Ellen Voie

Shifting the gears
of diversity and
inclusion.

Empowering women to lead, succeed,
and thrive.

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

About

Ellen Voie is an internationally recognized speaker, advocate for gender diversity in transportation, and founder of the Women In Trucking Association (WIT). With a diploma in Traffic and Transportation Management and a Master’s Degree in Communication, Ellen’s career began as a Traffic Manager and freelance transportation consultant for over 16 years.

In 2007, Ellen founded WIT to support women in the trucking industry, remove barriers, and celebrate their success. The association now includes diverse members, with 15% male supporters. Ellen earned her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in 2008 to better understand the industry's challenges.

Ellen’s leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including Top Female Leader of the Year in trucking and the Nettie Fowler Champion of Change Award in 2023. As a sought-after speaker, she has presented globally and been featured in major media outlets such as Fox News and Bloomberg News. Ellen also hosts the Women In Trucking Show on SiriusXM, inspiring others to break barriers and achieve success in the industry.

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Education and Awards

Ellen Voie has had a distinguished career in the transportation industry, with roles including Manager of Retention and Recruiting Programs at Schneider, Inc., where she developed programs to attract non-traditional groups and reduce driver turnover. She also served as Executive Director of Trucker Buddy International from 2000 to 2006, expanding it into a global mentoring initiative. Ellen’s career began as Traffic Manager at a steel fabricating plant, later becoming a dispatcher and co-owner of a small fleet. She also worked as a freelance transportation consultant for 16 years. Ellen holds numerous qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Communication, a Class A CDL, and various leadership certifications from Penn State and SMC3.

Ellen has received multiple recognitions for her leadership, including being named Top Female Leader of the Year (2024) by IAOTP, and earning the Nettie Fowler Champion of Change Award in 2023. She has served on the FMCSA Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and is a board member of the Wisconsin Motor Carrier Association and Transport for Christ International. She co-founded Trucker’s Pride Day and helped establish Trucker Appreciation Day in Wisconsin. Ellen has published two books, Marriage in the Long Run and Crushing Cones, and created workbooks to support professional drivers and their families.

Speaker

Ellen Voie has developed powerful frameworks to help women succeed in non-traditional careers, drawing from decades of experience in the transportation industry. Her keynotes are engaging and action-driven, whether in-person or virtually, guiding audiences through self-discovery, leadership, and creating inclusive environments. Ellen equips attendees with practical tools to immediately implement change.

Leading companies like Schneider, Inc., Navistar, C. H. Robinson, Walmart, Uber, and Pepsico brought Ellen in to share her insights, tailoring her keynotes, consulting, and workshops to meet specific needs. Her global speaking engagements have expanded to help organizations strengthen corporate culture and foster empowerment among women in the workforce.

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Ellen Voie

Radio Show Host

Hosted by Ellen Voie, Women In Trucking on SiriusXM features interviews with professionals from all corners of the trucking industry—drivers, technicians, engineers, CEOs, and dispatchers—who share their experiences with the challenges and opportunities of the road. The show also focuses on gender diversity, advocating for more women to join the industry.

SiriusXM subscribers can listen to Road Dog Channel 146 on-demand via the SiriusXM app or at siriusxm.com/player

No subscription? Enjoy a 30-day free trial here: siriusxm.com/sxm-tryfree.

Missed the latest episode? Catch the rebroadcasts every Saturday and Sunday, 7am & 3pm Eastern

Join the Conversation

Words from Colleagues

To describe Ellen Voie as a disrupter just isn't fair. The word that comes to mind for me is "visionary." She saw a need for change in an overwhelmingly all-male industry, and she began breaking down barriers and creating equity for women in transportation and dedicating the better part of her adult life to that endeavor. I am so glad she wrote this book, so we can share the trip.

David Owen

President & Co-founder The National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC)

As the creator and host of Women In Trucking Radio on SiriusXM, Ellen Voie hosts insightful interviews and thought-provoking discussions that elevate female voices, showcase success stories and their challenges, and advance inclusivity in the trucking industry.

Rory Belfi

Vice President, Talk Radio at SiriusXM.

Ellen's leadership is best characterized by her willingness to follow the ABCs of Learning – always being curious. She asks questions. She digs to discover and understand the issues, the people, the individual. Her thirst and desire to learn more is an inspiration. Her courage to speak up, stand up, and walk forward opened doors and created a path for many to improve their economic status in life through transportation.

Joe Tillman

Manager, Education Programs & CLTL Instructor

Ellen's leadership has empowered me to elevate women's voices in logistics and advocate for meaningful change. Her impact on the industry has been transformative—creating pathways for inclusion, recognition, and long-term growth for women in transportation.

Kristy Knichel

CEO & President, Knichel Logistics

I have known Ellen for many years- she is truly a groundbreaker and leader in the industry. She was instrumental in performative changes in the industry, including OEM upgrades geared toward understanding women's needs. She has always been the keeper of the stats and has more knowledge of the industry as a whole and women in the industry specifically than anyone I know ie, realizing that buying drivers shirts needed to include women's cut and sizing - I had never thought of that before she so gently reminded me one day. She is such an inspiration in her outlook and her heart for giving back to the industry we have both been a part of for MANY years. I consider her not only a dear friend but a most knowledgeable resource.

Mike Coble

Recruiting professional

Ellen Voie has profoundly changed my life—not just as a trailblazer in trucking, but as a mentor, advocate, and inspiration. Her courage to challenge the status quo gave me the confidence to find my own voice in this industry. Because of Ellen, I don't just see a place for myself in transportation, I see purpose, power, and possibility. She gave me the courage to forge my own path and without her I don't believe I would have been brave enough to go out on my own

Eileen Dabrowski

Founder/CEO of Apex Tide Consulting

I have never been shy of obtaining Ellen's input on numerous occasions over the past 20 years in my career as a transportation professional. I value her opinions because she is a leader who exhibits passion, persistence, and perseverance. When we embrace leaders with these traits, we cultivate collaborative environments that ignite innovation and lead to success.

Steve Wilhelms

Founder and President of NextRisk, LLC.

Ellen Voie is a major force in the Transportation Industry, Her relentless work has opened so many opportunities for so many people. I can personally say, I would not have experienced the success in driver health, with out Ellen's support moving driver health forward.

Bob Perry

Founder of FIT DRIVERS.

I have always personally believed the industry could greatly benefit from having more women, especially as drivers. So much of what challenges us in this job should not be that way and I think having more women out there standing up for what is right and refusing to tolerate the BS would only mean improving things for everyone.

Todd Spencer

President, Owner Operators and Independent Drivers Association.

Ellen has really been instrumental in helping to improve the life and careers of so many in the industry from her untiring efforts in Washington to making cab ergonomics adjustable for the smaller framed driver.

Dave Nemo

Radio Nemo

Author

Ellen Voie is the author of From Dispatcher to Disruptor, where she draws on her decades of experience leading the charge for gender diversity in the trucking industry. As the founder of the Women In Trucking Association, Ellen has dedicated her career to creating space for women in an industry that wasn’t always welcoming. Through her book, Ellen shares her journey of overcoming obstacles, building a powerful network of women, and disrupting an industry from the ground up. Her story is a testament to resilience, leadership, and the power of challenging the status quo to create meaningful change.

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From Dispatcher to Disruptor

In From Dispatcher to Disruptor, Ellen Voie takes readers on a personal journey of breaking barriers and challenging an entire industry. This book chronicles her rise from being a dispatcher to founding the Women In Trucking Association, and how she overcame resistance to lead a movement for gender equality in the trucking world. Filled with personal anecdotes, leadership lessons, and insights into the trucking industry, the book is an inspiring call to action for anyone looking to disrupt their field, take risks, and lead with purpose. From Dispatcher to Disruptor is not just a memoir—it’s a blueprint for change and empowerment.

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