Association, recognizes a woman in the trucking industry who makes or influences key decisions and who has demonstrated a record of responsibility and success in mentoring other women. In this second year of the competition, the number of nominees more than tripled.

With more than 35 years of industry experience, from beginning as a short-haul driver after high school, to starting and managing her own 100-employee company, Brenny has worked in nearly every area of the business.

Brenny founded Brenny Transportation in 1996. The company, based in St. Cloud, Minn., began with three employees and has since grown to a more than $15 million company with three additional divisions: Brenny Specialized, Brenny Global and Brenny's national agent division.

Brenny assists charities in her community, both through financial contributions and by volunteering her and her staff's time and talents to participate in coat and food drives, as well as a "Trucks and Toys" for the "Toys for Tots" campaign. She is the current chairwoman of the Minnesota Trucking Association and is the first woman to hold this title. Brenny also serves on the Women In Trucking Association Scholarship Foundation and has been an active member of the organization.

"We are thrilled to honor a woman who has been so influential in the trucking industry," says Ellen Voie, president of Women In Trucking. "Joyce is an inspiration as the Women In Trucking Association furthers our mission to celebrate the success of women in what has traditionally been a very male-dominated industry."

"This year's Influential Woman in Trucking judges received more than 100 nominations, and Joyce was a unanimous choice for the top honor," Voie says. "The other two finalists are also exceptional role models."

Two runners-up for this year's award were also recognized at the TCA event: Sandra Ambrose-Clark, president, ESJ Carrier Corp., and Judy McReynolds, president and CEO, Arkansas Best Corp.

Ambrose-Clark is president of ESJ Enterprises in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a founding member of the company. She has served on the USA Regional Chamber's small business advisory board, the Transportation Intermediaries Association board and the Women's Business Enterprise Council in the Southeast.

As president/CEO of Arkansas Best Corp, in Fort Smith, Ark., McReynolds is the first woman in the company's 89-year history to hold this position. McReynolds also serves on the ATA board of directors and executive committee, as well as the American Transportation Research Institute Board.