Girl Scouts Learn Trucking

While predicting the transportation industry's future is no easy feat, there are plenty of opportunities to help shape it. For example, earlier this year, Girl Scouts from three different Illinois-based troops were given a rare and insightful look into the trucking industry, thanks to the efforts of Landstar employees in Rockford, Illinois, and Landstar business capacity owner (BCO) Dawn Arrington.

This special event — organized by Landstar’s Heather Johnson, director of Automotive Services; Tammy Ireland, manager of BCO Recruiting; and Kari Schelling, manager of Human Resources, all based in Rockford — aimed to introduce the girls to the vital role that trucking plays in our daily lives.

The girls, including Schelling’s and Johnson’s daughters and Ireland’s granddaughter, were eager participants in this educational experience.

Hands-On Education with BCO Dawn Arrington

BCO Dawn Arrington, a proud member of not-for-profit organization Women in Trucking (WIT) since 2020, is no stranger to engaging with the younger generation. Over the past three years, the owner-operator has been involved in various children's benefits and truck safety demos in California and Chicago. This time, she was excited to share her passion for the industry with the Girl Scouts visiting Landstar’s Rockford service center.
“I knew this was an opportunity to teach the next generation about the importance and safety of trucking,” says Arrington. “I love interactive teaching and seeing the amazement in kids' eyes when they learn something new.”

The event was designed to be both fun and informative. Arrington used a “No-Zone” trailer wrap showing the blind spots around a tractor-trailer. She demonstrated the size and stopping distance of a truck and trailer compared to the girls themselves, making the learning experience relatable and memorable.
The girls climbed into the truck's cab, looked into the mirrors, and realized firsthand how limited a truck driver's visibility can be.

Connecting the Dots Through Cookies

To make the experience even more relatable and engaging, the organizers used Girl Scout cookies to explain the importance of the supply chain. They discussed the entire process of making, shipping and distributing cookies across the nation, highlighting the crucial role of truck drivers in the exercise.

Heather Johnson noted, “We also used activity books that covered the whole distribution process. It was cool to see the girls understand how their cookie sales connect to the larger world of logistics and transportation.”
The event concluded with the Girl Scouts earning patches from Women in Trucking, symbolizing their newfound knowledge and appreciation for the trucking industry. These patches serve as a reminder that girls can be part of an industry that has traditionally been male dominated.

“Dawn's involvement and the interactive nature of the event were instrumental in making it a success. The girls left with a sense of accomplishment and a better understanding of trucking's vital role,” said Tammy Ireland.
“The parents of the kids also seemed very engaged in the event,” added Johnson. “Many told us afterward that they learned a lot about how to share the road with truck drivers.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

For Arrington, the most rewarding part of the experience was seeing the girls open up to new ideas. “Any time I get to teach kids and see them say, ’Wow, I can do this, or I can be this,’ it’s an awesome feeling. That’s why I do these things — it’s for them,” she says.

In other words, the event was more than just a fun day out; it was an opportunity to inspire young girls to consider careers in trucking and logistics.

By fostering an engaging educational experience and showing that girls can thrive in any industry, all the women who helped organize the day are paving the way for a more inclusive industry future.