The Accelerate! Conference and Expo was held in Dallas November 7-9, 2021.
The event was sponsored by the Women in Trucking Association, a non-profit organization whose mission is “to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize obstacles faced by women in the industry,” as stated on the group’s website.
Truck drivers are in demand now more than ever. With more females joining the trucking industry, the current strain on the national supply chain can be alleviated.
Although driving big rigs has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, event organizers encouraged “anyone who believes the gender balance should be changed,” to attend and participate in the conference.
The expo and conference highlighted that there is more to the industry than just truck driving.
As reported by FOX 4, regional sales manager for Great Dane, Laura Hays, said that transportation “opens up a barrage of other opportunities. Whether it’s behind the wheel, safety, a dispatcher, someone that works on the equipment, a technician, someone selling the parts, someone building them or someone selling them, it could be any facet of the industry,” she explained.
The event also included the unveiling of Women in Trucking’s ambassador truck, “WIT-Ney,” which will travel around the country driven by a female driver with the purpose of encouraging women to join the industry.
For those who missed the in-person event, a virtual version will be held November 17-18. Go to the Women in Trucking website to register.
