Women in Trucking — Scholarships & Mentorship

Last updated May 28, 2026

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) is a nationally operating nonprofit that funds CDL training and career advancement for women across all 50 states and DC. Founded in 2007 by Ellen Voie, WIT partners with Fortune 500 carriers, manufacturers, and logistics companies to administer a portfolio of named scholarships, a curated employer job board, and a structured mentoring program — all available to qualifying women regardless of which state they reside in.

WIT's scholarship ecosystem is not a single award but a portfolio of sponsor-named grants — from companies like Daimler Trucks North America, Love's Travel Stops, and Walmart Transportation — each with distinct eligibility criteria and award amounts. Applicants should apply to every award for which they qualify in a single cycle (typically opening November–January, with spring decisions) to maximize funding.

Beyond scholarships, WIT's broader ecosystem — including its job board, Mentoring Program, and annual Accelerate! Conference & Expo — delivers career value that extends well past any single grant. Individual membership costs approximately $50 per year and unlocks access to employers who have formally pledged equitable hiring practices, a significant advantage for women entering a field where only about 7.8% of commercial truck drivers are female.

Career-switchers can strategically stack WIT scholarships with carrier-sponsored CDL training programs offered by WIT corporate member carriers (Knight-Swift, Werner, Schneider, J.B. Hunt, and others), potentially covering both upfront tuition and ancillary costs like testing fees and living expenses during training — while simultaneously accessing WIT's mentorship and job placement network.

PROGRAMS

WIT General Scholarship Fund

$500–$1,500 per recipient

Women In Trucking Association (WIT)

Who qualifies: Women enrolled in or accepted to a CDL training program, or current CDL holders seeking career advancement. Open to applicants nationwide. Financial need and demonstrated career commitment are considered. Applications typically open November–January each cycle.

Program details

WIT Road to Success Scholarship

Varies by cycle; typically in the $500–$2,500 range

Women In Trucking Association (WIT)

Who qualifies: Women who are newer to the trucking industry — either currently enrolled in a CDL program or within their first two years of holding a commercial license. Priority given to applicants demonstrating financial need and career commitment. Available nationwide.

Daimler Trucks North America Scholarship (via WIT)

$1,000–$2,500 per recipient

Women In Trucking Association, sponsored by Daimler Trucks North America

Who qualifies: Women pursuing CDL training or advanced trucking education. Administered through WIT's annual scholarship cycle (applications open November–January). Open to applicants in all states. Daimler is a long-term WIT Platinum Sponsor.

Love's Travel Stops Scholarship (via WIT)

Varies by cycle; consistent with WIT's general scholarship range

Women In Trucking Association, sponsored by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores

Who qualifies: Women drivers early in their careers or seeking to upgrade CDL classifications. Administered through WIT's annual scholarship cycle. Available to applicants nationwide.

Walmart Transportation Scholarship (via WIT)

Varies by cycle

Women In Trucking Association, sponsored by Walmart Transportation

Who qualifies: Women seeking to advance into CDL driving roles or logistics management positions. Administered through WIT's competitive annual cycle. Open nationwide.

Penske Truck Leasing / Ryder Scholarships (via WIT)

Varies by cycle

Women In Trucking Association, sponsored by Penske Truck Leasing and Ryder

Who qualifies: Women in fleet management, operations, driver supervisor roles, or CDL training. Administered through WIT's annual cycle. Available to applicants in all states.

WIT Mentoring Program

No direct cash award; career support benefit included with WIT membership

Women In Trucking Association (WIT)

Who qualifies: WIT members (individual membership ~$50/year). Available to women at any stage — career-switchers, CDL students, or experienced drivers seeking advancement. Matches are made nationally with experienced drivers, fleet managers, or safety professionals.

WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo

Registration fee required; scholarship recipients may receive complimentary or discounted access — confirm with WIT each cycle

Women In Trucking Association (WIT)

Who qualifies: Open to all WIT members and registered attendees nationwide. Held annually (typically late fall). Includes on-site carrier recruiting, educational sessions, and scholarship award ceremonies. Scholarship recipients receive elevated professional visibility with attending employers.

Carrier-Sponsored CDL Training (WIT Corporate Member Carriers)

$3,000–$7,000 in upfront training costs covered by carrier; driving commitment of 12–24 months required post-graduation

Individual carriers — Knight-Swift, Werner Enterprises, J.B. Hunt, Schneider National, Walmart Transportation (WIT corporate members)

Who qualifies: Applicants who meet the carrier's minimum requirements (typically age 21+, clean driving record, ability to pass DOT physical and drug screening). Carriers cover upfront CDL training costs in exchange for a post-graduation driving commitment. WIT scholarships can be stacked to cover ancillary costs not paid by the carrier.

WIT Driver Ambassador Program

No direct cash award; non-monetary career advancement benefit

Women In Trucking Association (WIT)

Who qualifies: Experienced female commercial drivers selected through a competitive cohort process. Ambassadors receive speaking opportunities, additional career development support, and serve as official WIT representatives and mentors. Available to WIT members nationwide.

HOW TO APPLY

01Step 1: Visit the Women In Trucking Association website and create an account or purchase an individual membership (~$50/year for drivers) to access the scholarship portal, job board, mentoring sign-up, and member resource library.
02Step 2: Navigate to the WIT Scholarships section and review every available award for the current cycle. Named sponsor scholarships (Daimler, Love's, Walmart, Penske, etc.) each have distinct eligibility criteria — read each carefully and apply to all awards for which you qualify rather than selecting just one.
03Step 3: Gather application materials in advance: a personal statement describing your trucking goals, proof of CDL program enrollment or acceptance (or current CDL documentation for advancement awards), letters of recommendation, and financial need documentation if required by a specific award.
04Step 4: Submit all applications before stated deadlines. WIT's cycle typically opens November–December and closes January–February, with awards announced in spring. Set calendar reminders well in advance — late submissions are not accepted.
05Step 5: Simultaneously enroll in WIT's Mentoring Program through the member portal to be matched with an experienced female driver, fleet manager, or industry professional for career guidance and professional network access.
06Step 6: Search the WIT job board to identify WIT corporate member carriers that have formally committed to equitable hiring. Cross-reference with carriers offering fully sponsored CDL training programs (Knight-Swift, Werner, Schneider, J.B. Hunt) to pursue carrier-paid training while stacking WIT scholarship funds for remaining out-of-pocket costs.
07Step 7: Register for and attend the annual WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo (typically held in late fall) to meet recruiters from WIT member carriers face-to-face, attend educational sessions, and — if you are a scholarship recipient — participate in the award ceremony, which raises your professional profile with attending employers.

GOOD TO KNOW

WIT is a private nonprofit association, not a federal agency. Its scholarships are not entitlements — they are competitive awards funded by corporate sponsors, and award amounts and availability can change year to year depending on sponsor participation.
WIT scholarship applications are typically only open for a narrow window (November–February). Missing the annual deadline means waiting a full year for the next cycle.
Carrier-sponsored training programs require a post-graduation driving commitment (typically 12–24 months). Leaving the carrier early may trigger repayment of training costs — review the contract terms carefully before enrolling.
WIT membership dues and conference registration fees are separate costs not covered by WIT scholarships. Factor these into your overall budget.
WIT's programs are specifically designed for women. Men are not eligible for WIT scholarships. Other programs — WIOA, Pell Grants, GI Bill, TAA — are available regardless of gender and should be explored in parallel.
Dollar amounts for named sponsor scholarships (Love's, Walmart, Penske, etc.) are not always publicly disclosed in advance and may vary by cycle. Contact WIT directly for current award amounts before applying.
The research underlying this record is specific to WIT and carrier-sponsored programs. Federal programs (WIOA, Pell, GI Bill) that also fund CDL training are covered separately on this site.

// SOURCES

Women In Trucking Association (WIT) — official nonprofit organization, founded 2007, headquartered in Plover, Wisconsin
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3032)
Daimler Trucks North America — WIT Platinum Sponsor and named scholarship funder
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores — WIT corporate sponsor and named scholarship funder
Walmart Transportation — WIT corporate member and scholarship sponsor
American Trucking Associations (ATA) — industry data on driver demographics and gender representation
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) — CDL licensing standards governing programs WIT scholarships support
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings — WIT corporate member with carrier-sponsored CDL training
Werner Enterprises — WIT corporate member with carrier-sponsored CDL training
Schneider National — WIT corporate member with carrier-sponsored CDL training
J.B. Hunt Transport Services — WIT corporate member with carrier-sponsored training
Penske Truck Leasing — WIT corporate sponsor and scholarship contributor

ALL FUNDING PROGRAMS

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