Honoring Hispanic Leaders Who Shaped the Future of Transportation

At Atlantic Logistics, we are proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the remarkable contributions Hispanic Americans have made to the logistics, freight, and transportation industries. From shaping policy at the federal level to breaking barriers in trucking, these leaders remind us that logistics isn’t just about moving freight, but about building connections, fostering equity, and driving communities forward.

Here are just a few of the trailblazers whose impact continues to shape the industry we serve every day.

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Nuria Fernandez: Pioneering Federal Transit Leadership

As the first Senate-confirmed woman of color to lead the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Nuria Fernandez broke new ground for representation and leadership. A Panamanian American, Fernandez oversaw a $1 billion grant program to expand transit across the nation. Her career included executive roles with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. She also served as Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) from 2019–2020, leaving a legacy of innovation and advocacy.

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Ysela Llort: A Florida Transportation Powerhouse

With more than 30 years of leadership, Ysela Llort has been one of Florida’s most influential transportation figures. As Director of Miami-Dade Transit (MDT), the state’s largest system, she oversaw planning, construction, and operations at every level. Recognized by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and inducted into the Florida Transportation Hall of Fame in 2019, Llort continues to influence the industry today through her role as a principal at Renaissance Planning and her service on the Transportation Research Board (TRB).

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Federico Peña: From Civil Rights to Global Aviation Policy

Born in Brownsville, Texas, Federico Peña rose from civil rights attorney to national leader as U.S. Secretary of Transportation and later Secretary of Energy under President Clinton. Peña spearheaded the effort to build Denver International Airport, transforming the region’s economy. As Secretary of Transportation, he implemented international aviation policies that opened global markets for the U.S. Peña’s story, captured in his autobiography Not Bad for a South Texas Boy, reflects a career dedicated to equity, progress, and innovation.

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Flora Castillo: Champion of Transportation Equity

For over 25 years, Flora Castillo has been a dynamic voice in transportation and equity. She became the first Latina to serve on the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors and the first Latina to chair the APTA. With experience spanning health services and infrastructure, she founded Pivot Strategies, a consulting firm focused on transportation, infrastructure, and health. In 2023, she was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, continuing her mission to ensure fairness and opportunity in transit.

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Adriesue “Bitsy” Gomez: Breaking Barriers in Trucking

A true trailblazer, Adriesue “Bitsy” Gomez (1943–2015) made history as a truck driver in an era when women faced countless roadblocks in the industry. Nicknamed “a gear-jamming gal with white line fever,” Gomez founded the Coalition of Women Truck Drivers to challenge discrimination and push for change. Her advocacy and persistence opened doors for countless women in trucking, helping shape a more inclusive future for the industry.

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ABOUT ATLANTIC LOGISTICS

‍Atlantic Logistics provides expedited truckload and partial service on flatbeds, stepdecks, lowbeds, vans, and reefers throughout the United States and Canada. Moving over-dimensional/over-weight freight with specialized equipment, Atlantic Logistics is an approved Department of Defense and General Services Administration broker, qualify as a woman-owned business, and are members of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), GrowFL (GrowFL), First Coast Manufacturers Association (FCMA), the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA), Women in Trucking (WiT), Laredo Motor Carriers Association (LMCA) and the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA).

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