Her Story
About Samantha
I deal with a lot of administration work when it comes to overseeing my operators, which are some of the drivers here. Sometimes we do meetings and a lot of different trainings to help keep them on top of everything. I started from the bottom, learning that if I can operate a bus, I can operate anything at this point. Then I climbed up to do admin and corporate administration positions, where I got to see different aspects of it. I was able to become a dispatcher and a road supervisor, and I got to experience the in and out, like the behind the scenes and out on the road as well. Having those different positions and actually being able to have my hands in a little bit of everything allows me to see it from all different sides of views, just to help people further along to even be better than what they were when they first started here. What I love most is working with different cultural people, learning who they are, them learning who I am, and helping people grow in their careers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Samantha
01What do you attribute your success to?
My biggest motivation was my kids. No one really told me anything about transportation - I just saw a post one day and decided to try it out. I think my main motivation was just getting to a place where I'm comfortable, where I can grow, I can climb the ladder, and then my kids can have something coming in behind me as well. I didn't have everything I wanted growing up, so I wanted to make sure they had the best life. My kids are my pride and joy, and making sure they have the best life possible has been my vast motivation throughout my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never give up. Never give up, even if it's scary, even if it's hard, because that makes you better, and that makes you have more experience as well. Never give up.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
We've been in this stereotype that women can't do the same as men, right? And I still believe that to an extent with certain things. But I feel like in transportation, you can broaden your horizons. You don't have to just stay stuck in what the world thinks we should be as women. We can rise to the occasion, and if you have your mindset to something, it's definitely a goal, and it's something that you want to reach, so definitely keep going until you say, okay, I'm done.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Keeping operators - that's the biggest thing now. You'll have a lot to come in, and then you'll have a lot to go out too. That's the hardest thing I find in my industry, is just keeping good drivers. People move on, that's expected, that's any job. But keeping some good people, that's a challenge right now.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My top value is my family. My kids, those are my pride of joy right there. And secondly, being able to provide for them, as well as myself. Actually getting up every day saying, okay, this is what I chose to do, and not being forced into a situation where you're dreading coming into work or to do anything at this moment for hours at a time. I want to feel good about what I'm doing and not dread it.
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