Louisiana woman turns love for trucking into multifaceted transport business

A woman in Louisiana is helping to break trucking industry barriers by starting a new trucking transport business in Shreveport, Tayler Davis reported for KSLA 12 news.

Latonia Durham loves driving trucks, she said, and that’s why she started Durham Transport. With the help of her family and close friends, she became the first woman in the area to open a multifaceted trucking transport business.

“We’re not only the Durham Transport Academy, which we are offering to students,” Durham told KSLA 12. “We have Durham Transport Tires, where we’re selling commercial tires for any unit. We also have Durham Transport Parking.”

During a supply chain crisis and global driver shortage, the business creates more opportunities for people to get their CDL licenses and contribute to the industry.

“The mayor and I even spoke on trying to put together some kind of scholarship for CDL drivers and maybe they can come through and get a job for the city and also get a job here,” Shreveport City Councilman Jerry Bowman told reporters.

Local school board member Mary Trammel told reporters it will even benefit high school students.

“We have a lot of children that we know will not be going to college,” she said. “Some will not enroll in other experiences. But they can enroll in this program.”

Multiple business and government leaders supported Durham Transport at its grand opening this month.

“The women in the Durham family are breaking into an industry that is very male-dominated,” Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins said. “So thank y’all for the courage in stepping up.”

And this is just the beginning for Durham. What’s coming next?

“The second location,” she said.

Story courtesy of KSLA 12 news.