Retirement Celebration of Kansas City Woman After 35 Years in Trucking

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lori Simba, a dedicated Kansas City metro resident and passionate Chiefs fan, has recently retired from Swift Transportation, culminating a remarkable 35-year career in the trucking industry.

Simba plans to commemorate her retirement with friends at the upcoming Chiefs-Broncos game this Sunday.

Reflecting on her journey, Simba noted, “I started in 1988, and back then, there were very few women in the industry. We were quite rare.” She has spent 25 years with Swift or its predecessor company, leading to nearly 35 years in total within the field.

Throughout her career, Simba has driven an incredible 4.5 million miles without an accident. She humorously remarked, “One million miles is equivalent to two round trips to the moon.”

When Simba first enrolled in trucking school, she had no experience with trucks. Overcoming her initial fears, she recalled her first day: “I decided to walk to a nearby truck stop, and seeing all those humming trucks lined up made me wonder, ‘What am I getting into? Will I really be able to drive one of these?’ But I did!

Having traversed all 48 continental states, Simba shared that she has a wealth of experiences and stories that could fill a book. “I’ve had many wonderful encounters and met fantastic people along the way,” she added.

Simba credits her success to the support from other women in the industry, including friends who traveled to celebrate her retirement. “Her achievements inspire us all,” said Sondra Moore Jones, a Swift Transportation leader in Denver. “This sisterhood has been a true blessing.” Simba also expressed pride in her fellow female pioneers in the field, joking about the two friends who will cheer for the Broncos at the game.

Eager to enjoy her time watching the Chiefs play, Simba is excited about supporting her favorite players. “Everything is going to be thrilling, especially Patrick, Travis, Chris, and even Creed,” she said. Simba officially retired from Swift Transportation on Thursday, marking the end of an impressive chapter in her career, which was celebrated with a special send-off by the company.

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