4Refuel Employee Changing Industry Landscape
It may have been a fluke, or perhaps fate, but the transportation industry found Jackie Lucas, and nearly 20 years later she’s celebrating a significant milestone.
Lucas has been promoted to Operations Manager of 4Refuel Edmonton and has the distinction as the first woman to hold the title in the company.
“Your background, your gender or whether or not you have a disability shouldn’t matter, and it doesn’t,” Lucas said. “Here at 4Refuel, it doesn’t matter.”
In 1999, as a recent graduate from the University of New Brunswick, Lucas was armed with a Bachelors of Business Administration and was ready to enter the workforce. She took a job in Customer Service, which happened to be in the trucking industry.
“My very first ‘adult’ job was with a transportation company as a CSR, I moved quickly into operations from there and fell in love with it,” Lucas said. “My whole career has been in the transportation industry.”
Lucas worked her way up to Fleet Manager and later took a break from her career to raise her seven children. Following a cross-country move from her home province of New Brunswick to Edmonton, Alberta, she decided to pick up where she left off.
In 2014 she found her home at 4Refuel as Sales and Operations Coordinator, and was quickly promoted to Operations Supervisor.
“As the years progressed, Jackie positioned herself as a committed, talented and hardworking member of the Edmonton leadership group,” said Ryan Dawson, 4Refuel Vice President of Operations, Western Canada.
“An inquisitive learner, she sought knowledge and development through her mentors and identified opportunities to knit these practices into her character.”
In an industry where women make up less than 25 per cent of the workforce, compared to 50 percent in most other fields, Lucas has never allowed it to be a barrier, rather has used it as motivation.
“I knew this quite well when I took my first role. I have never let it stall my career goals,” she said, adding she has seen attitudes change and more women in operations and driving roles.
Though after all the years, the most important part is continuing to love her job.
“I enjoy the challenge this business brings. No two days are ever the same. We overcome obstacles and celebrate wins. It’s exciting and rewarding in its own way. That’s what initially drew me to and that’s what keeps me in it,” she said.
“I’m really passionate about it.”
Founded in 1995, 4Refuel is one of North America’s largest and fastest growing fuel logistics companies and the national leader in on-site mobile refuelling. 4Refuel pioneered the Mobile Onsite Refuelling industry in Canada, and now fuels over 4.3 million pieces of equipment across North America each year.
At 4Refuel we stay true to our values and entrepreneurial spirit; our people are the driving force behind our success. Interested in joining the 4Refuel team? Click here to view current opportunities.