The Women in Trucking Association named Charlene Poe as its August 2021 Member of the Month, and the truck stop owner is more than deserving of the honor.
“Everyone has something different and of immense value to bring to the table,” Poe reportedly said. “When you truly discover what it is that you bring to this space, do it from the heart, with all your heart.”
Poe founded the Middletown Truck Stop Eatery & Drive-Thru in Delaware and continues to serve as managing partner of the startup business. She recognized that her family investment could prove invaluable to the hard-working women and men who deliver more than 70 percent of America’s goods and materials. After reportedly having a conversation with a trucker friend more than four years ago, Poe began to understand the growing struggles of professional drivers.
After conducting some due diligence, she uncovered a Delaware Department of Transportation study that highlighted the state’s critical need for trucker infrastructure. The report indicated a severe lack of safe places to park overnight, infrastructure and amenities. As a result, she made the bold decision with her family to change the startup business model to support frontline truck drivers. The move will undeniably prove successful as it provides a critical resource at a time when drivers need it the most.
Although the private trucking infrastructure business continues to evolve, Poe reportedly has plans to provide expansive parking spaces, dine-in comfort, a takeout menu, a fitness facility, and truck service center, and a healthcare clinic, among other amenities. Ranked among the forward-thinking industry businesses, Middletown Truck Stop is expected to consider the challenges truckers face regarding healthy meals. Drivers and the general public can anticipate choices that are heart-healthy and include delicious vegetarian menu options along with traditional home-style meals.
This family-owned and operated trucking business continues to break the mold followed by too many outdated facilities. Plans are reportedly underway to make the Middletown Truck Stop a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified business. In addition, Poe and her family continue to work with Women’s Business Center in Delaware, the National Association of Truck Stop Operators, the National Association of Self Employed, and the Women In Trucking Association.
The Women in Trucking Association is a non-profit organization determined to improve female participation in the trucking industry, address unique challenges faced by women, and drive success. The number of women earning good salaries as CDL professionals has increased by more than 30 percent over the last decade.
Source: thetrucker.com
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