Podcast: There is Always a Plan B with Ingrid Brown

Ingrid Brown is a superstar in the industry, with 45 years of professional truck driving experience under her belt. A prominent voice in the Women in Trucking Association, she lives by the mantra, “Nothing in life is simple, it takes hard work and in the end it’s a positive journey to success.”

In this episode, host Brent Hutto is joined by Ingrid, Owner and Principal of Rollin’ B. Join them as they explore her journey as a woman in the transportation industry, highlighting the integral role her parents played in her journey, why drivers need to help one another, and why you should always have a backup plan.

The Impact of Your Background

Ingrid has had an incredibly successful career in the transportation industry, and she attributes a large amount of this success to the foundational tools and work ethic her father instilled in her.

She worked directly with him in the family construction business, where he was the main man on the ground. He was always strict about her education, expecting her to learn the ropes quickly and efficiently. Even when he had an accident that left him with impaired speech and severe injuries, his mentality was the same, and he was a source of valuable advice as Ingrid navigated the transportation sector.

Ingrid strongly believes that this foundational start in construction was integral to her success, and ultimately helped her with her start in the industry. She believes that any diverse background is a blessing for those trying to get into transportation, and that anyone can reach the same heights as her with determination and effort.

“There’s not anything I do today that any man and woman can’t do and get done if they just want to apply themselves and find out.”

Building a Community

Ingrid’s beginnings in construction, where she was the only woman working, prepared her for the shift into the male-dominated world that is the trucking industry.

When she joined the trucking industry, there were only six women crossing the country as solo drivers, so they would often leave each other notes at truck stops as signs of support. In fact, throughout her career, Ingrid has witnessed this sort of support and camaraderie, and herself has never refrained from asking for help when she needs to. She is a strong proponent of this, as it’s important for both education and safety, whether you’re a woman or not.

She advocates for all drivers to communicate with and support each other, creating a community, similar to how it once was when we would all stand around at the truck stop sharing stories.

“We need to watch out for others. If you start utilizing them to help you, you’ll find there’ll be more interaction and more observing in helping one another.”

Preparing for the Unforeseen

In 2017, Ingrid was diagnosed with stage two melanoma, which has already taken the life of several family members. Since then, she has had several surgeries and a lot of treatment, including the removal of a quarter of her throat. 

Last year, she sold her truck and deactivated her authority, joining Blackjack Express, a heavy haul company who could accommodate her medical needs amidst her ongoing treatment. She stresses how incredibly important this is, and that every driver should seek out the companies that will support their personal health needs.

Her story is also a testament to the value of backup plans for when unforeseen circumstances show up,  as well as the proof that you don’t ever need to give up.

“None of us know what life has in store. But there is an option for every single person; giving up isn’t an option. Saying ‘I can’t’ is not an option.”

To learn more about Ingrid’s journey, tune into this episode of Freight Nation: A Trucking Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.