Women In Trucking President & CEO Ellen Voie, in her annual presentation during the organization’s Accelerate! Conference & Expo, today announced an innovative new program that will serve as a platform to assist in establishing 150 new women-owned small businesses within in the transportation sector over the next 12 months. The program – developed as part of a strategic partnership with Expediter Services, one of the industry’s leading providers of capacity – will offer accessible financing as well as operational and business support for women interested in entering the trucking industry.
The goal of the new program from Women In Trucking (WIT), as Voie noted in her presentation at the conference, is focused on key areas of need within the trucking industry. The program, in utilizing infrastructure developed through the expertise of Expediter Services, offers a proven platform for women who are interested in learning about and growing within the trucking industry. The women in the program will be on a path to establishing their own small businesses as owner-operators and fleet owners in a market that now has a driver shortage approaching 50,000, according to the latest industry estimates.

WIT’s new program also offers a strong solution in a challenging driver market for carriers seeking capacity growth to meet the increasing shipping needs of customers. As part of her presentation at Accelerate!, Voie issued a challenge to the carriers attending the annual WIT conference and to carriers across the industry. In considering the number of small businesses and owner-operators WIT’s new program seeks to develop over the next year, Voie challenged carriers to help create opportunities for these women entrepreneurs by utilizing their services as a way to address capacity needs.

Expediter Services President Jason Williams, a WIT Board of Directors Member and a participant in a panel discussion following Voie’s presentation, announced on Tuesday that Panther Premium Logistics and Forward Air had become the first carriers to pledge their support in welcoming the capacity that will be generated by the small businesses produced through WIT’s new program.
“One of the goals of Women In Trucking Association is to address obstacles a woman might face in her career.  For drivers, this is often about obtaining funding, which our partnership with Expediter Services will eliminate.  Not only will she receive financial support, she will learn how to become a small business owner in the process.  We are so excited to be able to provide this service to our members,” said Voie.

In addition to becoming the leading source of capacity to the expedited transportation market during the past decade, Expediter Services has developed a highly effective platform offering strong entrepreneurial opportunities in general trucking through SuccessInTrucking.com, a website dedicated to prospective owner-operators and fleet owners. SuccessInTrucking.com also features programs designed to address the needs of carriers seeking capacity.

“We value the partnership that Expediter Services has built with Women In Trucking, and, through our experience in developing our scope of services, we know that women are a very important and growing part of a changing marketplace in trucking. We have been working for some time now to put the financing, operational support and infrastructure in place that can serve as a strong springboard for the launch and growth of 150 new women-owned small businesses over the next year,” said Williams. “Everything is now in place, and the industry is responding. We are proud to have Panther Premium Logistics and Forward Air as the first carriers on board to provide the participants in the program a great freight environment to work within. We could not have asked for better support to ensure the success of a program that is the first of its kind in the industry. Expediter Services is committed to helping the women entrepreneurs entering this program find their path to success in the trucking industry.”

Those interested in learning more details about the program are encouraged to contact Expediter Services with a phone call or email. The toll-free number for Expediter Services is 877-349-9303, while the email address is [email protected].
About Women In Trucking: The Women In Trucking Association, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Arrow Truck Sales, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Daimler Trucks North America, BMO Transportation Finance, Expediter Services, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Ryder System, Inc., U.S. Xpress, and Walmart. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.

About Expediter Services: “Expediter Services is a one-stop service focused company offering programs and opportunities to  independent contract drivers and owner operators throughout the trucking industry through its wholly owned subsidiaries:  Expediter Contract Driver Services, Expediter Equipment Finance, Expediter Truck Sales, Expediter Management Services, and Expediter Insurance Services.”  For more information, visit www.expediterservices.com or call 877-349-9303.