The Women in Trucking Association recently recognized eight companies with for-hire or private tank truck fleets as 2022 Top Companies for Women to Work For in Transportation during its WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas.
The list includes Dupré Logistics, Highway Transport, Marathon Petroleum, Pilot Company, Prime, Inc., Quality Carriers, Savage, and Schneider.
Quality Carriers was selected for building a culture inclusive of women and their accomplishments in the company and the industry. The company’s social media series, QC Women Wednesday, promotes women’s success in trucking.
“We’re very proud of this accomplishment,” said Randy Strutz, president of Quality Carriers.
“Women form an integral part of our team. Whether it’s our drivers, our mechanics, or our leadership, having women in trucking is a core part of our values and a core part of our company.”
See also: Quality Carrier debuts intermodal service
Nominees are carefully reviewed by WIT and voted on by members of the transportation industry. Winners were presented with a plaque at the Accelerate conference.
Industry leadership
WIT honored Schneider for its efforts corporate culture that fosters gender diversity, competitive compensation and benefits, flexible hours and work requirements, and professional development and career advancement opportunities.
“We are excited that there’s been a significant uptick in women interested in pursuing a career in trucking,” said Angela Fish, Schneider’s executive vice president of human resources. “We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a leader in increasing accessibility and removing fundamental obstacles that have long deterred women from entering the industry.”
Schneider’s commitment to helping women advance their trucking careers is strengthened by its leadership mentor program, where 47% of participants are women. KayLeigh McCall, driver and training engineer at Schneider, serves as WIT’s driver ambassador, encouraging women to join the industry and raising awareness around gender equity.
“I continue to be humbled to serve in this role and encourage all women to consider a career in trucking,” McCall said. “I have been unbelievably fortunate that Schneider facilitates a safe and inclusive culture that empowers women, no matter the age, to discover their passion for driving.”
Overcoming obstacles
Marathon’s resumé includes a partnership between its Transport and Rail (T&R) division and the Women in Trucking Foundation.
“As a female in a male-dominated field, you have to overcome many obstacles,” said Katie Zalat, Marathon T&R West operations director. “Advocating for women is something that brings me joy and guides my actions. I’m thankful to work for a company that fosters inclusion and happy we are being recognized as a top company for women to work.”
Beyond WIT’s support, T&R drivers have “extensive” benefits packages, Marathon said. They include eight weeks of fully paid maternity leave, four weeks of fully paid paternity leave, adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement, four-day work weeks, a 401k employer match, a company pension plan, and the opportunity to be home every night.
“This partnership with Women in Trucking is a great opportunity to help us with some of those actions to improve—in recruiting women, and in benchmarking and in learning, because we have more room to grow,” Zalat said. “I am excited for what’s to come and to see more faces like me in T&R as a result of this partnership.”