Linda Ingram Jasa, Jasa Transit, Inc, President

What are some of your duties?  Wear many hats..recruitment of drivers, customer relations, standing committee member of safety and dispatch.   Purchase equipment, President of Tank Wash…..

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry?  Varied relationships with customers, drivers and office employees is the most rewarding.  And how all the parts come together to enable us to provide essential services for our Country.

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career?  My partner and husband, Rick Jasa, was in the industry for forty years.  We started Jasa Transit in 1997 and my introduction to trucking also began!

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry.  It is a challenging and rewarding career.  Careers in transportation present the opportunity to be part of the fabric of this country.

Diana Garcia, Truck Services Inc., Director of Truck Services

What are some of your duties?

Assisting clients get trucking companies started

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry?

The relationships built with clients

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career?

It sounded exacting and fast-changing

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry.

Trucking is fascinating, stay informed on latest compliance and trends through the Nebraska Trucking Association.

Kayla Hasselmann, Grand Island Express, Inc., Chief Financial Officer

What are some of your duties? I oversee the entire Accounting department. This includes Payroll, Benefits, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Billing. I am responsible for the company’s financial operations which includes the responsibility of accurate financial reporting, stewardship of the company’s assets, and ownership of cash management. Ensuring compliance with the law and company’s policies is also part of my duties.

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry? I love the fast paced, ever changing environment. I also love working with such a strong team all throughout the company. Grand Island Express has a welcoming family atmosphere which is what I enjoy the most.

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career? I knew very little about the trucking industry before taking the position at Grand Island Express. I was looking to advance my career and was presented with this amazing opportunity. I was immediately intrigued by the industry.

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry. Trucking has long been a predominantly male industry. I love seeing the increase of women in the trucking industry and look forward to seeing that trend continue to rise. The trucking industry is one of the toughest out there. Every job comes with perks and drawbacks. Find a company that feels like home and everything else will fall into place.

[email protected]

Katie Horton, Green Quest Recycling, Traffic Manager

What are some of your duties?
Coordinate customer pickup requests and dispatching of drivers, record keeping, and reporting. General office and customer service operations.
What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry?
The comradery with my co-workers and customers.
What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career?
I am new to the industry but love learning new things. There is so much to do within the trucking industry that I am constantly learning something new.
Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry.
“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back”
If you don’t have a tribe yet, build one!

Karla Potter, Orthman Logistics, Administrative Assistant

What are some of your duties? Some of the duties that I preform are payroll for the drivers, invoicing and bill collecting.  Help answer the phone for the dispatchers.  Input load information into the computer.  Letting Brokers know where the drivers are and whether or not they are unloaded or loaded.

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry? What do I enjoy the most about my job.  EVERYTHING!!! I was recently (the beginning of the year) moved to the front office where I meet and greet everyone coming in the door.  (ok I am a people person). But most of all I enjoy learning how our industry runs.  I enjoy working with each one of our drivers and hearing stores of loads that they just ran.  I have formed special friendships with each one of them.   I can’t express enough on how much I love my job.

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career?   I can’t say what led me to choose this industry, but I can say who, Angela Werner.  She is a really good friend of mine and she was needing someone in the office to assist her in the “paperwork” part of the job.  I was looking to get out of the current job I was in because it had become too physically demanding and my back wasn’t taking the demands very well.    I am so Glad she did…

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry.  “Those of us already in the trades see ourselves as a wedge in the door; we’ve go to hold the door open so that more women can come in behind us,” Fran Kraus, ironworker

Tracy Jahnel, Sterling Transportation Services, Controller

What are some of your duties?

Manage all business operations of our organization, budgets, forecasting, financial reporting, oversight of IT, compliance, IRP, IFTA.

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry?

I enjoy learning and evolving in an ever-changing environment to service our customers.

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career?

I took a chance that I could learn the industry when I started working at Sterling 14 years ago.  I came into the industry with a diverse background with years of business experience as well as a lifetime of personal experience in agriculture.  This blend of life experience helped me hit the ground running at Sterling as we specialize in bulk agriculture transportation.

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry.

I guess my advice would be, to not be afraid to try a career in transportation.  The old stigmas/perceptions that transportation is an industry just for men is long gone.  If you are dependable, professional and do a good job you will succeed in the industry, no matter if you are a driver, technician, business office staff person, dispatcher or an owner.  The industry is rapidly growing and evolving, and you can find a very fulfilling career with an organization.   Not to mention that many if not most transportation companies are very involved in giving back to the communities.

Jeanie DeWitt, Office Manager/Owner

Duties: Daily operations

Love about my job: The ability to try new ideas and the fast paced nature. Building and coaching my team. Enjoying every team member, we all share the same vision and we are dedicated to our mission.

What led me to the trucking industry: My husband. LOL.

Wisdom I would like to pass on: Bring your A game, Be Engaged, and Be Proactive.

[email protected]

Sue Pirnie, Grand Island Express

What are some of your duties? Biweekly newsletter each month. Articles are submitted by our managers, four or five different areas per newsletter. Drivers are kept up to date on what is going on with our business, updated on changes to insurance, payroll, employees are highlighted on accomplishments for highest mileage, safe miles driven, awards, plus what may be going on in the shop. The newsletter also includes employees birthdays, work anniversary, and other family happenings as loss of a love one, graduation, new arrivals, and the “stripped gear” area – jokes.

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry? I’ve been in the family owned trucking business for over 49 years. Over the years, I’ve worked in a few areas: billing, drivers’ settlements, dispatch, and producing the newsletter. There have been so many things that the trucking industry can hand you, but I enjoy working with the drivers and getting to know their family. Our company works to have a family atmosphere and work to strive to have everyone involved. I have always been grateful for the trust and confidence people have had in me to give me a job. In each position, I’ve been driven by a desire to learn, a wish to do good, and the ability to have a positive impact.

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career? My first job out of business school was working in transportation. While dating my husband (Tom) I asked his dad for a job. My start in the trucking industry starts with working for an LTL company which was Arrow Freight Lines at the time. After the business was sold, I moved on to work for our other trucking company, Grand Island Express, Inc.

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry. There is a career in trucking.  Go for it! It’s not just for men. A woman, if driver or office employee, can find their right area of interest. It is a fantastic opportunity to not only support women drivers, but to also support a positive force in the transportation industry. By entering the transportation industry, women have the opportunity to earn financial stability while playing a crucial role in the success of the American economy.

Heather Voegele Anson, Voegele Anson Law, LLC,  Founding Member of Voegele Anson Law

What are some of your duties? I formed Voegele Anson Law in May 2020. I handle everything from simple cases to complex litigation and mediation. I have vast experience in helping individuals and businesses manage every aspect of their legal portfolio.

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry?  I truly enjoy helping people. My method is to collect the facts and then offer solutions in a simple straightforward fashion. Legal conflicts are often stressful, and I appreciate being able offer some relief during these times.

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career? It’s the people! I have such an appreciation for everyone in this industry. Throughout the pandemic, trucking is what has kept this economy “rollin”!

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry.  The trucking industry offers a lot of uncertainty’s, so making sure you are protected is crucial. Everyone in this industry should have legal counsel secured. If you don’t already have legal counsel, I would be privileged to talk with you.

http://v-alaw.com   [email protected]

Tisha Gropp, Crete Carrier Corporation, Safety Manager

What are some of your duties? Oversee the department that maintains and manages the Driver Qualification Files in accordance with DOT and Company Policy.

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry? The ability to work with all different types of people. My days are never the same and are always challenging and I love it!!!!

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career? I actually entered the industry as a temporary employee, completing a project for Crete Carrier. When I got done with that project, they offered me a permanent position and I have been here now 22 years.

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry.

Educate yourself and learn all you can. There are so many moving parts to this industry and the more you know, the more valuable you are!!!

Rachael Dvorak,  Sunrise Express, Safety Director

What are some of your duties? Take in accidents, keeping drivers legal. IFTA reporting, Licensing, 2290’s inspection of trucks, all the fuel reports.

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry?

I love the people and the Drivers. They can always put a smile on your face even if you are having a rough day.

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career?

I actually came to this career as an accountant and ended up in Safety.

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry:

If you set your mind to do something, make sure you keep pushing, Always follow your dreams and be true to yourself.

[email protected]

Wm. Lee Merritt, Bridgepoint Investment Banking, Managing Director

What are some of your duties?  I work with trucking and logistics companies relating to capital raising (both debt and equity), buy-side M&A services (for expansion or diversification), and sell-side M&A services  (for company sales or divestitures of a division).

What do you enjoy the most about your job or working in this industry? I enjoy helping people develop their financing and acquisitions goals and objectives and then helping them achieve their goals.

What led you to choose the trucking industry as a career? Pretty clearly the PEOPLE led me to trucking. I completely enjoy working with trucking people!

Wisdom you would like to pass on to other women in the trucking industry. OK, first I will take out the “other women” and respond that trucking provides really unlimited opportunities for women, as drivers, dispatchers, administration, and executive positions. Nothing should be viewed as “out of reach”. In trucking, the key is “getting the job done”. If you can get the job done, the sky is the limit. Remember, Derek started as a dispatcher!