Expediter Services program helps 30 women launch trucking businesses

Ellen Voie, CEO of Women in Trucking Association

Expediter Services (ES), an organization that promotes capacity solutions and ownership opportunities within the trucking industry, announced that more than 30 women-owned businesses have now been created since announcing its 150 Business Challenge.

The 150 Business Challenge is a collaboration between the Women In Trucking Association and ES.

Launched as an initiative to assist in the growth of new women-owned small businesses within the transportation sector, the 150 Business Challenge is working to assist with the start-up and growth of 150 new trucking businesses over the next year.

Participants in the 150 Business Challenge have access to competitive market-rate financing, a broad range of new equipment choices and fuel discounts. ES also provides participants with support featuring a maintenance program and operational expertise as well as back-office services and business planning assistance.

Forward Air and Panther Premium Logistics, a Service of ArcBest, are the participating carriers in the program, offering consistent freight opportunities to entrepreneurs in the 150 Business Challenge.

“It is so rewarding to know that the 150 Business Challenge has already helped more than 30 women start their own small businesses in trucking as owner-operators and as fleet owners through this program. It’s very exciting to see this kind of growth. It’s also very empowering and encouraging to see these women-owned businesses get started,” said Ellen Voie, president and CEO of the Women In Trucking Association.

The growth of opportunities for women in the trucking industry was one of the main topics during the recent 2018 Spring ES Group Gathering, which was hosted by Expediter Services. The conference, held in Southaven, Miss., drew more than 100 professional drivers who gathered to hear industry updates and learn more about the opportunities offered through the ES Network.

“We’ve been very pleased with the response that we’ve received since initiating the 150 Business Challenge, and the discussions from our industry experts at the 2018 Spring ES Group Gathering helped to highlight the opportunities that are available for women and men to become truck owners and to grow fleets,” said Expediter Services President Jason Williams. “With the increasing demand for capacity, it’s a great time to enter the trucking industry as an owner-operator or fleet owner.”