Leadership from NECS recently attended the Women in Trucking Association annual conference. The conference, attended by Kimberly Reoh (Director, Specialty Services) and Mary Roberts (Fleet Tax Consultant) was packed with insightful sessions and discussions, from leadership and gender diversity to safety, compliance, and innovative tech.
The conference kicked things off with a powerful keynote from Ankha Marza, who focused on communication, storytelling, and public speaking. The session was very interactive, with live demos and real-time coaching on how to own your presence when speaking.
Another session attended was WIT’s HERstory Series, where Heather Dohrn shared how she rose to become the EVP at Dohrn Transfer in a male-dominated industry. Her focus was on the power of gender diversity and how it can drive positive cultural change in an organization. She gave some practical tips for fostering inclusivity and empowering leadership,
On the safety front, Kimberly joined a roundtable discussion where industry pros shared their ideas and solutions to improve safety across the trucking world. Topics ranged from driver training to the role of tech in monitoring and mitigating risks. Everyone agreed that creating a “safety-first” culture is key to long-term success.
After a few challenging years in the trucking industry, there was a discussion on how their are signs that the industry is stabilizing. There are still unknowns around how a new administration stepping in January could impact regulations, freight volumes, and investments in infrastructure.
A more poignant session of the conference focused on human trafficking awareness and featured a trafficking survivors' story and how the trucking industry can help combat human trafficking by spotting the signs and reporting suspicious activity.
Final sessions focused on the benefits and challenges of electronic vehicles and on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming freight operations.
"This event was an incredible opportunity to connect with industry trailblazers, exchange ideas, and dive deep into the challenges and advancements in our field. I walked away with new insights and actionable takeaways that I can’t wait to bring back to my team and apply in our work." -Kimberly Reoh
The conference will return to Dallas in November 2025. With more opportunities to gain experience from experts, connect with other professionals, and stay updated on industry trends, next year’s event promises to be even bigger and more impactful.
Whether you are aiming to stay informed on regulatory changes, learn from inspiring leaders, or find innovative solutions to industry challenges, this conference has it all!