Women In Trucking Association and Freightliner Trucks have opened nominations for the 2019 Influential Woman in Trucking Award, which recognizes women who make or influence key decisions in a trucking business environment.

Qualified nominees can be involved in making decisions in corporate, manufacturing, supplier, owner-operator, driver, sales or dealership settings. The winner must have a proven record of responsibility and have mentored or served as a role model to other women in the industry.

“The Influential Woman in Trucking Award recognizes exceptional women leaders who have been advocates and role models to others,” said Ellen Voie, president and CEO, Women In Trucking. “Each year, I am thoroughly impressed by the caliber of women nominated.”

Now in its ninth year, the Influential Woman in Trucking award honors female leaders in the trucking industry. Past recipients include Marcia Taylor, CEO of Bennett International Group; Rebecca Brewster, president and COO, American Transportation Research Institute; Joyce Brenny, president, Brenny Transportation, Inc./Brenny Specialized, Inc.; Rochelle Bartholomew, CEO, CalArk International; Kari Rihm, president, Rihm Kenworth; Ramona Hood, vice president of Operations, Planning and Strategy, FedEx Custom Critical; Daphne Jefferson, Former U.S. Department of Transportation, FMCSA; and Angela Eliacostas, founder and CEO, AGT Global Logistics.

Nominations will be accepted through August on the Women In Trucking website.

The winner will be announced at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo held in Dallas, Texas, September 30 – October 2. Each finalist will be asked to serve as a panelist for the Influential Women in Trucking panel discussion. Those that nominate a candidate need to ask the nominee to save the date for this event if she is named a finalist.

“When I first started my career, there were very few women in the trucking industry let alone in leadership positions,” said Kary Schaefer, general manager, marketing and strategy, Freightliner Trucks and Detroit Components. “It’s amazing to see how the industry has changed and women are now a driving force in all areas of trucking. Freightliner is proud to sponsor this award and recognize those women who are not only making a difference in their own roles but for all women in the trucking profession.”