Some of the biggest challenges in the current trucking economy range from recruiting and retaining quality workforce talent to rising operational costs that are driven by complicated issues like volatile fuel prices, maintenance expenses, insurance premiums and compliance costs, to name a few. In addition, dramatic shifts in freight rates, customer demands, and market cycles continue to challenge forecasting, planning and profitability and ultimately keep business leaders up at night.
There are female business leaders and entrepreneurs who are not only addressing these issue to survive in their businesses 鈥� but to thrive. That鈥檚 because many successful women leaders have unwavering determination, a deep passion for success, and the courage to pursue bold dreams.
As the leader of a minority and women-owned business, Bonilla understands the importance of diversity. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about breaking barriers, it鈥檚 about building bridges,鈥� she says, underscoring the pivotal role diversity plays in fostering innovation and progress.
Today, Aria Logistics offers services to some of the top retail companies in the country. Specializing in the last-mile delivery of heavy and oversized items, Aria Logistics employs cutting-edge technology for precise route planning and real-time tracking.
鈥淥ur commitment is not just about meeting expectations but exceeding them,鈥� she says. 鈥淭echnology plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and timeliness of every delivery.鈥�
Bonilla has been previously listed as a Top Woman to Watch and has been previously identified as a Top Woman-Owned Business 鈥� both awards by Redefining the Road, the official magazine of the 午夜视频.
鈥淚 knew we could develop a company that cut through this issue and bring clarity, honesty, transparency and deserved service to the manufacturing world, allowing our clients to become the hero of their stories when partnering with us,鈥� she adds.
Since she founded Candor Expedite, the company has helped many companies reduce their freight budgets by re-evaluating how they are moving freight, some with significant savings.
Glenn entered the transportation space at just 18 years old, after being recruited by a small transportation brokerage. There, she learned the inner workings of handling a small business and working with manufacturers, carriers and drivers, all while attending community college courses at night. She then continued to take on leadership roles in her career, but she had a yearning to do something on her own.
鈥淲hen entering transportation, I never envisioned it would become my entire career until I quickly realized that I would love the chaos to help the world move,鈥� explains Glenn. 鈥淚 would tell people that I worked in logistics, and they would look at me strangely. 午夜视频 was not a place for a young woman in their minds. Yet, I pressed on with my love of solution-generating and developing a profound learning on 鈥榤aking things happen鈥� for my clients and partners,鈥� says Glenn.
鈥淚 had the concept of Candor Expedite two years before opening our doors with the name selection and the mission,鈥� says Glenn. 鈥淕oing out on my own was terrifying, but then I realized that it was a form of security that I could not get anywhere else to create the mission I wanted to deliver to the marketplace. As a company, our objective is to bring candidness to our employees, vendors and clients. Growth takes change and challenge; the only way to obtain that is through true candidness.鈥�
鈥淪upply chain is a wonderful place for people to develop fantastic skills,鈥� she continues. 鈥淚t promotes creativity, technology, process improvement and much more. This industry is open to all walks of life with all different backgrounds, making it a diverse pot of goodness. I consistently deliver messages to women in the space with the idea that this industry will let them shine but that they keep applying themselves, diversifying their experience and continually building their network.鈥�
WIT named Glenn the 2022 Distinguished Woman in Logistics.
Successful female leaders such as Arelis Bonilla and Nicole Glenn require unusual personality characteristics and skill sets that many do not possess. Here are some key indicators that a woman is skilled and capable of being a business leader or owner, particularly in demanding industries like trucking:
These traits don鈥檛 show up all at once, and they often develop over time through experience and mentorship. But when you see a woman with many of these indicators, you鈥檙e likely looking at someone who can successfully lead and grow a business鈥攅ven in the toughest industries.
The trucking industry has long been a cornerstone of the American economy鈥攁nd now, more than ever, women are claiming their place behind the wheel, in boardrooms, and at the helm of growing small businesses. While the road to success in trucking can be filled with challenges, women business leaders and entrepreneurs are showing resilience, innovation, and leadership in a traditionally male-dominated field.
As a member of the 午夜视频, stay on top of emerging trends and business issues impacting transportation and logistics; learn the importance of gender diversity in the workplace and the need for more women drivers; and see best practices in encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry. Join today! Learn More