Rebecca Summers – President
Executive Team
Rebecca Summers, part of the third generation to operate Summers Trucking, has grown up around the business. The granddaughter of founder, Lester R. Summers, and daughter of J. Harold Summers, she began working for the family business during summer vacations and college breaks, sweeping floors and securing oversize loads. She joined the company full-time in 1987 as the Director of Safety and became President/General Manager of Lester R. Summers Inc. in 2010. She holds a CDL commercial driver’s license and is certified to train drivers, and will occasionally move trucks within the company complex. She is responsible for the day to day decisions of running the successful family business. She also helped found Summers Freight Brokerage with her father and brother, John, in 2005, and serves as its treasurer. This company matches loads and equipment.
Rebecca has been active in the PMTA (Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association) most of her career. The PMTA is part of a national integrated network of trucking associations and affiliates which identifies the key issues that impact the trucking industry. They fight to preserve and strengthen the trucking industry and its jobs within Pennsylvania, and with our elected officials in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. She has served on various committees and in 2014 she became the first woman to serve as PMTA’s Chairman of the Board. Her knowledge and dedication of the industry is evident, as she also serves on committees with the ATA (American Trucking Association) and has memberships with various other industry organizations. In 2014 she was chosen as one of Central Penn Business Journal’s Top 25 Women of Influence.
Rebecca graduated from Saint Leo College in Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, and is mother to two sons. Community involvement has always been important to her, so in addition to her company and industry commitments, she serves on the local hospital foundation board and previously served as a board member of the community recreation center.
Rebecca is well respected in the transportation industry and has spent the last 30 years making her way in a male-dominated field all while managing her achievements and maintaining her commitment to family and community.
John H. Summers, Jr. – Vice President of Customer Solutions
John Summers, also son of J. Harold Summers, is part of the third generation to operate Summers Trucking. John started working at Summers Trucking over the summer months in high school and college, but didn’t join the company full time until 2005. During the 20 years prior to that, John managed IT functions at a regional bank and an international building products company.
Since joining Summers Trucking, John’s main focus has been to expand the customer base and grow the company’s footprint. In addition, John oversees the maintenance department in an effort to keep costs under control and make sure the equipment is safe and ready to provide the world-class service that our customers have come to expect.
John has served on various boards, including: the Lancaster Chapter of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Ephrata Gridiron Club, the Shillington Legion Baseball Association and the Governor Mifflin School Board. He also volunteers as a teacher for grades K-12 for Junior Achievement and coaches baseball.
John graduated from Ephrata High School, attended Florida Southern College and graduated from Juniata College, where he was a pitcher for their baseball team. He majored in Management Information Systems. John has been married for more than 25 years and is the proud father of two sons.
If you have hauling needs, John and his sales team will be happy to discuss the possibilities and put a plan into place to give you peace of mind in the transportation of your products.
Ken Summers – Director of Operations
Ken Summers, son of Lester Summers, Jr., is part of the third generation to operate Summers Trucking. He has been employed with the company, in various capacities for 41 years. In 2010 he was named Vice President, in charge of operations.
Ken started at the bottom, working his way through the ranks and took over dispatch in 1988. He is responsible for ensuring we have drivers available to deliver loads that need hauled. Kenny is an expert in routing, permitting, scheduling and pulling a rabbit out of his hat to meet the constantly changing needs of our customers.
Ken and his wife of 33 years serve on the board of the DJD Fight On Foundation, which has raised more than $270,000 to provide financial help to adult cancer patients and their families. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association and the American Motor Trucking Association, and is an avid supporter of the Ephrata Recreation Center. When he isn’t working and volunteering his time, he enjoys playing golf and spending family time in the mountains with his wife and two children.
Ken graduated from Ephrata High School and from Penn State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
While many companies can sell you transportation services, no one can deliver like Ken and his staff. They will get involved at the start of the project and will not rest until your product has been delivered safely.