The Women In Trucking Association and Navistar Inc. have created an annual award to honor the trucking industry's most influential woman.

The inaugural award will be given at a reception to be held during the Truckload Carriers Association conference in San Diego, Calif., on March 15, 2011.

"We are excited to be able to honor a woman who has been influential in the trucking industry," said Ellen Voie, president and CEO of Women In Trucking. "This award will further our mission to celebrate the success already evidenced by those have led us through a very male dominated career environment."

"Women lead the trucking industry in many different roles," said Anne Belec, Chief Marketing Officer, Navistar Inc. "This award is designed to shine a spotlight on some of that great leadership in hopes of inspiring other women to join our industry."

Award candidates are defined as women who make or influence key decisions in a corporate, manufacturing, supplier, owner-operator, driver, sales or dealership setting. The individual must have a proven record of responsibility and mentored or served as a role model to other women in the industry. The woman does not have to currently hold the position for which her work is nominated, but she must be a living individual.

Nominations are now being accepted for this award, and must be submitted before the January 31, 2011 deadline. Judges for the award will be Howard Abramson; Transport Topics Publisher, Tom Nightingale; Chief Marketing Officer, Con-way, Inc. and Anne Belec.

More information about the award can be found at www.womenintrucking2011.org