Leonard’s Express – a leading transportation services provider offering refrigerated trucking, dry van, warehousing and freight brokerage services – has been recognized as a 2022 “Top Company for Women to Work For in Transportation” by Redefining the Road, the official magazine of the Women In Trucking Association (WIT). The industry association’s mission is to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize the obstacles they face.

There are a number of characteristics that distinguish companies recognized on this list, according to Brian Everett, group publisher and editorial director of Redefining the Road magazine. These characteristics include corporate cultures that foster gender diversity; competitive compensation and benefits; flexible hours and work requirements; professional development opportunities; and career advancement opportunities. Identifying the companies on this list involves a two-step process, said Everett. First, nominations of the companies are received and carefully reviewed to ensure they qualify by meeting a minimum threshold of qualifications. Then the companies are voted on by individuals in the industry. This is the fifth year of this prestigious recognition program. It garnered more than 22,000 votes to identify the final companies named to the list.

“As competent, talented women continue to rise through the ranks in the transportation industry, we are excited to feature companies like Leonard’s Express that make the strategic effort to attract and retain a more gender-diverse workforce,” said Everett. “This distinction of their impressive efforts legitimizes the recognition they deserve.”

This year, the list is comprised of a diverse range of business sectors in the commercial freight transportation marketplace, including motor carriers, third-party logistics companies, and original equipment manufacturers. These companies will be recognized at the upcoming WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo November 13-16 in Dallas. Navistar is the sponsor of this year’s program.

“We’re proud to be one of the best places for women to work in transportation and logistics,” said Leonard’s Express CEO Ken Johnson. “My mother, Patricia Johnson, was a co-founder of Leonard’s Express and a pioneer in this industry. She was an advocate for women in the workplace and an equal partner in our company’s success. To be recognized with this prestigious award is a direct result of her efforts and a testament to our employees, who demonstrate our family values every day.”

Ellen Voie, President and CEO of the Women in Trucking Association recently joined Ken Johnson on the podcast Leading the Way at Leonard's for an in-depth conversation about gender diversity in the North American transportation industry.