Shelley Simpson nearly left the trucking industry in 2001 to raise her newborn son, Payton.
Twenty-three years later, she will take the helm this summer as CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services.
Simpson, J.B. Hunt’s president since August 2022, will be the first woman to serve in the top job at the company, one of the largest carriers in a historically male-dominated industry.
She will join UPS’ Carol Tomé as the only other woman CEO among the 10 largest for-hire carriers (using Transport Topics’ 2023 rankings), and only ArcBest’s Judy McReynolds and the Bennett Family of Companies’ Marcia Taylor among the top 50.
In doing so, however, Simpson will carry on co-founder Johnelle Hunt’s legacy of strong female leadership at the Lowell, Arkansas-based trucking heavyweight.
“I can't help but think of the leaders who have left a lasting impact on me,” Simpson wrote in an International Women’s Day post on LinkedIn. “Mrs. Hunt, for instance, exemplified perseverance and attention to detail, showing me the importance of never giving up.”
Simpson’s ascendance — announced during Women’s History Month, no less — marks a milestone for J.B. Hunt and the industry. She serves as a role model for other women envisioning themselves in C-suites and other key jobs in trucking, several women in the industry told Trucking Dive.
‘A pioneer and a role model’
Becoming CEO in July is the culmination of a 30-year career at J.B. Hunt for Simpson, who started as an hourly customer service representative. As chief commercial officer and president of Highway Services, she led the strategy and launch of the J.B. Hunt 360 platform in 2017.
Simpson’s tenure and rise to CEO underscore the culture at the company, where Johnelle Hunt has been described as “the most important force in J.B.’s success,” according to the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame inducted Johnelle alongside her late husband in 2001.
“J.B. succeeded where others failed, not simply because of his interest in new opportunities,” according to a video on the Hall of Fame’s website, “but also because of his strong religious convictions and the pragmatic business acumen of Johnelle, his partner for almost 50 years.”
After hearing the news of Simpson’s promotion, Women In Trucking Association Founder Ellen Voie sent Simpson a congratulatory email calling her “a pioneer and a role model.”
By taking the reins of such a massive trucking company, Simpson will give other women an example to aspire to and look up to, Voie told Trucking Dive in an interview.
“I've known Shelley for many years, and she really has worked her way up, and she deserves to be the CEO,” Voie said. “But what's amazing about Shelley is that she's very humble and not only a hard worker, but very well respected by not only her employees but her peers.”
‘It’s never been more exciting’
The gender gap among drivers is typically the focus of conversations about the need to bring more women into trucking. Women make up about 12% of truck drivers, according to the Women In Trucking Index.
While almost a third of trucking C-suite execs are women, according to the index, even fewer sit in the corner office than behind the wheel.
Despite the disparity, Simpson’s rise is another example of how women can succeed in an industry that “embraces women in leadership positions and really recognizes talent, regardless of gender,” American Transportation Research Group President and COO Rebecca Brewster said in an interview.
“This is an industry where people can thrive when they work hard, when they're dedicated,” Brewster said. “It's never been more exciting in terms of the opportunities for young people, and particularly young women, coming into the industry than it is now.”
The promotion is a testament to Simpson’s “unparalleled expertise but also her genuine commitment to people and innovation,” Daimler Truck North America’s Kelley Martin said in an email.
“Shelley embodies the values of integrity and respect, making her a true beacon of inspiration for women in our industry,” said Martin, the OEM’s director of strategic pricing. “Her leadership is not only driving success for J.B. Hunt but also shaping the landscape of transportation for generations to come.”
‘Extremely encouraging for women in transportation to see’
When Simpson tried to quit J.B. Hunt decades ago, it was now-retired longtime COO Craig Harper who convinced her to stay.
Harper then extended Simpson the flexibility to take a step back from her job as a vice president — but again encouraged her to remain with the company, on a part-time basis — when her twins were born.
Lauren Harper, Harper’s daughter, followed her father into the trucking industry, where she works in strategy and business operations at autonomous truck tech provider Kodiak Robotics.
In a LinkedIn message to Trucking Dive, she described hearing about Simpson’s achievements over the years and getting to know her personally.
“It is extremely encouraging for women in transportation to see Shelley leading one of the most respected companies in our industry,” she wrote. “But Shelley isn’t CEO of J.B. Hunt because she is a woman, she is CEO because she is the best.”
