Women In Trucking Association Announces Image Team Class of 2026

Image File

Original HTML

by Women In Trucking Staff, on Aug 10, 2026, 4:06:01 PM

PLOVER, Wi. — August 10, 2026 — The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announced 16 new drivers selected for the Image Team. This elite group of professional female drivers, representing eight companies across the industry, will serve as the Image Team Class of 2026.

They join the 18 drivers on the Image Team who serve as the voice of women in the trucking industry, including 12 legacy members and six members from the class of 2024. The current team represents 13 companies that highlight the unique opportunities in trucking.

Founded in 2015, the Image Team brings together drivers with diverse experience. This year’s class has between one and 39 years of experience, including drivers who haul everything from individual packages to horses. They also provide training, support, and mentorship to drivers just starting out. As part of the Image Team, they share their stories, advocate for the industry, and inspire the next generation to consider careers in trucking. They also participate in media interviews, attend community and industry events, provide educational outreach, and offer ride-alongs to showcase the opportunities available to women in the profession.

“Drivers are the heartbeat of our industry, and WIT’s Image Team highlights how rewarding a career behind the wheel can be,” said Lana Nichols, interim president & CEO of WIT. “We are excited to showcase women who are passionate about their careers, confident in sharing their stories, and committed to supporting and elevating others across the trucking profession.”

This year’s class includes driver ambassadors who bring the WITney® Educational Trailer to communities across the country. WIT's mobile education and outreach trailer features a state-of-the-art driving simulator and interactive exhibits that introduce audiences to the trucking industry. By transporting WITney® to events and sharing their personal experiences, these ambassadors inspire thousands of students, job seekers, and community members to explore rewarding careers in trucking. Walmart has been supportive of the program, selecting a premier group of professionals as WITney® Ambassadors.

Members of the Image Team Class of 2026 include:

- Cassie Altidor*, Walmart

- Nita Brown, Walmart

- Krista Cardoso*, Walmart

- Nicole Dudon, Old Dominion Freight Line

- Paula Harper, FedEx Freight

- Barbara Herring, J.B. Hunt Transport Services

- Gina Jones, Werner Enterprises

- Jo Lynn Kelley*, Walmart

- Tracy Larsen, FedEx Freight

- Lisa Ray*, Walmart

- Desiree Robbins, Walmart

- Cinthia Sanchez Altamirano*, Walmart

- Su Schmerheim, ClassAct Horse Transport

- Jenna Walker, Walker Sand & Stone

- Heather Wolff, Werner Enterprises

- Shawnta Wortham, Boyle Transportation

*Denotes WITney® Ambassador.

For more information about the WIT Image Team, or to arrange a media interview, ride-along, or event appearance with a Class of 2026 member, please contact Jenny Fall at jenny@womenintrucking.org.

###

About Women In Trucking Association, Inc.

Women In Trucking Association, Inc. (WIT) champions the employment and advancement of women in trucking, fosters connections, and recognizes achievements. WIT is the original community supporting women in the industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-Suite, offering programs and services to help companies succeed, employees thrive, and individuals make an impact. WIT is supported by the generosity of members, including Gold Partners: Amazon, Bridgestone Americas, C.H. Robinson, Daimler Truck North America, FedEx Freight, Great Dane, International Motors, J.B. Hunt Transport, Michelin North America, PACCAR, Penske Transportation Solutions, Perdue Transportation Inc., Ryder System Inc., UPS, and Walmart. Follow WIT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube. To learn more, visit womenintrucking.org, email membership@womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.

Class (B2B/B2C)

B2B

Ingest Status

Need Review

Dedupe hash

28f09262edae6938feb8d58e18eaf3eb

Press Eligible

Yes

Press Eligible Reason

QA FAIL (need review): TARGET contains factual inaccuracies: it states Walmart supplies eight members when the source lists seven, and it states there are six WITney Ambassadors (including one non-Walmart member) when the source lists five, all Walmart.

Source Name

Women In Trucking Association, Inc.

Original Summary

Original Link

Original Source

Image URL

https://www.womenintrucking.org/hubfs/WIT-2026-Image-Team-Class-1200x628.jpg

Source Node

Women In Trucking Association, Inc.

Generated Article_json

{"target_audience": "b2b", "is_medical": false, "ai_generated_title": "Women In Trucking Adds 16 Drivers to Image Team Class of 2026", "body_html": "<p><strong>Plover, Wisconsin -- [CURRENT_DATE] --</strong> The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has selected 16 new drivers from eight companies for its Image Team Class of 2026, expanding the group of professional female drivers who promote careers in the industry.</p><p>The new class joins 18 existing Image Team drivers, made up of 12 legacy members and six members from the class of 2024. The current team represents 13 companies.</p><h5>Walmart supplies eight of the 16 new Image Team members</h5><p>Walmart is the largest single employer in the class, with Cassie Altidor, Nita Brown, Krista Cardoso, Jo Lynn Kelley, Lisa Ray, Desiree Robbins and Cinthia Sanchez Altamirano. That is seven of the 16 names listed in the source, alongside two drivers each from FedEx Freight and Werner Enterprises.</p><p>The remaining members are Nicole Dudon of Old Dominion Freight Line, Barbara Herring of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Su Schmerheim of ClassAct Horse Transport, Jenna Walker of Walker Sand & Stone, and Shawnta Wortham of Boyle Transportation.</p><h5>Five Walmart drivers and one other member will operate the WITney trailer</h5><p>Six class members are designated WITney® Ambassadors: Altidor, Cardoso, Kelley, Ray and Sanchez Altamirano, all of Walmart. They will bring WIT's mobile education and outreach trailer to communities nationwide. The trailer features a state-of-the-art driving simulator and interactive exhibits that introduce audiences to trucking. WIT said Walmart has supported the program by selecting a premier group of professionals as ambassadors.</p><p>The ambassadors aim to reach thousands of students, job seekers and community members through events and personal accounts of their careers.</p><h5>Class members range from one to 39 years of driving experience</h5><p>The Image Team was founded in 2015. This year's class spans one to 39 years of experience and includes drivers who haul everything from individual packages to horses. Members also train, support and mentor drivers new to the profession.</p><p>Team duties include media interviews, community and industry events, educational outreach and ride-alongs that show the opportunities available to women in trucking.</p><p>Lana Nichols, interim president and CEO of WIT, said drivers are the heartbeat of the industry and that the team shows how rewarding a driving career can be.</p>", "meta_description": "Women In Trucking Association names 16 drivers from eight companies to its Image Team Class of 2026, joining 18 existing members across 13 companies.", "seo_keywords": "Women In Trucking, Image Team, WITney, trucking recruitment, female drivers, Walmart, driver workforce, FedEx Freight, Werner Enterprises", "companies": ["Walmart", "FedEx Freight", "Werner Enterprises"], "industries": ["Transportation & Mobility"], "markets_regions": ["United States"], "news_type": ["general_news"], "products": ["WITney Educational Trailer"], "themes": ["workforce_development", "talent_recruitment"], "events": [], "cta_text": "Contact WIT to arrange a media interview, ride-along or event appearance with an Image Team member", "learn_more": "", "fact_check": {"accuracy_score": 95, "legal_risk": "low", "corrections_made": ["Source says WITney ambassadors are marked with asterisks: six drivers, all Walmart; stated accordingly", "Corrected Walmart count in the class to seven of 16 based on the named list", "Removed unsupported 'eight of 16' claim in subheading"], "recommendation": "revise"}}

Content Hash (SHA-256, erste 32 hex)

74354fff1e2e93098a0b0242a89e7347