Kooner Fleet Management's Shelby Jones wins 2026 Women in Supply Chain Award

Shelby Jones, Kooner Fleet Management Solutions' director of human resources, has been named a 2026 Women in Supply Chain Forum Award recipient in the Workforce Innovator category. The honor spotlights her work on employee engagement, retention and industry efforts such as National Dispatcher Appreciation Week.

Why it matters: - The award highlights growing pressure on transportation companies to build and keep skilled teams amid technician shortages and rising operational complexity. - Jones' work focuses on the workforce systems that support growth across North America's fleet management and transportation sector. - The recognition also elevates efforts to value dispatchers and other behind-the-scenes roles that keep commercial fleets moving.

What happened: - Kooner Fleet Management Solutions said Shelby Jones, its director of human resources, was named a 2026 Women in Supply Chain Forum Award recipient in the Workforce Innovator category. - Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive present the Women in Supply Chain Forum Award. - The award recognizes female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and leadership create a foundation for women across a company's supply chain network. - The announcement was made Aug. 19, 2026.

The details: - Jones leads people strategy, employee relations, HR compliance and organizational development at Kooner Fleet Management Solutions. - Her work supports the company's continued growth across North America. - Kooner Fleet Management Solutions said Jones has helped build scalable approaches to onboarding, employee engagement, retention and workforce planning. - Her responsibilities cover field technicians, dispatchers, operations personnel, corporate staff and leadership roles across the company. - Jones helped create and champion National Dispatcher Appreciation Week, an industry recognition effort focused on dispatchers' role in transportation and logistics. - Dispatchers connect customers, technicians, drivers and operations teams, coordinate service events and respond to changing conditions to keep fleets moving. - Kooner Fleet Management Solutions offers fleet optimization, 24/7 vehicle maintenance and repair, driver safety training, compliance management, and real-time fleet monitoring and analytics.

Between the lines: - The award points to a broader shift in supply chain and transportation leadership, where people management is becoming a core operational advantage. - Kooner Fleet Management Solutions is tying workforce development to customer service, growth and retention rather than treating HR as a back-office function. - Jones' emphasis on dispatcher recognition suggests the company is trying to strengthen morale in roles that are essential but often overlooked. - Gary Kooner, founder and CEO, said Jones helped build the teams, programs and culture needed to scale while keeping focus on employees. - Jones said the transportation industry is powered by people and emphasized creating meaningful careers and development opportunities.

What's next: - Kooner Fleet Management Solutions said it will keep expanding nationally. - The company said it remains focused on customer satisfaction, technological advancements and sustainable best practices. - Jones' recognition may support continued investment in workforce programs, leadership development and employee engagement across the organization.

The bottom line: - Shelby Jones' award underscores how transportation companies are increasingly competing on workforce strategy as much as on equipment, technology and service speed. - More information