Bennett Women Lead the Charge at ATA (American Trucking Association) Women in Motion Call on Washington

MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA (July 30, 2025) – The Director of Safety for Bennett Heavy & Specialized, LLC (BHS) and Co-Chair’s of Bennett’s Women in the Driver’s Seat program (WIDS) joined together to attend the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) Women in Motion (WIM) Call on Washington, representing three different business units across the family of companies, to advocate for policies that strengthen the trucking industry, empower women drivers and address critical workplace challenges.

A Rocky Start and a Resilient Spirit

“The journey began with a hiccup, as travel delays kept BHS’s Megan Ayers grounded until Tuesday afternoon. Undeterred, the rest of us arrived in Washington, D.C., on Monday, July 21, ready to make an impact. Tuesday morning started with a quintessential D.C. mission: finding great coffee. With caffeine in hand, we joined our fellow WIM members for a monument’s bus tour, soaking in the city’s history before diving into the day’s agenda. A highlight was a compelling lunch presentation by Gina Anderson, CEO of Luma Brighter Learning, who shared strategies for persuasive communication—an invaluable skill for our advocacy work,” says Alicia Echols.

Getting Down to Business

Alicia notes that “Tuesday afternoon shifted gears as the ATA Hill Team briefed us on key legislative priorities. These included fostering a safe and productive workplace, protecting independent contractors, and reducing barriers to entry for new drivers, with a particular focus on issues impacting women in trucking. The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 1659) stood out as a critical need, addressing the dangerous shortage of safe truck parking. With $755 million proposed over five years for dedicated parking projects, this bill could enhance driver safety and support recruitment and retention of women drivers. Similarly, the Trucker Bathroom Access Act (H.R. 2514) aims to ensure safe, accessible restrooms—a priority for 79.8% of drivers, especially women—while also addressing restroom access for drivers hauling sensitive DoD shipments.

Other priorities included the Modern Worker Empowerment Act (H.R. 1319), which passed out of committee during our visit, safeguarding independent contractors’ freedom to choose their path. The Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act (H.R. 2391) and Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act (H.R. 2424) aim to ease financial burdens for new drivers, while the TRANSPORT Jobs Act (H.R. 3055) and Veterans Transition to Trucking Act (H.R. 2954, S. 1537) focus on reducing barriers for veterans entering the industry. The LICENSE Act (H.R. 623, S. 191) would streamline CDL testing, making it easier for aspiring drivers to get on the road.”

Hitting the Hill

Alicia continues into Wednesday, stating that this day “was the heart of our mission. Our group split into teams, participating in 37 meetings with congressional offices. Group 2 (Alicia Echols, Geri Rilley, Violet Helferich, Jeanette Lonergan) met with Reps. Brian Jack, Tom Cole, Josh Brecheen, and Sens. Markwayne Mullin, James Lankford, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock. Group 3 (Mindy Brackey) connected with Rep. Eric Burlison, Sens. Joni Ernst, Chuck Grassley, Randy Feenstra, and Josh Hawley. Group 4 (Kari McCoy) engaged with Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Tom Emmer, Rep. Eric Sorensen, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Sens. Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, and Rep. Mike Bost. Group 5 (Megan Ayers) met with Sens. Ted Budd, John Cornyn, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Cruz, Rep. Ronny Jackson, and Rep. Steve Cohen.

The day kicked off with a Female Trucking Congressional Champions Breakfast, attended by Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA). Our Bennett representatives shared personal stories and data-driven arguments, emphasizing the urgent need for safer parking, better restroom access, and policies to support women and veterans in trucking. Despite initial nerves, our teams found their rhythm, delivering polished presentations by day’s end. Staffers treated us with respect, and we even enjoyed a Capitol tour between meetings. Another highlight was joining members of the House Education & the Workforce Committee to celebrate passage of the Modern Worker Empowerment Act!

The day wrapped with a Capitol reception, where we connected with Reps. Zach Nunn, Rick Crawford, Tom Barrett, Kevin Kiley, Mike Collins, and House T&I Ranking Member Rick Larsen. We also celebrated the Modern Worker Empowerment Act’s committee passage with Chairman Tim Walberg, a significant win for independent contractors.”

A Final Push at the Department of Labor (DOL)

“On Thursday, we visited the Department of Labor headquarters to meet Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling and his team. Discussions focused on the Independent Contractor Rule and barriers to entry for new drivers, reinforcing the need for policies that empower rather than restrict,” says Alicia.

A Call to Action

“The Bennett women returned home energized, ready to spread the word about grassroots advocacy. As one attendee put it, “We have to be the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.” Our experience underscored the power of showing up, sharing our stories, and pushing for change. The trucking industry, and especially women within it, face unique challenges—but also unique opportunities to shape a safer, more inclusive future. The Call on Washington was a reminder that our voices matter, and Bennett’s WIDS program will continue to lead the charge,” Alicia explains.

About Bennett Family of Companies
McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States.  For more information, visit www.bennettig.com.

About Women in the Driver’s Seat
Bennett’s Women in the Driver’s Seat Program recognizes the many accomplishments of the women who drive our success. It is comprised of seasoned female drivers across Bennett’s business units who flourish in their own businesses as our fleet owners, independent contractors, and or owner/operators, and have the desire to pay it forward and share their breadth of knowledge and stories. WIDS is dedicated to supporting each and every woman in transportation. We encourage our female workforce by promoting the advancement of women in a predominantly male-driven industry. We hope to enrich the quality of life for all women and fulfill our civic and social responsibility in the communities we serve. For more information, visit https://www.bennettig.com/careers/drive4bennett/women-in-the-drivers-seat-program/.

For additional information, please reach out to Kaitlen Jones, Manager of Marketing and Communications at Ka***********@*******IG.com.