Four Star women's retreat focuses on mental wellness

An increasing number of women are now entering the male-dominated trucking industry and providing skill, knowledge, and direction in their respective positions.              

Recognizing the significant roles that women play in the trucking business, Four Star Freightliner allowed its women to gather to decompress, bond, and collaborate during a two-day retreat at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.

This year's theme was "Wellness Winner: Balancing the Mind, Body, Soul". Led by author and psychotherapist Ce Anderson, the women learned stress management, self-care, and were given tools to support the "sisterhood" while working in a male-dominated industry.

"Four Star is a family”, said Jerry Kocan, Four Star's owner and dealer principal. "Families share, grow and support each other and I feel this unique retreat gives our ladies an opportunity to do that together."

Women comprise 18% of Four Star Freightliner's workforce. They are spread over three states and serve in different roles from executive leadership to customer-facing roles in the parts, service, and sales departments.

"Over the years I have seen an increase in the amount women coming to work for us," said HR director Suzy Herring who started the retreat in 2022. "I strongly believe women provide a different set of skills and creative perspectives that can help in developing more effective solutions to our company's problems and challenges."

This retreat falls in line with an employee wellness program that Herring created this year for all Four Star Freightliner employees.

"Studies show that employees who are in good health are more likely to be productive and effective at home and at work," she said. "And being able to provide resources that go beyond your typical company benefits shows employees that we care about them in every way."

Last year's women retreat called “G.R.I.T.: Gratitude, Respect, Initiative, Teamwork" focused on evaluating personality assessments. It allowed the women to become more self-aware and receive tools that would help when interacting with different personality types.