When people think of trucking, they envision long highways, heavy loads, and endless miles. Behind the wheels and logistics, however, is a movement to prepare a new generation for essential careers that sustain the economy.
Building a Path for the Next Generation
Trent launched NGT with a clear mission: to connect young people with opportunities in trucking and supply chain, strengthen school-based training programs, and build partnerships that ensure a skilled and diverse future workforce. She has established industry-backed school curricula and initiated mentorship and internship programs. What began as a passion for helping people find jobs in driver staffing evolved into a broader vision to transform how the industry engages with youth.
Her early career gave her a front-row view of transportation’s challenges and opportunities. At Ryder, she worked in customer and business development, gaining insight into all aspects of the supply chain. This experience prepared her for leadership in the trucking industry.
Championing Education and Workforce Development
One of Trent’s strongest beliefs is that the future of trucking begins in the classroom. She has helped schools successfully introduce diesel technician and CDL programs, which have been used by hundreds of students, providing opportunities to explore stable, high-demand, and high-paying careers. By creating early exposure opportunities, such as launching 'Touch a Truck' events across several school districts and partnering to develop high school career pathways, she is breaking the stereotype of trucking as a last-resort job and positioning it as a respected, growth-focused profession.
Trent also serves on boards such as the Kentucky Trucking Association and the National Career Academies Coalition, advising education centers. These roles help her strengthen ties between industry and education, ensuring students receive real-world training and employers access a skilled workforce.
Embracing Change in a Traditional Industry
Trucking faces disruption, from technological shifts to workforce shortages. Trent urges embracing change. She supports tools like simulators, VR, and AI to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability. For her, progress means preparing the industry for new demands, not just filling existing job openings.
Tackling the Workforce Shortage
One of the most pressing issues in trucking today is the aging driver population and the shortage of new entrants. Under Trent’s leadership, NGT has developed and helped implement standardized high school trucking curricula now adopted by several districts, funded by industry partnerships and grants. These initiatives have directly created entry points into trucking careers for dozens of students, addressing workforce gaps and offering young people viable alternatives to traditional college degrees.
A Personal Commitment to Growth
Trent’s journey with NGT has also been one of personal growth. She independently learned grant writing, secured multiple funding sources, and built alliances with education leaders. Despite challenges, she remains energized by the mission and inspired by the hundreds of students she has reached—whether through advisory boards, career fairs, or national conferences.
Looking Ahead
Her vision is timely: to provide supply chain education in every high school, encompassing logistics, equipment maintenance, and commercial driving. By creating these pathways, Trent believes that trucking can secure its future while offering rewarding, entrepreneurial careers that are essential to the economy.
At the heart of her work is a simple truth: trucking is not just about moving goods; it’s about moving lives forward. Through the Next Generation in Trucking Association, Lindsey Trent is not only preparing the industry for tomorrow. She is driving lasting change that will empower generations, strengthen the economy, and ensure the future of trucking thrives in the hands of those she’s inspired.