The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announced the winner of its second truck giveaway in the last five years. WIT gave away a 2018 Volvo VNL670 truck, which includes a Volvo VED13 engine and a double-bunk sleeper, to Angelique Temple, owner-operator of Virginia-based Tornado Transport LLC during WIT’s Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event on March 31 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. The truck was donated by Kansas City-based Arrow Truck Sales, which is a source of used heavy- and medium-duty trucks with locations across the U.S. and Canada.
Temple has more than 20 years of experience in the trucking industry. She began her career in the industry in 1999 as a HAZMAT driver and trainer for Oil Transport and became a HAZMAT driver and certified trainer for Atlantic Bulk Carrier. In 2021 she started her own company, Tornado Transport LLC, through which she hauls dry foods, medical supplies, and most anything that doesn’t need to be refrigerated. This additional truck she was awarded will enable Temple to expand her capabilities in her business as well as actively introduce professional truck driving opportunities to young girls during high school career days.
Temple has been an active member of the WIT Image Team since 2015, through which she regularly grants interviews, speaks at events, and does ride-alongs when needed. She was recently inducted into the Howes Hall of Fame and has been selected to be one of the new voices of safety for FMCSA’s Our Roads, Our Safety Program. She also is active in her community feeding the homeless and securing Christmas gifts for local families.
“I’m still in shock that I won this truck,” says Temple. “Having this truck will expand my capabilities in my business and also will give me the ability to regularly talk with women about getting into the industry through events, my social media accounts, radio interviews, and conversations about new opportunities in trucking,” said Temple.
WIT received more than 30 applications for the 2023 Truck Giveaway last fall. Qualified applicants were at least 23 years old, hold a valid commercial driver’s license, and are a member of WIT. Applicants completed an application form and submitted a short essay on why it is important to attract more women into the trucking industry.
