Hagerstown, Maryland — NFI Industries recently hosted its inaugural ‘Trucks are for Girls’ initiative in partnership with the Women in Trucking Association and the local Girl Scouts council, bringing young participants face-to-face with commercial freight operations. Held in September 2026, the program utilized the Girl Scout Transportation Patch curriculum to give participants a direct look inside the daily realities of professional freight hauling. NFI operations staff and a professional female commercial motor vehicle operator led the day, connecting everyday retail goods directly to the supply chain infrastructure that keeps shelves stocked across the United States. Fleet management teams increasingly realize that recruiting the next generation of CDL-A drivers requires early engagement and hands-on exposure to heavy-duty equipment.

The schedule moved participants from classroom-style logistics basics out to the pavement, where NFI brought in advanced safety simulators and a full-size tractor-trailer. The visiting scouts experienced manual shifting demonstrations, completed a thorough pretrip safety walkaround, and climbed directly into the cab to check out the controls and sound the air horn. Alexa Branco, senior operations support manager for NFI, noted that the cab tour proved to be the highlight for the participants, generating constant enthusiasm and peer encouragement throughout the exercise. Following a supply chain-themed relay race and a pizza lunch, each participant received an official Transportation patch, an educational supply chain activity book, and a Clare the trucker doll to take home.

Buoyed by the strong reception from both the youth participants and field personnel, NFI leadership is now supplying internal resources to scale the outreach model across company facilities nationwide. Recruiting pipelines face persistent pressure to attract qualified talent, making educational grassroots programs a valuable long-term strategy for fleets and trucking companies hiring entry-level personnel. Introducing youth to commercial vehicles early helps demystify the occupation, combats outdated industry stereotypes, and builds a broader talent pool for future OTR truck driver and regional driving positions. Carrier involvement in youth mentorship also strengthens community ties while highlighting career paths that do not necessarily require a traditional four-year college degree.

What This Means for Drivers

Professional drivers and owner-operators often express frustration over the general public's lack of understanding regarding the commercial transportation sector and highway safety dynamics. Programs like the one hosted in Maryland provide a tangible way for experienced operators to share real-world road knowledge and safety best practices with impressionable young minds. For career CDL holders, seeing companies invest in grassroots outreach signals a shift toward proactive talent development rather than passive recruitment. Fleet initiatives that humanize the profession also help improve motorist awareness around large trucks, which directly benefits OTR truck driver safety on crowded interstate corridors.

Industry Reaction

Industry advocates have long emphasized that solving persistent driver shortages requires addressing the demographic imbalance in the cab through targeted outreach. Organizations like the Women in Trucking Association continue to partner with major carriers to build structured programs that demystify heavy equipment operation for women and girls. By taking equipment directly to local communities, carriers create positive first impressions that can influence career choices years down the road. As more trucking companies hiring new talent look beyond conventional job boards, experiential youth programs are proving to be an effective method for showcasing the stability and independence of a professional driving career.

Key Points

• NFI Industries hosted its first ‘Trucks are for Girls’ event in Hagerstown, Maryland, in partnership with the Women in Trucking Association.
• The program utilized the Girl Scout Transportation Patch curriculum to teach youth about logistics and everyday supply chain reliance.
• Participants engaged in safety simulator demonstrations, manual shifting walkthroughs, pre-trip inspections, and cab tours.
• NFI is now expanding the educational outreach model to company facilities nationwide following positive field feedback.

Looking for a better trucking job? US Trucker's free job-matching service connects CDL-A drivers, OTR drivers, regional drivers, and owner-operators with 500+ top US carriers. Leave your details in the form on this page and a recruiter will call you within one business day. Trucking companies are hiring now.

Photo by hitesh Sarain on Pexels