Ellen's background in the trucking industry began in 1980, when she earned a diploma in Traffic and Transportation Management while employed as Traffic Manager for a steel fabricating plant in central Wisconsin.

1. Playing twenty questions with Ellen Voie
A Little about Ellen:
Ellen's background in the trucking industry began in 1980, when she earned a
diploma in Traffic and Transportation Management while employed as Traffic
Manager for a steel fabricating plant in central Wisconsin.
She later worked as a dispatcher for a grain hauling carrier prior to becoming
co-owner of a small fleet. After starting a family, Ellen used her background to
become a freelance transportation consultant to carriers in Wisconsin, licensing
and permitting trucks for more than 16 years.
During that time, Ellen earned her Master's Degree in Communication from the
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, where she completed her Thesis
research on the complex identities of women married to professional drivers.

2. TP: How did you get started in the industry?
Ellen Voie: I was hired as a mechanical drafter at a steel fabricating plant after high
school. They had an opening in the traffic department, so I accepted the position of
Assistant Traffic Manager. After earning my diploma in Traffic & Transportation
Management, I was promoted to role ofTraffic Manager. I was responsible for shipping
all incoming raw materials (steel tubing, bars, coils, etc) and the outgoing material
handling equipment (cantilever racks, pallets, bins, etc.) I learned to read tariffs, quote
freight rates for the sales department and managed our small private fleet. After I
started my family I used my training to become a free lance Transportation Consultant,
which I did for 16 years. I licensed and permitted trucks and kept the fleet and drivers
current on their regulatory requirements.
TP: How many years have your been involved with the industry?
Ellen Voie: I received my diploma in Traffic & Transportation Management in 1980.
So, I have been in the trucking industry for nearly 30 years!

3. TP: Tell us a little about the positions you have held or currently
hold in the industry?
Ellen Voie: As I mentioned, I worked as a freelance consultant to
motor carriers in central Wisconsin for 16 years. In 2000 I was hired as
the Executive Director at Trucker Buddy International, a position I held
for six years. In 2006 I joined
Schneider National as Manager of Recruiting and Retention Programs
where I was responsible for corporate level initiatives to attract and
retain drivers. In March of 2007 I started the Women In Trucking
Association and in 2008 I became the President/CEO of the
organization.

5. TP: What type of music motivates you?
Ellen Voie: I don't credit music for providing motivation. While I
enjoy soft rock type of genre, I am not passionate about music.
TP: What trade magazines / websites do your read / visit most?
Ellen Voie: I read just about all of the trucking industry publications
so I can stay current on transportation related issues. I also read a lot
of magazines related to flying, as I hold a private pilot's license and
enjoy flying as a hobby.
TP: What can you be found doing when you have downtime?
Ellen Voie: When the skies are blue and the winds are calm you can
find me in a single engine Cessna. I also walk for exercise every day,
which can be a challenge during Wisconsin winters. I am a voracious
reader and spend a lot of time with my nose in a book.

6. TP: In your opinion what is the biggest obstacle truck driver's face
today?
Ellen Voie: Professional drivers suffer from a negative image. They don't
feel valued for the job they do each day. Maneuvering an 80,000# tractor-
trailer alongside four-wheelers who don't know how to share the road is
very difficult. I attended driver-training academy to obtain my CDL just so
I could appreciate the experience drivers face to get their CDLs. It's not
easy, and as I learned on Cleveland area highways in a tractor-trailer with
"STUDENT DRIVER" all over it, people still cut in front of me, drove in
my blind spots and expected me to react to their ineptness.
TP: In your opinion what is the biggest obstacle women truck driver's
face today?
Ellen Voie: Women who choose to be professional drivers have many
obstacles. First, many of their male peers do not welcome women into the
industry and they make their attitudes known over the CB, in the truck
stops and at the terminal. Secondly, women are more concerned with safety
and security, especially while they are on the road or at a travel center.

8. TP: What is the biggest goal you would like to accomplish?
Ellen Voie: I would like to see Women In Trucking grow to be a resource for
all women who are looking at careers in the trucking industry. When every
other driver on the road, mechanic in the shop and corporate level leader is a
woman, then we will have achieved our goal. Then, we will set new goals!
TP: What has been the most challenging obstacle for you in this industry?
Ellen Voie: For some reason people assume that Women In Trucking is just
about drivers. It's not. We represent all roles in the trucking industry. If you
attend any event in trucking you will see 20 men for every woman there. We
need more women as safety directors, technicians, CEOs and more.

9. More precautions must be made for women who travel alone and we are
working with the truck stop industry to make positive changes for safety,
which ultimately benefit men as well as women. Finally, since the trucking
industry has been so male dominated in the past, some practices still reflect
this bias.
Trying to find clothing or footwear in a travel center is a challenge for
women, as well as finding amenities like personal care products in the C
Store. There are still loading docks that do not have restrooms for women
and some carriers still give out big belt buckles for safe driving awards! We
need to be vocal and let these companies know that women should be
given a level playing field.
TP: You do a lot of shows and events. Do you have one favorite memory
from them?
Ellen Voie: When we first started Women In Trucking and I would attend a
show, women would come up to our booth and say, "Where have you
been?" They were thrilled that someone was actually looking out for their
interests and would represent them in the industry.

10. Next March we are planning to host the Women In Trucking
"Salute to the Women Behind the Wheel" where we will offer
entertainment, refreshments, lots of giveaways and most
importantly, the chance for networking. We will take a photo of all
the women who are professional drivers and hopefully break the
Guinness World Record of 416! I am truly looking forward to
making this a fun event!
TP: What one thing would you change with the industry if you
could?
Ellen Voie: I would like to see more female trainers so that women
who wish to become professional drivers have the option to be
trained by a woman. I realize that this will take time, but it's
urgently needed now to accommodate the women entering the
industry today.

12. TP: What advice would you give new women drivers?
Ellen Voie: The best advice I can give women drivers is that always
act from a position of power. Don't be a victim and don't let anyone
tell you that you can't succeed. Women are just as capable as men,
and in many cases are more qualified. Keep your head high and act
like the professional that you are.
TP: What is new with Women In Trucking?
Ellen Voie: We are working hard to create positive change in the
industry. From working with travel centers to make their facilities
more driver friendly, to working with carriers on anti-harassment
policies for driver trainer-trainee situations. We are wish to better
educate and empower our members and have added an "As the
Expert" section on our website.

13. TP: What is your opinion of CSA2010? What effect do you think it will have on
the industry?
Ellen Voie: I believe that CSA 2010 will make our organization even more
valuable as many drivers will be ineligible due to health or driving record issues.
As the economy improves and freight begins to move again, more drivers will be
needed to fill those trucks.
TP: Jason's Law. From your position do you see progress being made?
Ellen Voie: Safe parking areas are crucial for all drivers. The carriers who
recognize this and offer areas for their drivers will be seen as innovative. The
travel centers are also trying to better accommodate drivers at their facilities. If
this legislation brings these issues into the public forum for each entity to address,
it could benefit all of us.
TP: Are you still involved with Trucker Buddy?
Ellen Voie: Not in an official capacity, but I remain in contact with many of the
Trucker Buddy drivers who I met during my time with the organization.

14. TP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Ellen Voie: I see myself still heading Women In Trucking, but with a
larger organization and more influence as a leading association in the
industry.
TP: Where do you see the trucking industry in 10 years?
Ellen Voie: I believe that the trucking industry will evolve into a more
professional one. If drivers are viewed as skilled labor and respected by
the motoring public, we will have achieved a great deal of advancement in
regard to image. I also think that the job will change to allow drivers to
have more quality time away from the truck. This could mean more
regional runs; more drop and hook opportunities and shorter time away
from home. The equipment will change to better use technology to make
the job less physically demanding. Cranking dollies and unloading cargo
will hopefully be eliminated for all drivers in the future.

16. TP: What's next for Ellen Voie?
Ellen Voie: I am networking with other organizations that address women's
careers in blue-collar industries. I am organizing a blue-collar women's
summit and inviting women in construction, metal industries, timber, towing
and recovery and mining in addition to others. We can all learn from one
another and hopefully avoid mistakes others have made and to benefit from
their knowledge in their respective industries
TP: Did we forget anything? If you have anything to add here is the
place!
Ellen Voie: My passion for drivers and their families relates to my personal
background. I was married to a professional driver for 20 years and helped
manage our small fleet of trucks for many years. During this time, I earned
my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in communication. My graduate research
focused on women married to professional drivers and their diverse
identities.

17. . Since then, I have written two more books about family dynamics
("Marriage in the Long Run" and "A Workbook for Professional Drivers
and their families") as well as the book, "Crushing Cones: What to expect
when attending truck driving school." I write for numerous industry
publications each month (Driving Force, Logistics Quarterly, etc) and
have a blog at BigTruckTV.com.
Ellen, thank you so much for taking the time to be a part of
Truckerzparadise! We appreciate all that you do for the industry!
Resource : http://www.truckerzparadise.com/tp/highlights/ellenvoie.html
Read more about Ellen Voie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmP-5TVaXMM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PvJxlPfeLs
http://www.myspace.com/ellenvoie
http://www.myspace.com/ellenvoie
http://bigsight.org/ellen_voie
http://www.bigtrucktv.com/ellenvoie
http://www.truckdriversnews.com/women-in-trucking-interview-with-
ellen-voie/