If you spend any time around the fleet safety world, you’ll hear the name Judie Nuskey, Director of Operations at Advanced Driver Training Services (ADTS). She’s known for her passion for protecting drivers, her commitment to safety culture, and her habit of lifting others along the way. But as I found out during our conversation, her career path has been anything but predictable.

In an episode of Truck Chat: Faces of Fleet, Nuskey opens up about stepping into leadership, growing a community for women focused on driver safety, changing careers mid-life, and even bartending to sharpen her people skills. Her story hits on the real-world moments so many fleet professionals can relate to, and the lessons that keep us all growing.

Check out the full interview below and catch the highlights here.

From Accounting to Safety Leadership

Nuskey didn’t originally plan on a career in fleet safety. She began at ADTS handling accounting, but the COVID shutdown quickly changed the role she expected to play.

“When COVID hit, everything shifted,” she told me. “I used my finance background to help us hibernate operations in both the U.S. and Canada. My manager saw what I was doing and said, ‘I think this could be something for you. Step into a director role and let’s see where you can take this.’ ”

That encouragement sparked a major turning point. Nuskey leaned into the operational side of the business, helping ADTS evolve its safety programs, rebrand its approach, and think more proactively about what fleets really need from driver training today.

Building a Network for Women Focused on Driver Safety

One of the things Nuskey is most passionate about is the community she founded: a group dedicated to connecting women who care deeply about driver safety: Network of Women Focused on Driver Safety.

“We unite women who are passionate about enhancing driver safety,” she explained. “The goal is to empower women by giving them a platform to network, share resources, and support each other. We want to foster a safer driving environment together.”

Inspired by organizations such as Women in Fleet Management and Women in Trucking, she’s building partnerships across the industry to expand her group's reach. Her mindset is simple: collaboration makes safety better for everyone.

Today’s Driver Safety Challenges (and How to Keep Up)

Ask Nuskey what keeps her up at night, and she doesn’t hesitate. 

“Distracted driving is still an epidemic,” she said. “But it’s not just mobile phones. We also have inconsistent training, new drivers who never had the right foundation, and fleet managers overwhelmed by data they don’t know how to use.”

Here are the biggest issues she’s seeing hit fleets right now:

• Distracted driving, especially mobile phone use

• Inconsistent or outdated training that doesn’t stick

• Data overload that leaves managers unsure how to act on insights

• New and inexperienced drivers entering the workforce with limited on-road experience

• Rising litigation and nuclear verdicts are putting fleets under intense pressure

For Nuskey, the real challenge is closing the gap between policy and day-to-day behavior. 

“It’s not enough to send someone a five-minute coaching video,” she said. “They need behavior-based coaching, reinforcement, and a culture that actually supports that change.”

She believes the biggest opportunity lies in shifting from box-checking compliance to a proactive safety culture that blends technology, driver education, one-on-one coaching, and an understanding of how today’s drivers learn. 

“We have to take how they learn and simulate that into training,” she added. “That’s where the lasting change happens.”

Bartending, Back to School, and the Confidence of Trying Something New

One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing about the unexpected ways Nuskey has pushed herself to grow.

After COVID and the shift to remote work, she picked up bartending on the side to reconnect socially.

“I missed that face-to-face interaction,” she said. “Behind the bar, I learned to read people quickly, stay calm under pressure, and make people feel heard. Those skills absolutely translated to my work in fleet safety.”

Then there’s her decision to return to college at 52.

“I asked myself, ‘Is this what I want to do for the next 10 or 15 years?’ ” Nuskey said. “So, I went back to school for a degree in communications. It was tough, but I graduated with honors and even walked with the class.”

Both experiences sharpened her confidence, strengthened her leadership, and reminded her that growth happens at any age.

Bringing Innovation to ADTS

When ADTS had to pause operations during COVID, Nuskey used that time to secure a GSA contract, a move that opened a new path for the company.

“I truly believed federal and state agencies needed the same training our fleet clients do,” she said. “Our first big win came from the Department of Energy’s Western Area Power Administration. That signed contract is still sitting in my office.”

It was a moment that showed her team what was possible and helped ADTS expand into new government sectors.

Advice for Fleet Professionals Looking to Level Up

As a frequent contributor to Automotive Fleet and a speaker at major industry events, Nuskey consistently shares practical advice with fleet managers.

“One of the biggest things I tell people is to take a chance and just ask,” she said. “I reached out to Automotive Fleet because their safety content was incredible. I said, ‘Can I contribute something?’ And they said yes. Even if someone says no, go to the next person.”

She also encourages fleet professionals to show more of their personal side, especially on LinkedIn.

“You would’ve never known I bartended if I hadn’t posted about it,” she said. “When people share something small about themselves, it opens the door for connection.”

What She Loves Most About the Fleet Industry

For Nuskey, it always comes back to the people.

“It’s the collaboration, the learning, and the real impact we can make on driver safety,” she said. “The most important safety feature in a vehicle is the driver. Building partnerships and sharing knowledge is how we protect them.”