Natasha Cruz-Sanchez Named Inaugural 2026 Voice of the Road Award Winner
REAL Women in Trucking celebrates four women, four journeys, and four voices making an impact in trucking.
The votes are in, and REAL Women in Trucking is proud to announce Natasha Cruz-Sanchez as the inaugural recipient of the 2026 Voice of the Road Award.
Created as part of RWIT’s “I Have a Voice” Campaign, the Voice of the Road Award recognizes women whose experiences, leadership, advocacy, and willingness to speak up are helping strengthen the trucking community and ensure that the voices of professional drivers are heard.
Four Women. Four Journeys. Four Voices Worth Hearing.
The inaugural award introduced us to four remarkable finalists with very different stories, experiences, and ways of serving the trucking community.
What they share is a willingness to use their voices and demonstrate that there is no single way to be a voice for women in trucking.
🏆 2026 Voice of the Road Award Winner: Natasha Cruz-Sanchez
Advocate | Speaker | Industry Voice
Natasha Cruz-Sanchez’s voice is one of purpose.
She believes education creates change and has used her voice to bring the experiences and perspectives of professional drivers into conversations about safety, policy, working conditions, representation, and the future of transportation.
Her journey is also a reminder that where someone begins does not determine where they can go, or the difference they can ultimately make.
As Natasha says:
“Your starting point does not define your destination.”
We congratulate Natasha on being selected by supporters of the campaign as the first Voice of the Road Award winner and look forward to seeing where her voice takes her next.
The Voice of the Road Award was never intended to celebrate only one voice.
We are equally proud to recognize the three women who joined Natasha as our inaugural finalists.
Rachel Jane Addison — A Voice of Mentorship
LTL/OTR Driver | Pinnacle Freight
Rachel Jane Addison’s voice is steady.
Her trucking journey has been shaped by mentorship, and she has made it a priority to pay that experience forward by encouraging other women as they find their own place in the industry.
Rachel believes mentorship, encouragement, safety, and community are essential to helping women succeed in trucking. Whether behind the wheel, competing in a truck driving competition, or simply helping another driver navigate life on the road, she represents the power of women supporting women.
Her message is simple but important: the road becomes a little easier when someone is willing to help pave the way for the person coming behind them.
Mona Beedle — A Voice of Faith and Fellowship
Professional Driver | Road Chaplain | Treasured Words Outreach
Mona Beedle’s voice is faithful.
A veteran professional truck driver with 39 years of experience, Mona has
combined a lifetime in trucking with a commitment to serving others.
As founder and CEO of Treasured Words Outreach and a road chaplain, she provides encouragement, spiritual support, practical guidance, and fellowship to drivers navigating the challenges of life on the road.
Her advocacy includes driver well-being, mental health, safe truck parking, mentorship, and reminding drivers that even in an occupation that can be extraordinarily isolating, they are seen, valued, and not alone.
Mona describes her mission as:
“Empowering women through faith, encouragement, and purpose, one mile at a time.”
Susan Couch — A Voice of Resilience
Advocate | Mentor | Industry Voice
Susan Couch’s voice is resilient.
After experiencing adversity during her own trucking career, Susan chose to turn
those experiences outward using what she learned to encourage, mentor, and support other drivers.
Through advocacy, peer support, faith-based outreach, volunteer work, and her trucking communities, Susan has focused particularly on camaraderie, mental health, safety, homelessness, and helping people through difficult periods in their lives.
Her story demonstrates that advocacy does not always begin with a title or an organization. Sometimes it begins when someone who has struggled decides to use that experience to make the road a little easier for somebody else.
Her message captures the spirit of this inaugural group of finalists:
“We may not have it all together, but TOGETHER we have it all.”
Different journeys. Different experiences. Different voices. All worth hearing.
To everyone who took the time to read their stories, share their profiles, support these women, and cast a vote by liking a finalist's photo: thank you for using your voice, too.
And to Natasha, Rachel, Mona, and Susan: congratulations. You helped make the inaugural Voice of the Road Award something worth building upon.
Thank You to Our Inaugural Sponsors
The 2026 Voice of the Road Award would not have been possible without the businesses that stepped forward to support the inaugural program.
REAL Women in Trucking extends our sincere appreciation to Mudflap and Road Warrior Audio for sponsoring the 2026 Voice of the Road Award and supporting greater recognition of women professional drivers and their voices.
Their support helped RWIT create a platform centered not simply on titles or recognition, but on the women themselves, their experiences, their stories, and what they have to say.
Supporting women drivers. Inspiring real change.
Real Women. Real Stories. Real Impact.
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