WIT announced the call for nominees as the award enters its second decade. The Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award recognizes women working in logistics roles across North America, including freight brokerage, third-party logistics, supply chain strategy, and operations.

Industry leadership recognition

Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, president and CEO of WIT, said the award reflects the role women play in the logistics sector.

“The Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award exemplifies the power of women’s leadership in a field critical to our economy,” Hedrick said. “We invite industry leaders, peers, and organizations to nominate women whose vision, determination and influence are shaping the next generation of logistics excellence.”

According to WIT, the award highlights leadership, innovation, and impact within the logistics profession.

“The award is an inspiring recognition that celebrates exceptional leadership, innovation and impact by women in the logistics profession across North America,” WIT said.

Focus beyond job titles

WIT said the award focuses not only on professional achievement, but also on broader contributions to the industry.

“The logistics industry is evolving, and the contributions of women leaders are central to that transformation,” WIT said. “The DWLA recognizes not only career accomplishments but also mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement. These attributes inspire others and foster a more inclusive, resilient industry. By elevating these role models, WIT encourages future generations of women to pursue dynamic careers in logistics and trucking.”

How to submit a nomination

Nominations are open now and must be submitted by February 27. There is no nomination fee. Individuals or organizations familiar with a nominee’s work may submit a nomination online.

Award presentation details

The 2026 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award recipient will be honored at the TIA 2026 Capital Ideas Conference, scheduled for April 15 through April 18 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Martha Payne was named the 2025 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award winner.

Source: The Trucker

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The award, created in 2010 and sponsored this year by TrueBlue’s Centerline Drivers, honors women who are changing trucking through leadership, innovation, and advocacy.

WIT put it this way: “This year’s finalists represent a range of leadership roles across the industry who have made a measurable impact on their organizations and communities.”

The 2025 Finalists

Here are the four leaders being recognized:

• Cindy Ellers, chief customer officer at Fleetworthy
  • Dee Dee Cox, vice president of human resources at Old Dominion Freight Line
  • Katerina Jones, chief marketing officer at Fleet Advantage
  • Leah Shaver, president and CEO of The National Transportation Institute

Cindy Ellers – Supporting Fleets and Standing Up for Women

Ellers oversees customer strategy and growth at Fleetworthy, a company focused on fleet safety, compliance, and toll management. Since joining in 2021, she has helped the company grow fast and manage several acquisitions without losing focus on service.

She has spent more than 15 years leading customer-facing teams and previously worked with compliance tech at RDC, which later became part of Moody’s Corp.

Ellers does not stop at operations. She also created Fleetworthy’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and launched internal Women in Leadership panels to help women climb in an industry that is still mostly male. She is known for mentoring others and helping them build careers in transportation and logistics.

Dee Dee Cox – Building Careers from the Ground Up

With three decades in HR and leadership, Cox now leads human resources at Old Dominion. She manages everything from hiring and employee support to training and company culture.

She helped create and expand key programs that help people move up in the industry, including the Management Trainee Program, Supervisor Development Program, internships, and apprenticeships. Those efforts boosted retention and brought more women and underrepresented groups into trucking careers.

When she started, her HR team was one person. Now it is nearly 40 across the country. Cox also built a leadership curriculum that ties in Old Dominion’s core values, long-term vision, and family culture. Her work focuses on helping more people, especially women, see trucking as a place to grow.

Katerina Jones – Driving Growth and Safety Awareness

Jones brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and client relations. At Fleet Advantage, she helped turn the company into a billion-dollar brand and plays a direct role when new private and for-hire fleets come on board.

As part of the senior leadership team, she is involved in shaping operations, strategy, human resources, and company culture. She also acts as a safety liaison and leads demonstrations that show fleets how advanced safety tech can protect drivers.

Her work across the industry has earned her several awards, including “Top Woman to Watch in Transportation” from WIT and “Top Female Professional” from Supply Chain & Demand Chain Executive. Beyond her day job, she is active in charitable work and industry councils.

Leah Shaver – Championing Driver Pay and Retention

Shaver leads The National Transportation Institute, best known for tracking driver pay and helping carriers improve compensation and retention. Her work centers on turning data into real strategies that keep drivers in the industry.

With nearly 25 years in trucking, she has helped fleets address pay structure, driver career paths, and workforce planning. She is also active in efforts to bring more women and younger people into trucking.

Shaver served three terms on WIT’s Board of Directors, sits on the Next Generation in Trucking Association board, and contributes to several capacity and fleet advisory groups.

Drivers may also recognize her from SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Radio, where she speaks directly with drivers about pay, policy, and industry changes. She is widely seen as a leading voice for driver engagement and career stability.

What’s Next

All four finalists will speak during a panel at the WIT Accelerate Conference and Expo in Dallas, Texas, taking place November 9 through 12. The winner will be announced after the discussion.

If you want to look back at who took home the award in 2024, WIT has that story available online.

Sources: WIT and The Trucker

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The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has now recognized Barkey as its newest Highway Angel, honoring her courage and quick thinking.

A Night That Changed Everything

The incident happened late in the evening on June 18 near Mount Vernon, Illinois, as Barkey was heading toward her company’s terminal.

“I stopped on the side of the road because no one had stopped,” Barkey said. “The truck was smoking when I got there, and you could smell fuel.”

She immediately put her hazards on to avoid creating more danger, then called 911.

Breaking Through to Save a Life

“The driver was stuck in there,” Barkey said. “I happened to have a mag light flashlight in my hand, so I beat the window until I got it busted open, and then he was able to kick it out. Of course, I called 911 during all of this, and I stayed on the scene until the officer told me I was good to go. I’m just glad he was okay.”

Her quick actions helped prevent a bad situation from escalating, demonstrating the importance of staying calm under pressure and being willing to take action.

Recognized as a Highway Angel

The TCA Highway Angel program highlights professional drivers who go above and beyond to help others in critical situations. Barkey’s story is now part of a long tradition of truckers proving that the industry is about much more than moving freight — it’s about protecting lives.

For more stories of truckers recognized as Highway Angels, visit the Truckload Carriers Association’s official website.

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: Heather Barkey (Source: TCA)

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