(Musket’s women in leadership: Nilou, Sandra C, Anna, Sandra G)
It’s not surprising that we’re seeing a shift in the transportation industry when it comes to opportunities available to women. “The tally of women in trucking and logistics overall rose by 27 per cent to 123,370 between 2016 and 2021, even as the proportion of women in the workforce stayed stagnant at 48 per cent.”
Musket Transport and CHET have been working to improve opportunities for females in this industry for a number of years and are proud to recognize the changes and advances that have been made as part of that effort.
“We are elated to shine a light on these phenomenal women in leadership positions at Musket and CHET,” said Sophia Sniegowski Begidzhanov, Corporate Communication Officer for Musket. “For the first time in our corporate history, we have women at the head of these key divisions.”
Nilou, Trailer Operations Supervisor
Nilou embarked on her journey in the trucking industry after spending a decade in a courier company and a year in a trucking firm before joining Musket. She faced notable challenges during her early years in the industry, with English being perceived as her second language and her capacity to multitask often overlooked. However, through persistence, effort, and long hours of solo work, she proved her capability to excel in any task assigned to her.
Being the only woman in a room or a team has never fazed Nilou. She firmly believes that women are equally capable as men and strives to learn from her colleagues regardless of their gender. When managing a diverse team of drivers, students, dispatchers, and staff, Nilou’s strategy centers on open and clear communication, a culture of respect, and teamwork. She’s noticed a shift in the industry’s attitude towards female supervisors over the years, acknowledging the power of women in multitasking and the positive impact they’ve made.
Her advice to women contemplating a career in the trucking industry is clear – if you love the job, are willing to face all challenges, work long hours, and be efficient, then you should join the industry. When Nilou started working at Musket 14 years ago, her daughter was a teenager. Despite the long work hours, often including Saturdays, she managed to excel in her job while fulfilling her duties as a mother, thanks to the support of her husband.
The most rewarding part of her job, according to Nilou, is seeing her team succeed and become independent. Over the years, she has encountered many challenges, but each workday has added to her knowledge and proven that the only important thing for her to do a job is to strive for it.
Sandra G, CHET Operations Manager
Sandra Graham began her career at a very young age. As the eldest in her family growing up on a farm, she was tasked with all jobs on the farm by her father. She learned early on in life that there was nothing she couldn’t do. By the time she was 12 years old, she was driving the grain truck. When it came to choosing a career, she could not see herself sitting in an office so, being very independent, she got her truck license when she was just 18 years old.
Sandra has had to assert herself as a supervisor, especially when students disregard her input and go to a male counterpart. She reminds them that as the boss, what she says, goes. Over time, Sandra has found that women in the industry excel because trucking requires attention to detail. She believes the word is out and that more women are being hired as a result.
Sandra encourages every woman to get into the business. She points out that it’s never the same day twice, and keeps you active and current with your knowledge. It provides good money to support yourself, and the career opportunities are endless. The most rewarding part of the job for Sandra is when their students pass their exam and have started their new career and new life.
Sandra C, Head of MTL Brokerage
Sandra began her career in the trucking industry 15 years ago in 2009, at Landstar. Over the years, she’s encountered challenges as a woman in the industry, including not being taken seriously or facing misconceptions that women might not understand the industry properly. She emphasizes, however, that anyone who is keen to learn can indeed master the industry.
When asked about how she handles being the only woman in the room or on a team, Sandra shared that it has been a learning curve. In her capacity as a supervisor, she has had to assert herself, especially when addressing mistakes made by her staff. She noted that some handle feedback well, while others do not respect the authority of women in leadership positions.
Despite the industry being predominantly male, Sandra uses various strategies to manage her team. The industry’s attitude towards female supervisors hasn’t changed much over the years, according to Sandra, as it’s still largely a male-dominated industry.
The most rewarding part of Sandra’s job is meeting deadlines and having all loads booked without any issues. When it comes to the safety and well-being of her team, although less applicable to those working outside the office, Sandra strives to ensure their physical well-being in this demanding role.
For women considering a career in the trucking industry, Sandra’s advice is clear – “Do it! It’s fun, you learn a lot in the industry and all the back work of it.” However, she acknowledges that balancing work and personal life can be stressful but manageable.
Anna K, Intermodal Operations Supervisor
Anna has been in the trucking industry for over a decade. She believes in setting clear priorities and maintains open communication with her manager and colleagues, making her work hours productive and manageable.
Anna highly recommends the transportation and logistics industry to other women. She believes it’s an industry that offers adventure, challenges, and constant learning opportunities. More importantly, it’s a field that can instill a sense of purpose, especially in today’s digital world where the ability to connect people and businesses is critical.
Anna believes that the transportation industry is no longer a “man’s field”. Women have made significant contributions to the transportation industry and have laid the groundwork for future innovation.
When asked about the most rewarding part of her job, Anna answered that it is building relationships with her team and the client personnel she is providing work for. This aspect of her job has allowed her to learn and grow from a wide range of individuals with diverse backgrounds and become a professional that her client feels comfortable asking advice from when a new change takes place.
Anna approaches the safety and well-being of her team in their physically demanding roles with diligence and care. She routinely checks in with the drivers and ensures that safety and other procedures are understandable to them. She believes that recognizing problems and effective communication is the key to a successful day.
“Our present and future is certainly female and we look forward to seeing more women join the industry,” stated Begidzhanov. “As we have continued to champion women on the road and in the office, we see a greater need to focus on retention efforts that will better cater to women.”
Opportunities for women in the industry are on the rise, and it’s something Musket Transport takes very seriously. New initiatives and campaigns targeting women stand at the forefront of Musket’s marketing and core values—opening doors and providing opportunity for women everywhere.