April Crysel, a professional driver for the family-operated Chestnut Enterprises in Wilmington, North Carolina, has been selected as the Women In Trucking Association’s (WIT) Member of the Month for December 2024.
Crysel’s journey into trucking began unexpectedly at the age of 45, after her manufacturing job was outsourced. Determined to reinvent herself, she entered the transportation industry with Maverick Transportation, specializing in flatbed hauling of glass across the U.S. and Canada.
Over the years, Crysel expanded her expertise by driving a wide variety of vehicles, including flatbeds, doubles, and refrigerated tankers, while working as a trainer at Ryder System, Inc. She later transitioned into port container hauling for owner-operators and explored safety management and dispatch roles at Global Transportation Management.
Despite enjoying the administrative side of trucking, she missed the freedom of the road and returned to driving, finding her professional home at Chestnut Enterprises, where teamwork and flexibility are core values.
Crysel became involved with Women In Trucking in 2015, drawn by the opportunity to connect with and support other women in the industry. As a member of WIT’s 2024 Image Team, she is passionate about fostering mentorship and encouraging women to pursue trucking careers. One of her highlights is attending the Accelerate! Conference & Expo, where she has formed lifelong friendships and witnessed firsthand the power of women empowering each other.
Beyond her career, Crysel is the proud mother of grown twins and a grandmother to three. Her recognition by WIT reflects her remarkable resilience, her contributions to the industry, and her commitment to helping others succeed in trucking.
Congratulations to April Crysel for her inspiring journey and her dedication to supporting women in the trucking industry!
