15 - Leading from Behind the Scenes: Building Confidence Through Education in Transportation with Elizabeth Nicholson

On the Front Line

On this episode of On the Front Line: The Safety, Learning & Operations Podcast, Dr. Gina Anderson speaks with Elizabeth Nicholson, Director of Education and Training for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). With experience spanning medical societies, airport associations, and now trucking, Elizabeth brings a member-first mindset to workforce development.

Elizabeth challenges the passive learning epidemic plaguing busy carriers—where employees complete training but nothing changes on the ground. She shares her vision for practical, application-based education where learners implement best practices, report results, and earn certification through real-world impact, not just screen time.

Tune in to discover why Elizabeth believes the greatest gift leaders can give is confidence—and why she's building TCA's reputation as the go-to destination for transportation education.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why "watch the video, check the box" training fails small carriers juggling seven roles
• How to shift from passive learning to application-based education with measurable results
• The power of listening to subject matter experts when you're not the content expert yourself
• How one committee meeting sparked an unbudgeted recruitment and retention training series
• Why investing in employee education is actually investing in their confidence—and your bottom line
• Leadership lessons from someone who wants to be forgotten but remembered for impact

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn HERE.

Want to learn more about Elizabeth’s work? Check out the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) website HERE.

Check out the Luma Brighter Learning website HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

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