OOIDA highlights Johanne Couture’s work, and it’s well deserved
The team at On the Road Québec wishes to highlight the remarkable work of Johanne Couture. Everyone should be aware of everything she does! That’s why she will soon be featured on our podcast! Difficult topics will be addressed during this episode.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is a non-profit organization based in the United States that represents the interests of independent truck drivers and small owner-operators. Founded in 1973, OOIDA provides its members with support in advocacy, legal assistance, insurance, and other services.
Ever since a ride along with a friend back in the 90s, OOIDA board member Johanne Couture caught the bug for trucking!
She initially started hauling vans for 10 years until switching to a reefer. After a bit of soul searching in her career, she ended up and continues to haul liquid chemicals for one of Canada’s largest tank companies. Now on her third Volvo truck, she’s had the opportunity to haul in 48 US states and all 10 Canadian provinces!
She stumbled upon OOIDA back in 1999 after a breakdown and was being overcharged by a towing company back to a dealership. She was talking about the incident with a few other truckers on her CB radio when one suggested, ‘You should get a hold of OOIDA and tell them about experiences because that’s not fair.’ She ended up joining in 2005 and later became the first Canadian board member in 2013.
Being a part of OOIDA means being part of an association that’s in your corner. “You can’t expect things to change if you don’t get involved in helping the change along… it gives me great pride to be part of the board that helps guide some of our decisions that are made towards what advocacy we aim for,” says Johanne Couture.
Johanne’s dedication and commitment to the trucking industry and OOIDA are truly commendable, and her story serves as an inspiration to many. Tune in to our upcoming podcast to hear more about her journey and the important issues she continues to address in the industry.
