The Trucker Newspaper - September 15, 2018

22
Women to Watch
WOMEN IN TRUCKING
WIT August Member of Month Erika Bernard loves seeing people become truckers
Dorothy Cox
dlcox@thetrucker.com
Women In Trucking’s (WIT) August Member
of the Month, Erika Bernard, got her teaching
certificate, so many people assume that she
teaches at International Trucking School (ITS)
in Canton, Michigan, where’s she’s worked for
the past five years.
But, says Bernard, “I wear many hats.” And
she likes it that way.
Teacher, ironically, isn’t one of her hats,
although among her duties is working with
and certifying veterans and helping smooth
the process for them as they train for their
new careers as truck drivers.
In fact, seeing people’s lives change as they
learn to drive a truck and then embark upon a
new career — and possibly move up in the company
— is Bernard’s favorite part of her job.
Actually, before she became an administrative
assistant at ITS, Bernard was in the movie
business for a short while.
While she was applying for a teaching job the
28-year-old arranged for vehicles to be rented
for the movie company’s use or “destroyed” in
Warner Brothers’ tornado disaster film, “Into the
Storm,” which was shot in Pontiac, Michigan. Of
course, when filming wrapped up, so did the job.
But she soon heard from a relative about the
position at ITS and jumped at the chance, although
she says she knew “nothing” about trucking
at that point.
But after five years in the industry, she’s
learned that “trucking is absolutely necessary” to
the economy and is proud to be a part of a field
that’s so vital to the nation.
And, she says, “from the moment I started
working here, it was obvious how much our drivers
are needed and underrated. Driving is such a
big responsibility.”
And although the trucking industry wasn’t
even on her radar as a kid, she was aware from
the beginning at ITS that driving a truck is vitally
important, and that most people aren’t aware just
how much.
“The trucking industry is more important than
most people know. Being a part of this industry
makes me feel like my job truly matters and [that]
ITS is making a difference in our economy.”
She wouldn’t have known about WIT if her
mother-in-law, “boss” and president of ITS
Fran Bernard, who has been involved with
WIT since 2008, hadn’t introduced Erika to the
association.
In her career with ITS, Erika told WIT, she’s
seen hundreds of students come through the
school, including a variety of women. And the
industry is wide open for women, she told The
Trucker, not just in jobs behind the wheel of a
big truck but in a multitude of careers that are
trucking-related.
“The opportunities are endless” for women in
the trucking industry, she says, because “there
are so many positions. A lot of people thought I
was teaching truck-driving, but I don’t, although
we’ve had women instructors here” at ITS.
Through a friend, Erika Bernard got involved
doing volunteer work for the National
Association of Show Trucks (NAST), and was
named Miss NAST 2015. She says it’s a title
that enables her to promote getting women involved
in trucking.
She helps sell promotional products for NAST
at various venues such as truck shows, helps with
the judging at truck beauty shows and helps present
awards to the winners after the judges have
made their decisions.
NAST is a “close-knit” community, she says,
and adds she was surprised to be named Miss
NAST.
She also volunteers with The Richard Crane
Memorial Foundation, helping organize the silent
auction for the group’s annual Richard Crane memorial
Truck Show in St. Ignace, Michigan. (The
next show is September 13-16).
Erika grew up in Plymouth, Michigan, and although
she had never known anything about the
trucking industry before, “seeing people’s lives
change” by becoming truck drivers, “is what motivates
me to come to work,” she says. 8
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Courtesy: WOMEN IN TRUCKING
Since becoming an administrative assistant at International Trucking School five years ago,
Women In Trucking’s August Member of the Month Erika Bernard has discovered how vital
trucking is to the U.S. economy, and seeing people change their lives by becoming truck
drivers is what makes her glad to come to work each day.
The Women In Trucking Association is a nonprofit organization
focused on the transportation and logistics industry. Our mission?
To encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry,
promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by
women working in the trucking industry. WIT is proudly headed up
by President and CEO Ellen Voie.