Nikki Thomas

I’ve been very fortunate to have people throughout my career who believed in me, challenged me, and created opportunities for me to grow. A mentor early in my career, my former CEO, really set the tone, and I’ve continued to find that same level of support within the trucking industry.

At the end of the day, I think success comes from that combination of strong mentorship and personal drive. When you have people who invest in you and encourage you to succeed, it pushes you to rise to the occasion. Having that support system behind you makes all the difference.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is that no experience is ever wasted. There were times when I was asked to lead projects that didn’t feel directly tied to my long term goals, but those experiences ended up being incredibly valuable.

Your skills build on each other, and over time you start to see how everything connects. It gives you confidence to take on new challenges because you’ve seen different sides of the work.

I also believe growth isn’t linear. It’s not always about climbing straight up. Sometimes the most important growth happens when you move across, take on something new, and expand your perspective. That’s what really sets you up for long term success.

First, what would I be doing if I didn’t start by saying join Women In Motion. It’s such a great way to build your network and find your community in this industry.

But then I’d say, trucking is a 24-7 industry. It’s fast paced, constantly evolving, so pace yourself and don’t second guess yourself along the way. You’re capable of more than you think, and you don’t have to have everything figured out right away.

If you do get stuck, it’s okay to ask questions. That’s how you learn and grow.

And remember, there’s room for everyone to be successful. When you show up as your authentic self, you build real connections, gain trust, and open doors.

I’m very mission-driven, both in my work and in my personal life. I want to feel connected to what I’m doing and know that it has purpose.

I also really value hard work. That’s something I learned from my parents and my family. Showing up every day and doing your best matters. And I carry that into how I lead as well. Mistakes are going to happen, but if everyone is putting in the effort and we learn from it, we fix it and keep moving forward.

Honesty is also really important to me, along with having a positive attitude. I believe how you show up matters, not just for yourself but for the people around you.

And I’m always focused on learning and growing. I want to be around people who are curious, who want to get better, and who push each other in a positive way.