Before we dive into today’s topic, I want to extend a big thank you to our sponsors—true NextGen Trucking Advocates. Shoutout to Averitt, DHL, Fusion Now, Gordon Food Service, and KKW for making what we do possible. Your support allows us to connect the next generation to careers in the trucking industry every single day.
Hi everyone, I’m Lindsey Trent and welcome to NGT Talks! I’m excited to bring you a conversation with someone I’ve gotten to know and admire—Melanie Simard, Safety Director and Vice President of Safety and Compliance at ISAAC Instruments. We first met at the ATA Women in Motion reception, and I was instantly drawn to her energy, her experience, and her passion for the trucking industry.
From College to Cab: Melanie’s Unconventional Entry Into Trucking
Melanie’s journey into trucking didn’t start with a childhood dream—it started with curiosity. While in college, a friend pulled her into a third-party logistics company. It didn’t take long before Melanie fell in love with the fast-paced world of freight sales and logistics.
But she wanted more—specifically, to be on the asset side of the industry. She craved firsthand experience and, armed with a passion for engines and a background full of dirt bikes and mechanical curiosity, she made the bold decision to become a truck driver.
Yes, that’s right—Melanie quit her logistics job, got her commercial license (a “Class 1” in Quebec), and hit the road. From Montreal to California and everywhere in between, she drove teams, tackled the Rockies, hauled produce, braved northern winters, and even conquered oversized flatbed loads. Melanie didn’t just join trucking—she crushed every limit people told her existed for women in the field.
From Behind the Wheel to Behind the Desk
After several years on the road, Melanie transitioned into dispatch and operations roles, going back and forth between the cab and the office as opportunities arose. Eventually, she became an operations manager and later moved into safety and compliance—an area where she found her calling.
When she joined ISAAC Instruments in 2020, she brought her years of hands-on trucking experience to a company at the forefront of transportation technology.
ISAAC Instruments: Enhancing Safety Through Smart Tech
ISAAC Instruments is more than an ELD company. Melanie describes their product as a complete safety and efficiency ecosystem. Yes, it meets mandated ELD regulations, but it also includes telematics, dash cams, and real-time driver coaching—tools that can transform fleet safety culture.
Melanie is a huge advocate for ISAAC’s technology—not just because she works there, but because she used it in her previous fleet before joining the company. What sets ISAAC apart is how intuitive and driver-friendly the tech is—something that matters more than ever with the rise of Gen Z in the workforce.
Coaching the Next Generation
Coaching younger drivers is different from coaching veterans. Gen Z expects fast, clear feedback and technology that works like the smartphones they grew up with. Long classroom sessions? Not their thing. Real-time, visual feedback? That’s the key.
Melanie talked about ISAAC’s built-in coaching system: simple green, yellow, and red indicators that provide real-time guidance. Drivers quickly learn to self-correct, and fleets gain invaluable insight into behaviors like hard braking or sharp turns.
She also emphasized the importance of driver champions—peer mentors who help new drivers embrace technology and culture, making adoption smoother and more collaborative.
Building a Culture of Safety—Without Micromanagement
According to Melanie, building a true safety culture requires consistency and inclusivity. Everyone—from the driver to the dispatcher—needs to be held to the same safety standards. It’s not about Big Brother watching; it’s about teamwork, accountability, and shared goals.
“Walk the talk,” she says. Leaders need to model safe behavior to inspire trust and commitment from their teams.
Why ISAAC Supports the Next Generation
Melanie shared why ISAAC is committed to supporting organizations like Next Generation in Trucking, Women in Trucking, and Women in Motion. At the heart of it? Culture and care.
ISAAC doesn’t just have an HR department—they have a Well-Being Team. The company’s values are baked into how they treat their employees (or “colleagues,” as they say) and how they interact with the industry.
“If we care about our people, and if we care about our customers, we have to care about the future of the industry too,” Melanie said. Supporting nonprofits and workforce development initiatives is just part of how ISAAC walks that walk.
Careers in Trucking: The Sky’s the Limit
Melanie is living proof that a career in trucking doesn’t follow one straight path. You can be a driver, a dispatcher, a safety director, a VP in a tech company—or all of the above. Today’s industry offers options for every lifestyle and interest, whether you prefer coding behind a screen or hauling freight across the country.
And there’s one thing she always comes back to: You matter in trucking. Whether you’re working in dispatch, on the road, or designing safer technology—your contribution matters.
Looking Ahead: Data, AI, and the Future of Trucking
The trucking industry is swimming in data. ISAAC’s focus moving forward is making that data usable, digestible, and actionable. That’s where innovation will thrive—in turning massive streams of information into real-world safety improvements and operational efficiency.
AI and machine learning will play a big role in that transformation, helping fleets identify patterns and proactively address risks. It’s about preventing accidents, not just analyzing them after the fact.
Changing the Image of Trucking
Melanie’s excited about the changing image of trucking—more inclusive, more tech-savvy, and more dynamic than ever. From women in the garage to data scientists in the office, today’s industry looks a lot different than when she started.
And that’s the message she wants the next generation to hear: You belong here.
Final Thoughts
Melanie Simard is not just a trucking professional—she’s a storyteller, a pioneer, and an advocate for safety, culture, and innovation. Her journey reflects the best of what our industry can be: open, evolving, and deeply human.
You can connect with Melanie on LinkedIn and catch her at the TCA Safety Conference in Louisville or the Women in Motion Symposium in Pittsburgh.
To ISAAC Instruments, thank you for your partnership and for continuing to drive safety and innovation forward.