Swift Sings Praises for an Iconic Experienced Driver and her Incredible Milestones 

“I’ve had a lot of different jobs, but trucking is my favorite. I know this is not only a great career for myself, but for so many other women. That’s why I’ve been doing it for over 30 years!”  

These celebratory words of wisdom come from Lori S., an experienced truck driver who has driven 4 million miles at Swift! This impressive milestone is far from Lori’s only achievement. It is but one of many in her decorated 32-year career as a truck driver. 

Where Lori’s Legendary Trucking Career Found It’s Start 

Lori turned to trucking when her two daughters started college and she needed a higher income to support them. “I tease them about being the real empty nesters,” she said with a laugh during an interview. “Because I was the one that left home first to go trucking!” 

Lori is a pioneer. She is one of Swift’s earliest women driver mentors and the first woman driver to join the elite 4-million-mile club, a group comprised of only four other Swift drivers. When she began driving, the industry was 95% men. Today, the number of women truck drivers has tripled, having reached over 15%! 

Lori’s Legacy and Reputation Proceed Her  

We spoke with Danielle B., Lori’s driver leader, who had only the highest praises to sing about Lori. “She has trained many drivers at Swift and continues to inspire each and every person she comes in contact with,” said Danielle. “She is the most genuine, funny, and enthusiastic person many of us have ever met in our lives.”  

How Lori Reached Her Milestones 

One of Lori’s secrets to her success is her love for communication. This has helped her both as a mentor and when building relationships with fellow drivers. This desire formed at a young age for her through language when learning to speak Norwegian from her parents. Later in life she learned Spanish while traveling, and since then has enjoyed the exposure to diverse cultures and individuals during her trucking career. “I always have a conversation and practice my language skills with people I meet out on the road,” Lori said. “I use that same communication skill when I tell women about the trucking industry!” 

Passionate as ever about sharing her experience and encouraging other women to drive trucks, Lori has also personally trained several women drivers as a mentor. “I enjoyed training women on the road so they can be successful,” said Lori. “I always told them, ‘Whatever you do, strive to do it better than anybody!’ I would instill confidence in them. I could see their demeanor change as they realized they could drive the truck. I always enjoyed seeing my students go through that process!”

While the industry has welcomed many women drivers over the years, truck driving still holds a reputation as being a job primarily for men. “A lot of women think, ‘Oh, I can’t handle a big rig like that!’” Lori said. “I tell them that I’ve been driving a truck for over 30 years, and if I can do it, you can too! When I speak with women about what I do, I even give them websites to research being a driver and getting their CDL.” 

How Swift Builds a Culture of Diversity and Inclusion for Women Drivers 

At Swift Transportation, we empower women interested in a CDL-A driver-trucking career. Swift offers many opportunities for growth and a 24/7 support team. We also encourage experienced women drivers to become mentors and pass on their knowledge to the next generation. We provide them the space to mentor and support other women just getting their start in trucking. We are beyond proud of the barriers Lori has broken, for herself and women truck drivers everywhere. Thank you Lori, for making HERstory!