Truckers to salute "women behind the wheel"

There won't be nearly as many women as men at the Mid-America Trucking Show next month, but it sounds like the ladies are definitely planning to make their presence known. The nonprofit Women in Trucking Association has lined up an array of events at the show, which takes place in Louisville, Ky., March 25–27.

"Salute to the Women Behind the Wheel" will begin at noon on Saturday, March 27. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Anne Ferro will welcome the drivers and assist in honoring those who have reached safety milestones. Female professional drivers also will gather to pose for a photo, hoping to beat the Guinness World Record of 416, set in Europe in 2004.

Music will be a big part of the celebration. The featured performer is singer/songwriter Rob Anthony, who wrote "Down the Road," about a professional driver's longing for his family and love for the freedom of the highway. Alyson Burke and Andrea Warner will perform Terry Wooley's "Lady in the Driver's Seat." The song, which praises the quiet strength of women behind the wheel as they deliver their freight each day, can be heard at www.womenintrucking.org.

The event is open to all female professional drivers as well as all members of Women In Trucking. Attendees must register at www.salute2women.com before the show.