September LIL

Who better to talk about being a lady in logistics than the author of this segment- Kandra Dauwe. She wrote down her thoughts on being in a male-dominated industry and the progress through the years. Here’s what she had to say.

I wanted to share a little about myself. I have been in the logistics industry for a little over twenty years. I have been in various areas of the industry- recruiting, administrative, logistics coordinator, etc. To be completely honest, I got into the industry because of the earning potential. I saw the dollar signs and couldn’t resist. If you put in the time and effort necessary, the money is bound to come back to you- I am proof of that!

As I sit and reflect on what I expected when I first got into this line of work, I think it’s safe to say that it is what I expected. I have had several family members own companies in this field for many years, so it gave me some insight into the industry ahead of time. 

My aunt was the first woman I knew in the industry. She owned her own trucking company. Watching her work so hard and grow her business was an inspiration to me. 

Throughout the years, I have witnessed firsthand how differently women can be treated in this industry. In fact, I have been treated differently just because of my gender throughout the years. There is a perception that men can handle this industry better than women and often that felt like the reason I was treated differently. The good news? I am seeing a shift in that mentality now more than ever. 

There are more women getting into the industry, but on top of that, more and more women are confident enough to own the role they are in and are able to take charge. My advice to both  women and men would be to stay strong and true to yourself. It is important to know your worth and refuse to settle for anything less than that. Be supportive and treat ladies as equals because at the end of the day, we all have the same end goal!