In The News
The 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) recently announced their winner of the 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking award, sponsored by Daimler Truck North America (DTNA). This is the 13th year for the award which was developed in 2010 to recognize female leaders and to attract and advance women in the trucking industry.
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) presented Shelley Simpson, President, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. with its 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking award. This award recognizes the achievements of female role models and trailblazers in the trucking industry.
The winner was announced during the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas, Texas. The announcement followed the panel discussion “Unstoppable Women in Trucking You Must Know About,” facilitated by Tracy Mack-Askew, Chief Engineer of Chassis, Propulsion, and Vocational Engineering, DTNA.
Finalists for the 2023 award included Tori Blake, Chief Financial Officer and Co-owner, Western Logistics Express and WLX, and Megan Ferguson, Vice President of End-to-End Delivery Acceleration, Walmart.
“It’s a privilege for Women In Trucking to recognize Shelley Simpson as our 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking award winner,” said Jennifer Hedrick, WIT President and CEO. “Shelley’s passion and leadership for this field, including her commitment to expanding gender diversity in transportation, have been evident throughout her nearly 30-year career.”
“On behalf of Daimler Truck North America, our congratulations to all of the remarkable finalists for the 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking award who have and continue to work tirelessly to create expanded opportunities for women in our industry,” said Angela Lentz, Chief People Officer, DTNA. “In addition, I want to congratulate Shelly Simpson for being named the 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking. Her amazing and vast career, commitment to others and impact on trucking are all impressive accomplishments worthy of this unique recognition.”
Simpson’s career at J.B. Hunt reflects the company’s continued progression as an innovative leader in the transportation and logistics industry. Since joining J.B. Hunt as an hourly customer service representative, she has held multiple positions for business segments across the company, including most recently serving as Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President of People and Human Resources.
Through years of hard work and dedication to the company, Simpson was named President in 2022, and currently provides management and performance oversight for all company business units, in addition to emerging technology, developing services and People and Human Resources.
Originally from Russellville, Arkansas, Simpson graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She lives in Rogers, AR with her husband David and three children.
Every time women take a step forward in the trucking industry, it should be applauded and encouraged. As the commercial trucking world continues to make strides in gender equality, it bares remembering that not too long ago this was an industry dominated by men. There’s still work to be done but each step forward is progress in reassuring this industry is on the right path to growth.