When Rebecca Chewning’s first employer was falling on hard times, she began to think about her next steps and started to job hunt. When she came upon a job titled “admin assistant,” she had no doubts that she could tackle that job. Little did she know that the job title was slightly misleading. Chewning found herself as a service administrator working directly with the service department of a printing company in Texas. There began her first steps into the trucking industry.
After several years working at the front of the service department, Chewning transitioned to become a parts counter representative at Rush Enterprises. Her favorite part of the job?
“The face-to-face time with the truck drivers and our customers,” Chewning noted. “Getting to know them, getting to know the ins and outs of the trucks. I’ve always worked with a great group of guys that never tried to hold me back or keep me out of the loop with things. They would show me how the trucks work, how the parts work, what things are called. The parts guys are always willing to help out, not only myself, but any of our partners that need assistance and understanding.”
Having a great support system is just one of many things Chewning attributes to her longevity in trucking.
“As a female, you kind of have to prove yourself. You have to show people that ‘No, I do know what I’m talking about, and I do know what I’m doing,’” she said. “And get your reputation out there. There have been 30 some-odd people over the course of my time in trucking who have been a support system for me to help me prove that.”
While Chewning has built a reputation of credibility throughout her time in the industry, she hasn’t stopped searching for more.
“I'm still constantly asking questions, trying to know more,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don't be afraid to reach out to your coworkers, or even outside of your team because they're going to have advisers; they're going to have things that they can share with you that will also be helpful. You can't stay in your little bubble or be afraid. You have to hold your head up high. Ask the question, and don't be afraid to say, ‘I don't know.’
Chewning needed no help, however, when she made history last year as the first female All-Around Grand Champion at the Rush Truck Centers 14th annual Tech Skills Rodeo and brought home the gold for the Hino Parts Division.
“I hope it opens more doors and opportunities for more females to be inspired to do this," Chewning said. "I encourage any of our new hires that I work with to take the test, even if you've only been here a month. And if you make it, that's even better. Just go down there, experience it, and have a great time.”
As technology continues to evolve, the importance of staying on top of innovations in the industry is even higher.
“Our systems are changing, you're changing, the parts are changing,” she said. “I've worked with a gentleman who’s been doing this for 26 years, and he still asks questions.
Chewning’s plans for the future are surrounded by her desire to learn.
