Having celebrated 25 years with Challenger this past July, Vice President of Operations, Lynda Crickmore is no stranger to the transportation industry.  Her drive for success has shaped her own career and helped Challenger become a leading company in the industry.

Her journey with Challenger began in 1991 as a dispatcher in the Flatbed and Van Divisions, spending the majority of her time in Challenger’s Special Commodities Division (SCD). When Crickmore gained the role of Operations Manager for SCD, she took the opportunity to become familiar with all sides of the service cycle. Crickmore explains, “I worked in Customer Service entering orders customers called in. I dispatched the orders to the drivers and split the trip envelopes ensuring all proper paperwork was received for proper invoicing. I invoiced loads, completed driver payroll and assisted in accounts receivables when we faced issues receiving payment. Over the years I developed great relationships with both our customers and our driving force. I was able to be part of a growing division and surround myself with a team of great people.”  This thorough understanding of Challenger’s processes equipped Crickmore for her current role as VP of Operations in the Van Division. With her experience, leadership skills and drive for success, she leads an excellent team of men and women who keep the company moving forward and “make it happen” every day.

When asked about being a woman in the transportation industry, Crickmore says: “At the start of my career, I would have said being a woman in a man’s world was tough. The trucking industry is populated with more men than women, and in the past people failed to take me seriously, which was very frustrating. Not many men had female bosses. I worked hard demonstrating my knowledge of the business and gained their respect. Over time I have seen great changes in the industry, and today I feel transportation is great for women to enter into at all levels. Driving or Office.”

Additionally, Crickmore feels that Challenger is a great company to work for: “There are opportunities at Challenger for anyone who wants to work hard and get ahead in the business world. Our corporate goals are People, Customer and Profit and it’s exactly in that order at Challenger. People are first; our culture is all about People and how we can help them become successful in their roles.”

To see current opportunities at Challenger, view our CAREERS page.

Jessica Stickel
Marketing Communications Coordinator