TEAR Board of Directors
Truckers Emergency Assistance Responders – TEAR was formed by three working truck drivers who have become known as advocates for others in the industry. Their courage to be outspoken on sensitive topics and assist others with their networking ability and social media presence inspires others to speak up on the causes that are close to their heart. Desiree Wood, Idella Hansen, and Michelle Scolari are the Founders of T.E.A.R. and they all appear in the feature length documentary “Driver“, now available for streaming on the PBS YouTube Channel.
T.E.A.R. President Desiree Wood, has been a truck driver since 2007. She is also the Founder of the advocacy organization REAL Women in Trucking, Inc. that has helped new drivers for over a decade and has brought together a strong network of seasoned women truck drivers to form more unity for women entering truck driving.
She is known as an outspoken leader in the industry on sexual misconduct in truck driver training fleets. Best known for her 2009 interview with Dan Rather on unsafe truck driver training practices. In addition to being an advocate for women who work as truck drivers, and a supportive mentor to other diverse truck driver groups, she has been involved deeply in the Truck Parking issue and Jason’s Law campaigns since 2009, as well as being a longtime social media team partner for many other causes including Human Trafficking, Truck Driver Wages, and unsafe CDL training.
Desiree has become a sought-after spokesperson to media and scholars who wish to find an expert who is willing to speak candidly about labor practices that affect truck drivers, sexual misconduct in training fleets and truck parking issues. In March 2020, Desiree raised awareness through the Truckers Emergency Assistance Responders website on the lack of PPE for truck drivers during the Coronavirus Pandemic which led to a national initiative of donated product and cash donations to get PPE into the hands of truck drivers. Desiree personally passed out PPE to truck drivers in a multistate initiative from March 2020 into July 2020.
T.E.A.R Vice-President Idella Hansen, has over 57 years in the industry as a truck driver and a ‘hands-on” volunteer for various charity groups that serve truck drivers. She is widely recognized as a living legend in the truck driver community. In 2016, NPR featured her in a StoryCorps interview along with Sandi Talbott that is now part of the Library of Congress. You can listen to the replay with this link. (StoryCorps : Women Truck Drivers Idella Hansen and Sandi Talbott) She was named 2017 Citizen Driver by TA/Petro, who renamed their North Little Rock, Arkansas location in her honor. Idella also received the inaugural “Trucking Industry Trailblazer” Award.
She served as Treasurer of the REAL Women in Trucking, Inc. organization from 2014 – 2023. Now in her mid 70’s years, she continues to drive “over the road” hauling high security freight as a team driver with her grandson. Idella has a tireless dedication to the truck driver community and has experience with numerous other truck driver led charity groups.
T.E.A.R. Director Michelle Scolari. Michelle Scolari started driving in 1977 and was named a Queen of the road in 2019 which has brought her many more women to help support and to support her too.
She recently retired from a regional route for Wanship Enterprises. Running a reefer from Utah to Southern California with occasional other west coast places.
Michelle loves to help others learn and grow in this industry. She has made so many friends that she knows she has truly been blessed in this industry.