Trailblazers & Firsts: How Women Moved Transportation Forward

Launching Women in Motion

This Women’s History Month, we’re proud to launch our Women in Motion campaign — a month-long initiative dedicated to elevating the women shaping our industry, from operations and safety to fleet leadership and life on the road.  

Through stories, conversations, and collaboration with customers across the transportation ecosystem, our goal is simple: spotlight voices, foster connection, and celebrate the progress women have made — while inspiring the next generation of leaders.

For me, this campaign is personal.

Inspiration: From Amelia Earhart to Everyday Heroes

My career has been rooted in technology, but it hasn’t followed a straight line. I’ve spent much of my professional life in global organizations, often stepping into new roles simply because I was willing to be uncomfortable. As my responsibilities expanded across hardware, services, and software, that breadth ultimately became the bridge to Netradyne.

Along the way, I’ve been inspired by women who dared to set audacious goals.

Amelia Earhart didn’t just fly planes, she challenged assumptions about who belonged in transportation. Her story reminds me that courage often comes before recognition.

Bridgett Biggs, Senior Corporate Safety Manager at Rumpke Waste & Recycling, offered a different but equally powerful example:

“The first woman in transportation who truly inspired me was my mom. She may not be in a history book, but she showed me what strength, work ethic, and resilience look like in this industry.”

No headlines. No spotlight. Just showing up, doing the work, earning respect. Some inspiration comes from pioneers in history. Some comes from the people who show us how to lead every day. Both shape what leadership can look like.

Barriers Then and Now

Understanding history also sheds light on the barriers women have faced — and, in some ways, continue to face.

For many early women in transportation, the challenge wasn’t just exclusion. It was isolation. Bridgett reflects on that reality:

“Many early women had no formal mentorship, training pathways, or peer networks. They were often the only woman in their shop or dispatch office — which meant learning without support and succeeding without advocacy.”

These challenges still echo today. Underrepresentation and unconscious bias persist. What's changing is the growing recognition that resilience alone isn't enough — systems, support, and visibility matter too.  

Becoming the “First”

Progress often begins with someone refusing to wait for permission.

Bridgett started in dispatch, learning operations from the ground up — routes, drivers, real-time problem solving. She later moved into safety and became the first female leader within Rumpke’s Safety Department.

Her reflection captures the determination that drives real change:

“I didn’t wait for permission. I focused on competence, preparation, and results. I worked to earn credibility in rooms where decisions about operations and safety are made.”

That mindset resonates deeply with me. I’ve always lived by the mantra: never say never. Growth often comes from stepping forward, even when the path isn’t fully clear.

Unsung Pioneers Who Shaped Transportation

History reminds us that progress is rarely accidental.

Bertha Benz completed the first long-distance automobile journey in 1888, transforming the car from novelty into practical transportation.

Lillie Elizabeth Drennan owned and operated a trucking business in the 1920s, hauling livestock and maintaining her own equipment at a time when women rarely secured business loans independently.

As Bridgett observes:

“What makes pioneers like her stand out is that they weren’t trying to make history — they were just trying to make a living and run a business. Yet their presence quietly expanded what was possible.”

Whether tackling technological challenges, operational hurdles, or life on the road, women have always moved transportation forward — often without recognition.

Moving Forward Together

That’s why this campaign matters. It’s about connecting past and present, sharing lessons, and highlighting the women who continue to shape our industry every day.

To keep the conversation going, I’m honored to moderate Women in Motion: Leadership, Logistics, and Impact on Wednesday, March 25 at 9:00am PST. We’ll hear from industry leaders across operations, fleet management, and professional driving about real-world insights, lessons learned, and practical advice for navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Transportation doesn’t stop — and neither do the women leading it.

Join us. Learn, be inspired, and help amplify the voices shaping the future of transportation. Because every “first” becomes the foundation for what comes next.

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