Many successful trucking outfits are led by females (and other lessons I learned at Women With Drive)
By Angela Splinter, CEO, Trucking HR Canada
What do former Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, retired Air Force Captain Angela Mondou and Western Star Trucks General Manager Kelley Platt have in common? For one thing, they’re all hugely successful female leaders in fields largely dominated by men.
For another – and this is just as important – these three women were only a few of the inspirational and educational presenters at Trucking HR Canada’s Second National Women with Drive Leadership Summit that took place March 3 at Toronto’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Some of the other presenters included Erb Group of Company’s Katie Erb, who said she was raised believing she could do anything her brother could; Meyers Transport President Jacquie Meyers, an executive who changed her life by “working hard to surround myself with people I can learn from;” and professional driver Alison Theriault. Theriault remembers being screamed at and being told by a recruiter to “marry a man who can drive!”
Everyone agrees the trucking industry needs to attract, recruit and retain more women. That’s why Trucking HR Canada, and the Women with Drive National Advisory Committee created the event.
And this event delivered. The 180-plus attendees walked away with tons of great ideas, strategies, and new business connections they can put to work immediately. And anyone who couldn’t make it to the conference can contact us at Trucking HR Canada, for materials that can help bring their workplaces into 2016, employee-wise.
For me, three themes underscored the day:
The basics
One of my favourite HR adages comes from SDC Management Solutions’ Sue Douglas, who says: “HR is not a department, it is how you treat people.”
Conference attendees heard three drivers, a technician, and a driver trainer share varied real-life tales – some positive, and some not so much – about getting into the industry. I am amazed Alison Theriault stuck with it, considering her account of trying to first get hired. (Remember, she was the one told to marry a trucker.)
While many fleets have adopted fair and inclusive practices, there is obviously still progress to be made. We must all foster a culture where all women feel welcome and feel that they have equal opportunities.
Throughout the day, all the panelists reiterated that one simple thing all employers can do is treat women the same way you treat other employees.
Western Star’s Kelley Platt explained: “It’s really about respecting each individual in our organization… whether you’re sweeping the floor at a truck plant or answering the telephones or whether you’re one of our senior sales and marketing people, your role is of value and you should be respected.”
Gender does not have to be a barrier. Several panelists discussed their experiences growing up in a trucking family, and the fact that they were women was simply irrelevant. Period. Katie Erb, who is on the management team at the fleet her grandfather founded, talked about learning from her dad and working in an environment that stressed fairness and equity.
There was something else: Several of the presenters came from family businesses – very successful family businesses. The fact that the companies were profitable and have established a respectful work culture is, in my opinion, no coincidence.
Mentorship
In 2014, Trucking HR Canada conducted an industry-wide survey and one of the results that came through loudly and clearly was: Women value mentoring. (I have to ask, “Doesn’t everyone?”)
The same fondness for mentoring was evident at the Women With Drive event. It started with Hurricane Hazel McCallion talking about the importance of women helping other women.
Added Meyers Transport’s Jacquie Meyers: “I’ve worked hard on surrounding myself with people I can learn from. It’s changed my life.”
One of my favourite comments came from Samantha Sharpe, a technician with Nova Trucks, of Dartmouth, NS. “Sometimes,” she said, “you need to have a ‘girl moment’ in a very male-dominated field.”
The Women with Drive initiative is delivering on this front. Mentorship resources have been developed to support women in the industry and a number of fleets are piloting the materials. Come fall, material will be available as free downloads off our website.
Inspiration
I was inspired all day long, and it started with 95-year-old Hazel McCallion, who stood on the stage for just over 30 minutes speaking candidly about her life. From a woman that succeeded in business and politics at a time when women weren’t really supposed to, the lessons were plentiful.
Ditto Angela Mondou, a former Air Force Captain and now the President of Canada Company – a national charitable organization that assists transitioning military personnel.
She served in the former Yugoslavia and in Desert Storm as a logistics officer. From being called “a snot-nosed lieutenant,” to being completely dismissed from the conference room meeting table – she has inspired and challenged women to take charge of their own career paths.
While Angela Mondou was once saluted as a lieutenant, I salute all the panelists. Sharing their stories, expertise, advice, and strong sense that the industry can do more to attract more women was inspiring. They were all professional, proud, and demonstrated true leadership.
And this needs to continue. The conversation must go on, more women need to share their stories, and women need to step up as mentors. The trucking industry has to ensure it has the skilled workforce it needs now and into the future, and that will only happen if it includes women as well as men.
