PLOVER, Wisc. — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator (FMCSA) Scott Darling took a ride with Women in Trucking (WIT) Association’s Stephanie Klang last week to get a taste of life on a road with a female truck driver.

Klang is a professional driver for CFI based in Joplin, Mo. She’s been driving professionally since 1980.

Darling met with Klang, and WIT CEO, Ellen Voie, at a TA truck stop in Foristell, MO where he embarked on a two day trip, ending in Oklahoma City.  Darling rode with Klang to the CFI headquarters, where he was able to observe a truck inspection from the undercarriage.  He was then given a tour of the facility, including the maintenance and repair facilities, customer service and operations areas as well as the recruiting areas.

“It was an honor to show FMCSA Administrator Darling that we are absolutely committed to safety on the highways and share with him that at CFI we walk the talk,” said Randy Cornell, vice-president of maintenance, CFI.

Klang had the opportunity to share her thoughts and concerns with Darling during the trip. They discussed ELDs, speed limiters, safety techniques, and other everyday driver concerns.

“This ride-along was another fantastic opportunity to obtain first-hand, on-the-road perspective of some of the challenges facing today’s professional drivers from an incredibly talented female driver with more than 3 million miles of accident-free experience,” said Darling.  “I thank Women in Trucking, and their skilled and dedicated drivers, not only for promoting additional career opportunities for women, but also for their partnership in promoting roadway safety as they help move our nation’s economy,.”

“Our goal in providing ride-alongs to our regulators and legislators is to give them the opportunity to experience a driver’s life in the cab of a truck,” said Voie. “We wanted Administrator Darling to learn from Stephanie and to better understand the challenges a driver faces on the road each day, and to see it from a female driver’s perspective.”

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