Harlem to Highways: How Black Women Are Leading in America’s Freight Industry

From the streets of Harlem to the open highways, Black women are increasingly taking the driver’s seat in the freight and trucking world. After decades of being underrepresented in this industry, they are now emerging as entrepreneurs, dispatchers, and fleet owners, transforming trucking into a pathway for community empowerment. It’s a movement grounded not in hype, but in hard economic trends and real success stories. Today, more Black women are launching trucking companies, running dispatch operations, and managing fleets – and in doing so, they are tapping into generational wealth opportunities that were long overlooked. A new generation of Black women is making strides in trucking – from behind the wheel to behind the dispatch desk.

Breaking Barriers in a Traditionally White-Male Industry

Trucking has historically been a white male domain, but that’s rapidly changing. Women now make up about 9.5% of all truck drivers (the highest share ever) and roughly 38.5% of dispatcher roles. Black Americans comprise around 18.3% of truck drivers, yet only a fraction of those are women – a gap the industry is pushing to close. This rise of Black women in freight is part of a broader trend: Black women are among the fastest-growing demographics of entrepreneurs in America, running an estimated 2.7 million businesses nationwide. In trucking, this translates to more Black women stepping forward as owner-operators, logistics coordinators, and company founders. Even in executive suites, representation is improving: about 28% of transportation C-suite executives are now women, and many are women of color. The momentum is undeniable – and it’s reshaping old stereotypes about who can lead in logistics.

“In 2025, we’ve seen Black women step up not just as drivers, but as dispatchers and fleet owners,” says Emily Tavakalyan, Administrative Manager of one of the top truck dispatch service providers, Dispatch Republic. “Whether it’s running a box truck dispatch operation or managing flatbed and step deck dispatcher teams, these women are carving out a powerful niche in freight.” This transformative trend is not only diversifying the workforce; it’s also bringing fresh perspectives to an industry hungry for innovation and resilience.

Crucially, today’s Black female trucking leaders draw inspiration from a rich (if often overlooked) legacy. The first Black female professional truck driver is believed to have been Luella Bates, who earned her license over a century ago. Pioneers like Bates broke barriers in their time, and now a new generation is accelerating down the trail they blazed – this time armed with technology, business savvy, and community support networks.

Dispatching: A Gateway for Black Women Job Opportunities

One reason Black women are thriving in freight is the growing accessibility of independent dispatching and logistics roles. Unlike driving a big rig, becoming a freight dispatcher or broker often doesn’t require heavy capital or a commercial driver’s license – it can even be done from a home office. This makes it an attractive “Black women job” pathway into the industry, especially for those in urban communities like Harlem who may not own trucks themselves. In fact, many entrepreneurs get started by offering box truck dispatch services for local carriers or by coordinating loads as a flatbed and step deck dispatcher for larger hauls. These niches allow women to leverage strong organizational and negotiating skills to earn income in trucking without ever leaving their city.

Black women’s aptitude in dispatch and coordination is reflected in industry data: women hold 38.5% of dispatcher positions across transportation companies, a sign that female professionals are excelling in operational roles. Nicole Ward, for example, began by dispatching trucks for a small carrier and quickly saw the bigger opportunity. She transitioned from dispatcher to freight broker and eventually launched her own carrier business during COVID-19. But she didn’t stop there. Confronting the lack of support for women of color in trucking, Ward founded the African American Women Trucking Association (AAWTA) – an organization devoted to training and empowering Black female dispatchers, drivers, and owners. “I realized there weren’t enough resources for us, so I decided to create some,” Ward has said, reflecting on how AAWTA was born from the idea of helping others “fail forward” into success.

Other success stories reinforce how dispatching can be a springboard for Black women. Ashley Williams-Booker, a former Houston teacher, was introduced to trucking by learning to dispatch. Within a week, she had organized a group of carriers and earned $8,000 – ten times her teaching paycheck. Fast forward a few years, and Ashley owns Complete Logistics Service, a multi-million dollar intermodal trucking operation moving thousands of shipping containers in Texas. By mastering dispatch and then investing in a fleet, she grew her company’s value to $3.5 million. Her journey from side-hustle dispatcher to logistics CEO shows the ladder of opportunity: a Black women job in dispatch can evolve into ownership of trucks, dispatch teams, and even a brokerage firm. Ashley now even teaches a course (“Surviving Intermodal”) to help others follow in her footsteps, proving the adage that when one woman succeeds, she pulls others up with her.

Importantly, dispatching and brokering freight have low barriers to entry. A computer, phone, and internet connection are enough to start offering truck dispatch services to independent drivers. This means a woman in Harlem can coordinate loads for trucks across the country – turning logistics into a home-based business that can scale. Aram Jambazian of Dispatch Republic notes that technology has been a great equalizer here: “By 2025, the tools of the trade extend far beyond a phone and notepad,” she explains. “AI isn’t replacing dispatchers, but it is improving how they work,” handling repetitive tasks so that human dispatchers (increasingly women) can focus on higher-level decisions. In practical terms, this means one person can manage more trucks and negotiate better contracts – a recipe for entrepreneurial growth. For Black women job seekers who value flexibility or can’t spend weeks on the road, dispatching offers a chance to earn income in freight while playing to their strengths in communication and multitasking.

From Harlem to Wealth: Turning Logistics into Legacy

The rise of Black women in trucking isn’t just about personal achievement – it’s about community impact and economic empowerment. Historically, neighborhoods like Harlem have been hubs of Black entrepreneurship and hustle. Today, logistics is becoming part of that story. Trucking generates over 72% of America’s freight revenue, and much of that wealth has traditionally flowed outside minority communities. But when Black women launch dispatch firms or trucking companies, they not only claim a share of that $700+ billion industry, they also create jobs and mentorship for others where they live.

Take Kierra Henderson for example. A single mother from Dallas, Kierra started with no diploma and no driver’s license – yet over 15 years she built a veritable trucking empire. Branded as “The Trucking Guru,” she now owns over 14 trucks, plus a brokerage and dispatch team, with contract deals exceeding $1 million. Kierra famously secured a 45% haul contract in oil & gas early on, then kept scaling up. More remarkably, she’s using her success to lift others: through her “Truckin’ Millionaires” tour, she coaches aspiring entrepreneurs (many of them Black women) on how to dispatch freight, operate fleets, and win lucrative contracts. Her story underscores how trucking can be a vehicle (literally) for generational wealth – turning a single truck into a family legacy.

It’s no surprise that investors and policymakers are taking note. In fact, Harlem Capital, a New York venture firm focused on minority entrepreneurs, recently invested in a startup called Sudu which connects small minority-owned trucking companies with big shippers. Why? Because they see logistics as a high-growth sector where diverse owners can thrive. “[The founder] is tackling a massive market opportunity while helping to create more wealth for women and minority business owners,” explains Harlem Capital’s managing partner. That belief – that freight can fuel wealth creation in communities like Harlem – is driving support for Black women-led startups in transportation. Even government agencies are encouraging diversity; the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration formed a Women of Trucking Advisory Board in 2022 to recommend ways to attract more women and minorities into trucking careers. Carriers, for their part, are eager to tap this talent pool amid a growing driver shortage. (The industry was short 78,000 drivers in 2024 and may be 162,000 drivers short by 2030, according to forecasts.) In other words, empowering Black women in freight isn’t just good social policy – it’s addressing a critical business need.

“For communities like Harlem, trucking offers a tangible path to economic uplift,” notes Aram Jambazian. “We’ve seen entrepreneurial-minded individuals leverage dispatching and fleet ownership as vehicles for generational wealth in their families. It’s about turning what used to be just a job into an ownership stake in America’s supply chain.” His point rings true: when a Harlem-based dispatcher secures a profitable lane for a trucker, or a small fleet owner from the Bronx wins a delivery contract, the profits circulate back into Black communities. Over time, that can mean new revenue streams, more Black women job opportunities, and a model of success for the next generation to follow.

Driving Forward: Tips for Aspiring “Freight Queenpins”

For Black women eyeing the freight industry, the road ahead is increasingly wide open. Here are some practical tips and insights to get started:

• Leverage Your Strengths: Women often excel in communication, attention to detail, and negotiation – all vital for dispatch and brokerage. Use these skills to your advantage in coordinating loads, managing drivers, and dealing with clients. Many brokers say their best dispatchers are those who can build great relationships with shippers and drivers, a trait where diverse perspectives can shine.
• Start Small, Then Scale: You don’t need a fleet of 50 trucks on day one. Consider starting as an independent dispatcher or freight broker for owner-operators. Master the process of booking loads and box truck dispatch for local deliveries or try coordinating a few flatbed and step deck dispatcher loads which often have higher pay per mile. Each successful load is a building block. As you gain experience (and cash flow), you can reinvest into buying your first truck or expanding your dispatch team.
• Build Your Network: Trucking is as much about connections as it is about engines. Join industry groups like the Women In Trucking Association or AAWTA. Engage with online forums, attend trucking shows or small business workshops. Networking can lead to mentorship – e.g., finding someone who’s run a fleet or a truck dispatch company and can guide you on pitfalls. It also connects you with potential clients. Community matters: as Nicole Ward’s story showed, when women band together to share knowledge, it lifts everyone up.
• Educate Yourself Continually: Take advantage of training programs and certifications. (AAWTA offers a “Driven Together” education program with courses on dispatching, compliance, and even “The Freight Dispatcher Advantage” certification.) Familiarize yourself with load boards, Transportation Management Software (TMS) platforms, and freight rate tools. The more you know about the business side – contracts, regulations (like FMCSA rules), and insurance – the more confidently you can grow your enterprise.
• Secure Capital and Contracts: Funding can be a hurdle – studies show Black women founders get less than 1% of venture capital. But don’t be deterred. Look into alternative financing: equipment financing for trucks, factoring companies for freight invoices, or community development loans. Also, aim to secure contracts (not just spot market loads) because consistent contracts build stable revenue. Even one dedicated lane with a reputable shipper can justify buying another truck or hiring more staff, setting you up for expansion. As one trucking adage goes: “Generational wealth isn’t built through one-off loads; it’s built through contracts.”
• Stay Resilient and Safe: Recognize there will be challenges. Some women still face sexism or racism on the road, and running a business has ups and downs. Build a support system – mentors, peer groups, or family – to navigate tough times. Prioritize safety for yourself and your drivers: plan safe truck parking, enforce zero-tolerance harassment policies, and utilize technology (apps, check-in systems) to stay connected. A supportive culture is key to retaining drivers and staff once you begin to grow.

The freight industry’s future is being written by a more diverse set of authors than ever before – and Black women are very much part of the narrative. Whether you’re a driver in training, a dispatcher with a dream, or an investor in Harlem looking for the next big opportunity, now is the time to engage. The highways of America need new champions. If you’re a Black woman interested in trucking, take that first step: reach out to organizations like Women In Trucking or AAWTA, connect with a mentor, or even shadow a dispatcher for a day. The journey from Harlem to highways starts with learning the ropes and building your network. With freight demand expected to rebound and evolve in coming years, the industry is actively seeking fresh talent and new leaders. Companies are realizing that recruiting more women and minority entrepreneurs isn’t just about equity – it’s smart business in a tight market.

Logistics can indeed be a road to generational wealth and a legacy of one’s own. As the examples of Kierra Henderson, Ashley Williams-Booker, Nicole Ward and many others show, there is profit and pride in moving America’s goods. The next great freight story might just be yours. So gear up, do your homework, and don’t hesitate to drive forward – the road is wide open.