Zero to 500 members in six months. That's the lightning-fast pace of growth for a new professional association that serves a little-known constituency: women in the trucking industry.

The nonprofit Women In Trucking Inc. (WIT) launched in March of this year. By the end of August, the group had grown to more than 500 corporate and individual members.

As you might expect, the organization's priorities include promoting a more female-friendly environment and encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry. But its agenda is considerably broader than that.

"Although encouraging women to join the industry plays a role in WIT, it's not our only focus," says Ellen Voie, WIT chairwoman and Schneider National's manager of recruiting and retention programs. "We believe that providing a greater understanding of the special challenges that women face on the road, under the hood, or behind the desk will only serve to better the industry." WIT's board of directors knows those challenges better than most: Together, the 12 women on the board have a total of 265 years of experience in this male-dominated industry.

The organization has formed an impressive coalition of supporters. WIT counts some of the biggest names in the trucking industry among its corporate members, including Challenger Motor Freight, Con-way Freight, CRST, Roadway, and Schneider National. As befits an organization that's dedicated to inclusiveness, WIT has also welcomed private fleets, insurance companies, truck and equipment manufacturers, third-party logistics companies, other trucking industry associations—even men. One-fifth of WIT's members are men who are involved in driver recruiting, personnel management, and related fields.

To learn more about Women In Trucking, visit www.WomenInTrucking.org.