LEADERSHIP Conversations with the Captains of Industry
Setting the LTL World on Fire
“I can see the potential in all things,” says Debbie Sparks, executive director of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). “I like to take elements that could be enhanced and bring new life into them.” From the time Sparks took the helm at the nonprofit association in 2022, she has focused hard on enhancement. She has been working to drive digital transformation for the less-than-truckload (LTL) industry, help motor carriers transition to a digital era, adopt and strengthen their cybersecurity programs, and modernize the LTL freight classification system. Sparks spoke with us about the path to her current position, her leadership strategies, and some of her current activities. IL: You’ve worked in trucking for three decades. What has kept you in this industry? It’s the essential role that trucking plays in connecting people, businesses, and communities. Trucking is the backbone of our economy. Also, it’s a complex, fast-paced world, and often what professional truck drivers haul is critical, whether it’s components for a just-in-time assembly plant or a supply of lifesaving medications. Beyond that, I’m inspired by the camaraderie and shared responsibility you find in trucking. Motor carriers are generous, patriotic, and committed to helping one another and their communities. For example, when there’s a natural disaster, the trucking industry responds without hesitation: They show up at a local shopping center, load a trailer with cases of bottled water, and drive off to deliver it to people who need it. IL: What’s one incident from early in your career that taught you an important lesson? Early in my years in the trucking industry, I saw a colleague repeatedly fall asleep in meetings. Initially, I felt embarrassed, but I later learned he had narcolepsy. Decades later, one of our employees, a diabetic, dozed off due to low blood sugar during a membership meeting. This taught me the importance of compassion and understanding that what appears to be laziness or inattentiveness may actually be a medical condition. It reminds me that things are not always as they appear and to ask more questions before making assumptions.
Debbie Sparks Executive Director, National Motor Freight Traffic Association
When she isn’t working tirelessly to drive digital transformation, help carriers transition to a digital era, and modernize the LTL freight classification system, Debbie Sparks writes children’s books to spread the word about the rewards of becoming a truck driver.
by Merrill Douglas
12 Inbound Logistics • November 2024
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