Ellen Fear: Giving a voice to women in the transport sector

There are inspirational stories in almost every industry that has brought about a much needed change. Such an uplifting story Ellen LaneWho persuaded an entire industry to focus on women’s careers.

Ellen began her quest to make the transportation industry a positive place for women. Due to his unparalleled efforts, his voice has been heard on a much wider scale and has brought many changes to the transport sector at the national level.

Currently, Ellen Hall CEO And President Of Women in the trucking association Which was established with the sole purpose of helping women in their transportation careers. As the company’s name suggests, its main goal is to drive enthusiastic women to build a successful career in the trucking industry. She continues to inspire women to build their careers in tracking and helps them do just that.

We contacted him at Insights Success to hear his thoughts and views on his personal and professional goals.

Below are the highlights of the interview:

Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader up to your current position in the organization. What challenges have you overcome to get to where you are today?

My first challenge as the founder of the Women in Tracking Association was to convince an industry that women in transportation need to focus on their careers. Fifteen years ago, most carriers hired the best person regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. However, there was no level playing field and women were expected to fit into the male dominated environment. Now that we have better data on the benefits of hiring women

Tell us more about the organization and its mission and vision.

The Women in Tracking Association was formed to encourage the employment of women in the transportation profession, to address the barriers that could prevent women from succeeding, and to celebrate the success of our members. We currently have 6,400 members in ten countries. Surprisingly, fifteen percent of our members are men who join because they support our mission. As a professional / commercial organization we are supported by our members who pay the arrears to access our resources and take advantage of our networking opportunities.

Enlighten us about how you have impacted the industry through your expertise in the market.

My whole career is in the trucking industry. In 1980 I earned a Diploma in Traffic and Transportation Management which gave me a background in better understanding the challenges in the supply chain. I went on to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in communication, and my thesis focuses on the “complex identity of married women with professional drivers”. It provides insights into the family aspects of the job, which is more of a lifestyle than a career. Because of my passion for people in the industry, I have a different perspective on how to address many of our challenges in hiring, promoting and retaining women in the trekking career. Through my role in Women in Tracking, I have been able to get a voice at the national level. I currently serve on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and I have served on the Entry Level Driver Training Advisory Committee. I serve on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association as well as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Motor Carriers Advisory Committee. I believe that my passion for working as a resource has allowed me to be a reliable source for issues related to women working in the trucking industry.

Describe in detail the values ​​and work culture that drives your organization.

As an association, we have always had a distant workforce. Our team is spread across the country, but we stay connected through the use of technology. However, this means that our employees must be self-motivated and focus on output, not time spent on work. Our values ​​are what really make our progress so dramatic, because we all have a passion for empowering and supporting women in the trucking industry. Without this shared goal, we would not exist.

Undoubtedly, technology is playing a significant role in almost every sector. How are you using technological advances to enrich your solutions?

Technology has truly changed the way we communicate with our members. When the epidemic forced us to cancel the conference, we turned into a virtual event that was very successful. Technology has also given us the opportunity to use social media to tell stories. We use Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Our drivers can easily add videos and photos to share and tell their stories.

Given the opportunity to change the industry?

If I could make a difference in the trucking industry, it would be to create a more women-friendly environment. Instead of hoping to fit women into an industry designed for men, I would welcome simple adaptations such as women’s uniforms, trucks that are more designed for women, lounges and showers that are more accessible to women, and even more sex-oriented marketing materials. . The trucking industry has been a male-dominated industry for almost a century, so it’s slow to change.

What, in your opinion, could be the next big change in the industry? How is your company preparing to be a part of that change?

The next big change in the trucking industry will be the pressure for more autonomous vehicles. While we embrace the safety technology added to these vehicles, we do not expect a driverless truck to be a common site on our country’s highways in the short term. However, these trucks are equipped with anti-collision, anti-rollover, anti-theft and many more good technologies which will make the work safer, the highways safer and our drivers safer and we welcome that.

Where do you imagine yourself to be in the long run and what are your future goals for the company?

A few years ago, I announced my retirement goal in 2023, so we’re working on a legacy plan to replace me as CEO of Women in Trucking. My future goal for the association is to make a greater impact on the industry. My personal goal is to return the leadership to a competent and enthusiastic person who will take our goal forward.

What would be your advice to emerging women entrepreneurs who want to be entrepreneurs in the industry?

For any female entrepreneur, but especially for women in male-dominated careers, my advice is where you want to be in the short and long term. Write down your goals and then take steps to achieve them. Anton de Saint-Xaperi, a French writer and pilot, once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Create a vision board or showcase your plan where you can see it every day.