Chicago, Illinois — The Women In Trucking Association has named Lauren Russell, partner at Select Transport Partners, its Member of the Month for September 2025. Russell earned the industry recognition through her extensive operational leadership in third-party logistics and her steadfast advocacy for expanding career opportunities for women throughout the commercial transportation sector.
Russell entered the freight industry shortly after finishing college when a personal connection introduced her to C.H. Robinson's Chicago Central office. That early introduction ignited a lasting professional passion for the fast-paced nature of freight brokerage, complex problem-solving, and operational creativity. Over the next two decades, her career expanded across multiple vital disciplines, including human resources, agent recruiting, professional training, daily operations, corporate marketing, and event planning.
A defining chapter of her professional journey unfolded at Armstrong Transport Group. When Russell initially stepped into the organization, the enterprise operated with a modest staff of 15 employees managing $75 million in annual revenue. By the time she transitioned out of the company, Armstrong had scaled into a billion-dollar freight enterprise. In June 2024, she joined co-founders Chris Cobb and Tom Milosavljevich as a partner at Select Transport Partners, helping build the startup brokerage from the ground up to support independent agents and drivers.
What This Means for Drivers
Experienced truck driver jobs and owner-operator partnerships depend heavily on the financial stability and operational backing provided by third-party brokerages and freight networks. Russell's long-term vision for Select Transport Partners focuses on establishing robust recruiting, training, and support frameworks that directly benefit independent operators navigating today's freight market. For OTR truck driver professionals and independent dispatchers, working with brokerages that prioritize strong agent networks translates to more consistent freight and reliable backhauls.
Industry Reaction
While the commercial trucking industry continues to evolve, freight associations note that gender representation across executive suites and operational desks still has significant ground to cover. Throughout her career, Russell has consistently encouraged women entering the transportation field to raise their perspectives without hesitation, emphasizing that diverse viewpoints strengthen logistics operations from the dispatch desk to the executive board.
Key Points
- Lauren Russell was named Women In Trucking Member of the Month for September 2025.
- She serves as a partner at Select Transport Partners, which launched operations in June 2024.
- Russell previously helped scale Armstrong Transport Group from $75 million to over $1 billion in revenue.
- She advocates for greater female representation and confident communication in transportation leadership roles.
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