Women In Trucking Announces 2025 Influential Woman in Trucking Award Finalists

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced the four finalists for the 2025 Influential Woman in Trucking award, sponsored by TrueBlue’s Centerline Drivers. This prestigious award, established in 2010, recognizes outstanding female leaders making significant impacts on the trucking industry through innovation, leadership, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing opportunities for women.

This year’s finalists represent diverse leadership roles and have demonstrably impacted their organizations and the broader community. The nominees are:

• Cindy Ellers, Chief Customer Officer, Fleetworthy
• Dee Dee Cox, Vice President of Human Resources, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (OD)
• Katerina Jones, Chief Marketing Officer, Fleet Advantage
• Leah Shaver, President and CEO, The National Transportation Institute (NTI)

Cindy Ellers, as Chief Customer Officer at Fleetworthy, is responsible for leading customer strategy, experience, and growth initiatives related to the company’s fleet compliance, safety, and toll management solutions. Since joining in 2021, Ellers has navigated Fleetworthy through substantial growth, including the integration of multiple acquisitions, all while strengthening the company’s focus on customer satisfaction. Her leadership over customer-centric programs has resulted in operational excellence and measurable business outcomes. Before Fleetworthy, Ellers held leadership roles at RDC (acquired by Moody’s Corp.), where she delivered technology-enabled compliance solutions to global financial institutions.

Beyond her operational achievements, Ellers champions inclusive leadership. She launched Fleetworthy’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, providing a platform for professional development and increased visibility. She also spearheaded internal Women in Leadership panels, equipping future leaders with the tools to succeed in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Dee Dee Cox brings 30 years of experience in human resources and organizational development to her role as Vice President of Human Resources Development at Old Dominion Freight Line (OD). Her prior experience spans the textiles, flooring, and transportation industries, both within the United States and internationally, giving her broad understanding to organizational behavior and talent management. At OD, she leads talent acquisition, employee relations, leadership development, and engagement strategies, contributing to the company’s strong, people-focused culture. Cox has been a driving force behind OD’s leadership development initiatives, launching and expanding programs like the Management Trainee Program, Supervisor Development Program, Apprentice Programs, and internships. These initiatives are strategically designed to create clear career paths, particularly for women and historically underrepresented demographics, in the transportation sector. Furthermore, The retention rates have improved, and female representation has increased steadily throughout the organization.

Under Cox’s guidance, the HR team has expanded significantly. She also spearheaded the development of a comprehensive leadership curriculum that incorporates OD’s vision, core values, and family-oriented culture into all training levels. Her strategic approach and commitment to inclusion have solidified her position as an industry leader dedicated to empowering individuals and opening doors for the next generation of women in trucking.

Katerina Jones leverages over 20 years of client-focused, data-driven marketing experience as Chief Marketing Officer at Fleet Advantage. She is directly involved in onboarding major clients, with a proven track record of consistent educational messaging. Jones oversees operation, business strategy, human resources, internal processes, diversity, company culture, and community and industry relations.

Also serving as a safety liaison, Jones actively leads safety demonstrations and educates trucking fleets on advanced safety features. Her mentorship of other women in the industry has earned her accolades, including recognition as a Top Woman to Watch in Transportation by WIT and a Top Female Professional by Supply Chain & Demand Chain Executive.

Leah Shaver, President and CEO of The National Transportation Institute (NTI), is at the forefront of leveraging compensation and HR data to create powerful benchmarking tools. These tools drive recruiting and retention within the trucking industry for professional drivers and diesel technicians. With nearly 25 years of industry experience, Shaver has worked with numerous motor carriers and private fleets, assisting them in developing strategies for driver compensation, career pathways, workforce development, and talent acquisition and retention. Her work includes the focus on building pathways to attract female and younger generations to trucking and strengthening the industry’s pipeline from pre-hire to retirement. Shaver, connects drivers on topics most important to them and is an active board member for the Next Generation in Trucking Association.

The finalists will participate in a panel discussion at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas, taking place November 9-12, 2025, where the winner will be announced. The award not only recognizes individual achievement but also underscores the increasing importance of diversity and inclusion efforts within the trucking industry. As the industry faces ongoing challenges related to driver shortages and technological advancements, the leadership of these women becomes crucial in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.