Women in Trucking Driver of the Year

The Women in Trucking Association (WIT) has named Peggy Arnold, company driver at Yellow Corporation, as the winner of the third annual Driver of the Year award sponsored by Walmart.

Arnold was among three finalists for the award. The other finalists were Francis Hernandez, a professional driver with Waste Management Inc.; and Courtney Ohlandt, company driver for FedEx Freight.

Arnold has been a company driver at Yellow Corporation for nearly 30 years. She received Yellow’s Million Mile Safe Driving Award with nearly 1.9 million accident-free miles. Arnold is proud to serve on Yellow’s leadership team, the Women’s Inclusion Network Employee Resource Group and is also part of the safety team.

“Our safety team spends countless hours helping our fellow drivers prevent on the job injuries and with a goal to be accident free. I am a part of our new drivers training program and take my job straight to the heart. Every day I do my best to train and teach to the best of my ability,” she said.

Arnold was named as a 2022 Top Women to Watch in Transportation by WIT, American Trucking Associations America’s Road Team Captains Finalist 2022, Yellow’s Road to Excellence Award 2021, and Certified Safety Trainer 2021.

The announcement was made during the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event, hosted by WIT at the Mid America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, KY. The event honors female commercial drivers for their efforts and successes in the trucking industry.

The Women in Trucking Association (WIT) has named Peggy Arnold (right), company driver at Yellow Corporation, as the winner of the third annual Driver of the Year award sponsored by Walmart.

“Peggy is the first driver of the year we’ve been able to honor in-person and we are truly thrilled to meet her and celebrate this accomplishment with her,” said Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT.

Sponsored by Walmart, the annual award was established to promote the achievements of female professional drivers who lead the industry in safety standards while actively enhancing the public image of the trucking industry.

“At Walmart we believe we can best help our associates, customers and the communities we serve live better when we really know them. That means understanding, respecting and valuing diversity – our unique experiences, identities, ideas and opinions, while being inclusive of all people,” said Michael Del Rosario, general transportation manager, Walmart. “It is in this same spirit that we are honored to sponsor WIT’s Driver of the year award, recognizing an outstanding driver who is making a positive impact in the transportation industry. We congratulate Peggy and each of the finalists for their examples of safety and service.”

Members of the judging panel were: Tricia Tullis, general transportation manager, Walmart Transportation; Jeana Hysell, senior safety consultant, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.; Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO.