The trucks might look different, and they might even be operating on the opposite side of the road, but the members all share something in common: the goal to move freight. From North America to Down Under, the residents work hard at transporting goods efficiently and safely. Many of these are women, and many of them have been working in the industry for years.
Thanks to the recent signing of its first Australian member, Women In Trucking (www.womenintrucking.org) is bringing members together and providing opportunities for networking across the globe. Jacquelene Brotherton is transport manager at Oxford Cold Storage in Laverton, North Victoria, Australia. They are the largest cold-storage facility in the southern hemisphere, where they store about 115,000 pallets of frozen and chilled product onsite. Although they do not own trucks or employ drivers, they make 500 to 700 truck movements per day though the site. Her goal for joining WIT is to meet women in the United States who have a similar interest in trucking.
Brotherton has been involved in the transport industry for more than 30 years and has worked in all three eastern mainland states as a linehaul manager. Her background includes livestock, refrigerated and general freight transportation, plus three years as a fleet manager for one of Australia’s largest transport companies. She also operated her own truck for several years, with a employee driver.
Currently, Brotherton serves as a director of Transport Women Australia Limited (www.transportwomen.com.au). She is also a life member of the Livestock Transporters Association of NSW (Now Livestock and Bulk Carriers) and a current member of the Livestock Transporters Association of Victorian and Natroad. She plans to visit the United States next year and would like to meet with members to learn more about our industry here.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Jacquelene to the U.S., and we encourage each member to invite their international peers to learn more about Women In Trucking,” says Ellen Voie, president of WIT. “Expanding beyond our North American borders is just one more step toward our goal of the raising awareness of women in the trucking industry, and we are thrilled with this recent development.”
