Meet Debora Babin Katz - Trucking Moves America

Debora Babin Katz

Vice President
TrucBrush Corporation

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY?
In 2013, I was introduced by a colleague to my current boss Jim Burns because he had an idea for a new product for the trucking industry and, she thought I could help make that a reality given my education, skills and strong ties to the commercial snow management industry. He was working with a large freight forwarding facility in the Boston area who had requested help with removing snow and icy debris off the tops of the trucks and trailers prior to transit. What ultimately came out of our encounter was the TrucBrush, an innovative mobile broom attachment to clear snow and ice from the tops of fleets’ roofs. I began branding the business and building relations in the trucking industry, which I quickly fell in love with.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
I love that no two days are ever the same, but mostly I love the people that I get to interact with regularly in both of the two industries I work in: transportation and professional snow and ice management. Generally, the people in these two industries share similar traits that are so important to me: they are super hard working, dedicated to their industry and to serving others.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERING JOINING THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY?
Why haven’t you done it sooner? I would also tell them that transportation is a great career path. The pandemic showed the world how important trucking truly is to our economy, and to our health and welfare in bringing people the PPE and later, vaccines. No matter what happens in the world, there is always a need for trucks and transportation…trucking is critical.

Also, there is a sense of loyalty with many trucking companies. It’s not unusual to meet people who have worked for the same organization for 10, 15, 25 plus years. I think that says something about those companies; how they treat their employees and the opportunities they provide for career development.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO JOIN THE INDUSTRY?
The only way to have that large pool of creative ideas is to have diverse thinkers. I don’t want everyone in our company or on a board I serve on to be carbon copies of each other. Women and men think differently because they have diverse experiences from a very young age, and those experiences are what drive our thought processes and creativity. By attracting, training and retaining more women in the trucking industry, we are building the foundation for long-term success.