Jerri Baez embarked on a unique professional journey of professional truck driving in early 2019, driven by a desire to break free from conventional boundaries. Inspired by her friends in the trucking industry, she boldly decided to learn how to drive a heavy-duty truck, which paved the way for her current role at Colony Hardware, a provider of tools, equipment, fasteners, suppliers and safety products as well as rental and repair services to commercial construction and industrial accounts. In her role, she derives immense satisfaction from training and empowering other professional drivers, guiding them toward the next level through driver and behavior coaching.
Before starting her career in transportation, Jerri earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Ivy Tech State College and a Bachelor of Humanities and Social Sciences with a Certificate in Latino Studies from Indiana University. She entered the Emergency Management field in 2009 and held various roles. Every role she was in had a liaison component between management and the public. She has a unique ability to speak to any personnel within an organization. She can adapt quickly to an audience and enjoys bringing energy to the conversation. When she is excited about safety, those around her get excited, too.
Jerri is deeply committed to empowering women in the trucking industry. She believes finding a mentor is crucial for anyone starting their career journey. Mentors can provide invaluable assistance, often in ways that newcomers may not even anticipate. They can help you understand your needs before you know them and help you confidently navigate the industry.
Jerri’s unwavering commitment to safety and her passion for empowering others has led her to become a certified driver trainer. She is a safety professional who can seamlessly switch between tasks, ensuring productivity and enhancing team performance. Her effectiveness in implementing efficiency programs, reducing overhead costs, and coaching and motivating drivers for change is a testament to her adaptability. She relishes the challenge of liaising between safety and the drivers, bridging safety communication barriers. Her expertise extends to comprehensive operations analysis, process improvements, and federal compliance.
Jerri finds teaching employees how to find information on their systems extremely rewarding. She likes to watch their eyes light up and hear their responses like “Oh, that’s really cool. I did not know we could even do that.”
Jerri brings a wealth of experience, having worked in various settings such as local, regional, and over-the-road (OTR). She has handled a diverse range of vehicles, including dry vans, straight trucks, drop decks, and refrigerated units. Her professional journey includes stints at Schneider, Cheeseman Transport, and, most recently, R&L Carriers. As a professional driver, she made a conscious decision to step away from the truck to make a difference in the future of the transportation field, with a focus on telematics and driver coaching. She holds a CDL-A with several endorsements and continues to drive when needed.
Jerri sees two necessary changes to happen in the trucking industry that will make transportation an easier career choice for women.
First, the industry needs to have more platforms such as WIT for women to express their voices, opinions and needs. “Today, you see more and more women coming to the forefront trying to blaze the path for the women coming up behind us,” says Jerri. There is more conversation out there about women in trucking. Everyone is becoming more aware not only through social media but also through conversations and strategies in the offices, through dispatch, and throughout the industry. Many discussions are about bringing women in because they have value to offer. Another thing that she is excited about is the personal protective equipment (PPE) for women and people with smaller builds or who are built differently than the average man’s stature.
In November 2022, Jerri relocated from Indiana to Easley, SC. Here, she has been able to start giving back to the industry that has given her so much. She loves her grandchildren, who are back in Indiana. She enjoys the water, kayaking, fishing, and camping in her free time. She started practicing her Spanish communication skills again in March of 2022, hoping this would open more opportunities for her to impact others. She supports the mission of Mentoring Matters and gives back as a mentor when needed. Sharing struggles and best practices is just one small way to give back to those entering the industry.
“We are called to build up, lift, and cheer up one another,” she says. “I am one small part of the bigger picture, but every person counts!”
This article is the third installment in our Image Team series where we’ll spotlight the professional truck drivers who make up the Class of 2024. Learn More
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