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”The Women In Trucking Association is
pleased to partner with the Orlando Truckers' Conference to honor a
woman in the industry. By featuring a woman driver who has been
successful in a predominately male industry, we can show the motoring
public that, behind the wheel of a big rig, there could be a man or a
woman,” Voie said.
”The Woman Trucker Award is, to
my knowledge, the first of its kind to be awarded to a female driver
at a major industry trade show. Selection is based solely on merit
and dedication to the profession,” said Ms. Principato. ”We wanted to
be the first industry trade show to acknowledge women and lead the
way to encourage women to become truck drivers and consider opening
up their own trucking and freight brokerage businesses,” she added.
”Women should be proud of their heritage as they have played
significant roles in America's workforce. Women are not always
acknowledged for their great contributions in the workplace, so our
president, Mr. James P. Lamb, wanted to do something very special at
the OTC to highlight the contributions of women in the trucking
industry.”
Mr. Lamb, who has worked with hundreds
of women through his consulting practice and his professional
development seminars, stated: ”Truck driving is one of the best jobs
for women when it comes to equal pay and equal opportunity. Women
earn the same as men for the same work and have the same
decision-making authority as men. As noted by the American Trucking
Associations, women in this industry regularly move up the ladder
from driving to serving as managers, with no glass ceiling to hold
them back. Because of all this, women should be recognized at the
OTC.”
In terms of driver safety, Mr. Lamb
said: ”According to the National Safety Council, women are involved
in fewer fatal accidents than men. For each billion miles driven, men
are involved in 22 fatal accidents, whereas for women, there are only
13.” Lamb suggested that recruiters should look to women as part of
the solution to the 20,000+ driver shortage currently plaguing the
industry. He also added that women who seek a work place outside a
typical office environment and want to work under minimal supervision
are excellent candidates for becoming drivers, or even small trucking
business owners.
The WIT Association is a non-profit,
women's advocacy organization established to give women in the
trucking industry a forum to voice and share their accomplishments,
struggles and successes. The organization is an active group that
works to promote the accomplishments and involvement of women in the
industry. For more information about the WIT Association, visit:
www.WomenInTrucking.org.
DOTAuthority.com is a New York-based,
business-to-business, transportation management-consulting firm that
helps start-up motor carriers, freight brokers and freight forwarders
secure their federal and/or state business licenses (operating
authority). DOTAuthority.com is also a leading provider of
professional development training programs for new entrant carriers
and freight brokers.
The OTC is an annual industry event
geared toward education, entertainment and networking. The two-day
trade show, which is open to the public, features up to 100
exhibitors, offering products and services of interest to truckers
and start-up carriers. Presenters include the Florida Department of
Transportation, FMCSA, FTA, MGM Brakes and DOTAuthority.com. A
special Saturday evening concert by the ”Road Hammers” will be
offered at no additional charge to CDL-holders who pre-register on a
”first come, first serve” basis. Big rig parking is free.
The 2007 OTC will be held at the
Orange County Convention Center ("OCCC") in Orlando, Florida from
February 16-18, 2007. On Friday, February 16, DOTAuthority.com
President, James P. Lamb will be offering fee-for-service Mandatory
Reasonable Suspicion Supervisor Training (49 CFR Section 382.603) and
Mandatory Entry-Level Driver Training (49 CFR Section 380.503).
Training is $50 per person. Call 1-800-215-5117 to register.
The OCCC exhibition hall will be open to the public on Saturday,
February 17th, from 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, February 18th,
from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the exhibition hall is $10 per
person (kids under 18 free). All pre-registrants can receive
discounts to various Orlando area attractions, such as Disney,
Universal Studios, and Sea World, as well as discounted
accommodations at the Rosen Plaza and The Days Inn Convention Center
hotels.
The OTC is advertised via truck stops,
major trucking publications, trucker-oriented radio, interstate
billboards, and the Internet. Sponsorship and exhibitor
opportunities are still available. Contact Jennifer Principato,
Conference Director, at (800) 215-5117 or via Jennifer@go2otc.com.
For more information about attending the OTC, call (888) 414-1874 or
visit www.go2otc.com.
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