Celebrating Women’s History Month: Claudia Garlick and Gina Turner

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, CPC Logistics is highlighting the careers of two outstanding female drivers: Claudia Garlick and Gina Turner.

Claudia Garlick

Growing up on Long Island, New York, Claudia Garlick had dreams of becoming a race car driver.

“I quickly realized that was not going to happen, but I knew I liked driving,” she said. “So, I thought, ‘I could drive a truck.’”

Her first driving job was for a local grocery store, and then she hauled flour to bakeries around New York City. Claudia decided to earn her Commercial Driver License (CDL) in 1987, which helped her land a position driving for a concrete company. In 1995 she learned CPC Logistics was looking for a driver.

“CPC needed truck drivers who were comfortable driving around New York City, which is a challenging place to drive,” she said. “I learned how to drive there and knew I could do the job.”

Claudia started working with CPC in September 1995. She eventually transitioned to a domicile in Georgia to be closer to her family. Currently, she is assigned to drive for Walgreens in Anderson, South Carolina.

“I’m proud to say I’m about to celebrate 30 years with CPC,” Claudia said.

She enjoys benefits such as generous paid vacation time and the work-life balance CPC provides. Many drivers are home daily with consistent routes to the same facilities. For these reasons, Claudia would recommend CPC to other female drivers.

“You are not on the road for days or weeks at a time wondering when you will be home again,” she said.

Over her decades-long career, Claudia has observed many changes within the trucking industry, from the widespread adoption of automatic transmissions to more women becoming drivers.

“When I first started, I might have seen one female driver a month, and now I see a few women every week,” Claudia said. “There has been progress, but there is definitely room for more.”

For women interested in becoming professional drivers, Claudia recommends connecting with others in the industry to learn more about what it takes.

“If you can, find a woman who can be your mentor,” she said.

Gina Turner

The most important lesson Gina Turner has learned over the course of her truck driving career is to never give up.

Fueled by a passion for driving and a desire to travel to places she had never been to before, Gina took her first trucking job in 2019. Unfortunately, a toxic work environment prompted her to quit and drive buses in Springfield, Illinois, instead.

“But I never gave up on trucking,” Gina said.

In 2021 she started working with another trucking company, which did not turn out to be the right fit either. She discovered CPC Logistics while searching for jobs on Indeed in 2023.

“I had never heard of CPC, but I decided to apply,” Gina said. “It wasn’t long before Operations Manager Wayne Steinkamp called and asked me to meet with him about the position. He ended up offering it to me, and I accepted. It was the best decision I have ever made.”

Assigned to Walgreens in Bloomington, Illinois, Gina appreciates that she can return home every day. She also likes how CPC sets clear expectations and treats drivers with respect.

“They care about us,” Gina said. “For instance, if I ever have trouble with backing up or anything else, they are understanding and they help instead of getting angry.”

In previous positions, Gina has encountered people who have discounted her because she is a woman. However, she believes women contribute many valuable qualities to the trucking industry.

“We bring a lot of compassion and sympathy that can be lacking,” Gina said. “And as more older drivers retire or get ready to retire, women are needed more than ever.”

Gina believes she has found her place at CPC Logistics and is thankful that she stuck with truck driving.

“Sometimes you need to take a break, so take a break,” Gina said. “But come back. Don’t let anything defeat you so you can live life without regrets.”