PEABODY — Ideal Transportation Co., Inc. Owner and CEO Nadine DiGiulio was recently honored by the State for her 50 years in business and for being a pioneer for women in the trucking industry.
When asked how she got into the industry, DiGiulio shared that it all started with her father-in-law, who had his own truck in the ‘60s. She said he used to do work for what is now called United Liquors, but as her father-in-law was entering his 70s, her husband threw out an idea.
“My husband goes, ‘My father can’t work for the rest of his life, and he can’t live on what he’s going to make on Social Security. Why don’t we start a trucking company?’” DiGiulio said. “Now, my husband was a full-time police officer at the time. I was a stay-at-home mom with a little girl, and I’m thinking: ‘I don’t even have a brother. You want me to do trucks?’”
She continued, “He goes, ‘Oh, it won’t be bad! But this way, whatever we make can give my father and mother a paycheck.’ I was like, ‘Whatever,’ so we started it.”
She said Ideal Transportation started in 1975 on Dooling Circle out of her home, and she only had two trucks at the time.
Ideal Transportation was briefly located behind Holden’s Filling Station. But as DiGiulio’s company continued to grow, her facilities needed to also, so Ideal Transportation relocated to 17 Oak St. in 1987.
DiGiulio was honored at the State House on Sept. 22 with three certificates of recognition: one from Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, one from the State Senate, and one from the State House of Representatives.
DiGiulio emphasized that the State recognition was “not just because it’s 50 years, but also because I’m a woman-owned company, and in this particular industry, there might be a handful (of women). When I started, there was nobody (no women).”
Healey said, “Nadine’s story is an incredible example of perseverance. For 50 years, she has led Ideal Transportation Company to success by ensuring smooth, daily operations and tailored trucking services for clients. It’s no easy feat to be a woman in a male-dominated industry, but Nadine has paved the path as a pioneer for women in trucking.”
Driscoll added, “Not only has Nadine made sure to provide for her clients, but she’s done so in collaboration with other local vendors, further supporting her community.”
DiGiulio said it was a big shock to receive recognition from the State, and she was especially surprised when Rep. Tom Walsh gave her a call.
“He was my next door neighbor years ago when I first moved to Peabody, which was 57 years ago,” DiGiulio said. “His parents lived directly behind me, so when he came to give me the award, he came walking in, and he said, ‘This is really great. I’m finally giving an award to somebody I really know.’”
Walsh said, “I have known Nadine for the better part of my life and watched her build her business from a small operation run from her home to the successful operation it has become. She is a smart businesswoman who has managed both family and business logistics with great success. Nadine is a role model for women-owned businesses to emulate.”
DiGiulio said, “It’s a big thing: 50 years. I’m in the same city and everything else that I started in, so it’s pretty cool.”
She was very proud to share that she owns 100% of her business, including her building and all of her trucks, which DiGiulio said has been really helpful, “especially during this time.”
“When the tariffs came through, it got tough for a couple of months until people started to say, ‘We have to pay it. It’s not like it’s going to go away.’ So then they started shipping again, but again, I’m secure enough that I don’t have any bills over,” she said.
All three certificates from the State commended DiGiulio for Ideal Transportation’s 50 years in business, serving Massachusetts and New England.
DiGiulio said Ideal Transportation’s fleet of 20-25 handles around 40 loads a day and is authorized to drive all the way up to the Canadian border and down to New Jersey. DiGiulio said her trucks can often be found on Route 1, I-93, and I-95.
She noted that her trucks are up in Franconia, New Hampshire, daily, and Ideal Transportation is also the Trader Joe’s “house trucker.” This means Ideal Transportation meets the company’s local trucking needs across New England, notably by bringing Trader Joe’s imports to its warehouse in Connecticut.
In addition to the State recognition, DiGiulio will soon be receiving City recognition.
“I would like to see her honored by the City of Peabody for her 50 years of commitment in business in our city, providing jobs and opportunities to residents in her five decades of being a leader in the New England trucking and logistics (industry),” Councilor Anne Manning-Martin said at the Sept. 25 Council meeting.
City Council unanimously voted at that meeting to request that Mayor Ted Bettencourt and Business Liaison Chris Ryder find a way to honor her locally. Those details are yet to be determined.
