SKANEATELES, NY – The Women in Trucking Association has a new friend. The group has a new 13-inch plush doll – Clare – manufactured by HABA in the United States.

Clare features an official Women in Trucking cap and an “I heart trucking” t-shirt. The package she is delivered in shares the story of how she made it into the driver’s seat of her big rig.

Designed by founder and CEO of Women in Trucking Ellen Voie, the doll aims to help the mission of the non-profit group by encouraging girls to consider the world of opportunity available to them in the trucking industry.

“The launch of this doll is a long-time dream come true for me. The world is wide open for girls today and I’m thrilled to be providing a toy that tells them that whatever they want to be is just great – whether that’s a teacher or an ad exec or a professional driver,” says Voie.

The miniature trucking maven was born through happenstance, when Voie met Lea Culliton, President of HABA USA in an airport lounge. A partnership was formed and the National Transportation Center agreed to sponsor the project to offset some of the production costs.

Clare will be taking her first road trip this summer in the “I Heart Trucking” photo contest, which will see professional drivers from across the United States submitting photos from the road featuring the tiny trucker. Winners will be recognized at the Women in Trucking Accelerate! Conference and Expo in Dallas, Texas in November.

Those looking to pick up the pint-size professional driver may have a challenge on their hands – she’s proved so popular she is listed as temporarily out of stock on the HABA USA website. The doll will also be available at some travel centers including TA/Petro Stopping Centers, and others, across the U.S. starting in April.