Trailblazer Award ABIGAIL BOONE

By Andrea Busche

TheWoman Today presented a brandnew category within the “Rosie Award” family this year — the Trailblazer Award. This award honors a woman who blazes the path for others to follow.

The inaugural winner of the Trailblazer Award is Abigail Boone. She started at Duluth-based Kivi Bros Trucking in 2019 as a flatbed driver. Today, Boone works as a heavy-haul driver. With this promotion, Boone has the distinction of being the first female heavy-haul driver in Kivi’s history, and only the seventh female heavy-haul driver in the United States.

Boone was nominated for the Trailblazer Award by a colleague, Erin Wakefield, who shared:

“Abigail is an astounding example of what drive, perseverance and fearlessness looks like. Already in the minority as a woman in trucking, Abigail never let that stop her for a second. In two short years, she has worked her way into our most elite division and is now one of our heavy-haul drivers, and the first woman in our company's history to become one.

“She also never stops encouraging other women in trucking to push harder for their goals. She encourages them not to be afraid and to go for their biggest dreams. She has forever changed my perception of women in this industry and what we are able to achieve.”

Previous roles

Boone is originally from central Oregon, and moved to the Twin Ports three years ago to work for Kivi. She was raised on a farm and learned to work hard at an early age.

“I used to hate it,” she said. “But now, I say to my parents, ‘Thank you for raising me tough.’”

Boone’s father was also a truck driver, and an early inspiration to her.

“I love trucks, tractors and any kind of machinery. Trucking is in my blood,” she said.

Prior to becoming a truck driver, Boone worked in juvenile corrections, as a veterinary assistant, and as a wildlife firefighter. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Oregon University.

Challenges

In her 43 years, Boone has overcome many challenges. She has lost three infants — twin daughters and a son. She has survived cervical cancer — twice. She is proud to have 20 years of sobriety from a heroin addiction. And she currently has a condition called ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis affecting the back and spine.

“I’ve had some serious struggles,” she said. “I like telling other women, ‘You can do this no matter what.’ It just depends on how much we want to fight. For me, my body may have difficulties, but I have a fighting spirit.”

Trucking

When Boone’s adult son, Wyatt, was pursuing a welding degree, Boone asked herself what she wanted to do with her life. The answer was trucking. She began by taking an unpaid course at CR England (a well-known trucking company and training school), followed by an apprenticeship, where she also earned her commercial driver’s license.

She was then hired by Kivi Bros in 2019 as a flatbed truck driver, where she transported plywood, shingles and small machinery across the region. Today, in her role as a heavy-haul driver, she hauls large machinery valued in the millions of dollars. Depending on the freight, her travels take her across the Lower 48.

“To be a heavy-haul driver, you have to have a different kind of intellect and a different skill set,” she said. “We’re heavy, bulky and need five lanes just to make a turn. I always … drive slow and steady. I watch and try to predict others’ movements. I’m responsible for everyone’s lives around me, whether they’re aware of it or not.”

Family and enjoyment

Boone and her husband, David, have been married for five years. He works as a mobile mechanic for Northern Clearing in New York.

In her spare time, Boone enjoys being in the woods. She also likes drinking wine on her mom’s porch in Oregon, and spending time with her grandson, Hank, who lives in Montana.

Advice

Boone happily shared a few words of wisdom for women who want to enter the trucking industry.

“I would say just blend in,” she said. “We don’t need to use our femininity to be powerful — you don’t have to be pretty or cute. We can use our hearts and minds.”

Award

Boone is humbled and proud to receive the inaugural Trailblazer Award.

“It’s like a beacon of hope for everyone out there who’s been told they can’t do something,” she said. “As women, we can overcome anything.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer.