The annual award recognizes outstanding female professional drivers who lead the industry in safety standards while actively enhancing the public image of the trucking industry.
Every year, Women In Trucking seeks nominations for the Driver of the Year award sponsored by Walmart. The award recognizes outstanding female professional drivers who lead the industry in safety standards while actively working to enhance the public image of the trucking industry.
It’s a joy to celebrate and honor drivers each year through the Women In Trucking Driver of the Year award. Recognizing the value that female drivers bring to the trucking profession is a key mission of WIT and we’re pleased to showcase their stories year after year,” - Jennifer Hedrick, WIT president and CEO
The finalists and overall winner will be recognized at the 2024 Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event March 22 at the Mid-America
Trucking Show (MATS). The winner will be chosen based on her safety record, positive community contributions, and impact on the public image of the trucking industry. She will receive a plaque, commemorative ring and more.
Peggy Arnold, a company driver at Yellow Corporation for nearly 30 years. She received Yellow's Million Mile Safe Driving Award with nearly 1.9 million accident-free miles. Arnold is proud to serve on Yellow’s leadership team, the Women's Inclusion Network Employee Resource Group and is also part of the safety team. “Our safety team spends countless hours helping our fellow drivers prevent on the job injuries and with a goal to be accident free. I am a part of our new drivers training program and take my job straight to the heart. Every day I do my best to train and teach to the best of my ability,” she said. Arnold was named as a 2022 Top Women to Watch in Transportation by WIT, American Trucking Associations America's Road Team Captains Finalist 2022, Yellow's Road to Excellence Award 2021, and Certified Safety Trainer 2021.
FedEx Freight
Weaver has been a professional driver for over 20 years. For the first seven years of her career, she was an over-the-road driver. Then, she became a company driver with FedEx Freight and has been with the company for 13 years. She now has more than 2 million accident-free miles and zero moving violations.
Since 2019, Weaver has served as an America’s Road Team Captain. She was most recently a finalist for the Luella Bates Award at FedEx Freight and is a two-time winner of the prestigious Bravo Zulu Award, an award created by FedEx Freight founder, Fred Smith. She speaks to community colleges about the trucking industry as well as the Pennsylvania State Police Academy’s new commercial officer cadets. She is an advocate for Truckers Against Trafficking and has attended their leadership conference and is also involved with outreach programs in her community. Her 10-year-old son is proud of her and loves what she does for a living.
Day and Ross
Susie De Ridder, company driver for Day and Ross, was the winner of the first annual Female Driver of the Year award.
“Susie De Ridder has been a visible advocate for women in the trucking industry and we are so proud to honor her with the first-ever ‘Female Driver of the Year award.’ Her safety standards and community involvement enhance a positive public image of the trucking industry,” said Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT.
Candy Bass has been a long-haul professional driver for 50 years, accumulating 6 million accident-free miles. In 2016, she was awarded the TA Petro Citizen Driver award. Recipients of this award exhibit citizenship, safety, community involvement, and leadership. A Nashville, Tennessee TA truck stop is named the Candy Bass Travel Center in honor of her. In 2023, she was named a Top Woman to Watch in Transportation by Redefining the Road, WIT’s official magazine. Bass is a lifetime member of WIT and Owner/Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). She is involved in numerous charities including St. Christopher Foundation, Hats for Heroes, Special Olympics, Trucker Buddy, and Charities for troops. At 78, she is still driving long haul across the United States while encouraging and mentoring other women in the trucking industry.
Fernando Cortes
Senior Vice President, Transportation
Walmart
Contact Lana Nichols at (208) 217-2147 or Lana@womenintrucking.org.