Sandy Winters has diesel running through her veins. With more than three decades as a professional driver, Winters has hauled just about everything while mentoring countless new drivers and building a well-earned reputation for her grit, heart, and commitment to excellence. In March, the Women in Trucking Association (WIT) recognized Winters as one of four finalists for its prestigious Driver of the Year award.
Winters joined SiriusXM radio’s Road Dog Trucking show for an in-depth interview with WIT Founder Ellen Voie, where she reflected on her journey and shared her thoughts on the future of the industry. Here are a few highlights from that interview.
Winters served four years in the U.S. Army as a fuel tanker driver and wrecker operator (also known as a tow truck driver). She hoped to continue that work when she got out of the service, but after filling out applications to become a civilian wrecker operator, she was labeled “overqualified.”
In 1993, Winters decided to pursue a career as a professional truck driver, so she joined a driving school. She was the only woman in her class. Even with years of experience and a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), she’ll never forget walking into an office with a job offer sheet in hand only to be told, “We’re not hiring.”
Winters has consistently advocated for gender equity and respect for women in the trucking industry. “I just want to be able to do my job and be treated equally,” she said. “We want people to understand that just because we’re women doesn’t mean we can’t do it. We certainly can. And we take a lot of pride in what we do.”
Over the years, Winters has driven an impressive array of equipment, including tankers, flatbeds, step decks, dry vans with doubles (trailers in a tandem configuration), and reefers. She has driven routes across the United States and Canada, hauling everything from fuel to fresh and frozen foods — and even tankers full of ink, which she described as a particularly messy experience.
Today, Winters hauls refrigerated food products for Leonard’s Express and is known for her strong work ethic and willingness to mentor new drivers. Risk Control Managers Will Gates and Lindsay Mullen nominated her for the WIT Driver of the Year award, recognizing her professional achievements and her commitment to helping others thrive.
“I was shocked,” Winters said about the nomination. It was the first time she had been to the WIT ‘Salute to Women Behind the Wheel’ event. And though she did not win the top individual honor as Driver of the Year, she was grateful for the experience. “I’m not used to seeing that many female truck drivers all in one spot. It was really cool, it’s uplifting, and it’s nice to know that you’re not the only one out there.”
In her SiriusXM radio interview, Winters emphasized the importance of mentorship in trucking, pointing out that many younger drivers aren’t getting the guidance they need. “I see a lot of younger drivers making mistakes that they shouldn’t be making,” she said. “I believe it’s because they’re not being mentored by older, experienced drivers who’ve been around the block. I think we need to make more of a push to assist young drivers now.”
This sense of responsibility is what drives Winters to help shape the future of the industry. “If you see something that’s not right, something hazardous, or a young driver struggling — step up and say, ‘Hey, can I help you out?’”
After more than 30 years behind the wheel, Sandy Winters isn’t slowing down. “I just feel like this is what I was meant to do,” she said. “After a while, you’ve got diesel running in your veins. Until they kick me out of the truck, I suppose I’m gonna keep driving.”
