WTS International was founded in 1977 by a group of pioneering women in transportation who realized that women's careers would benefit from professional development, encouragement, and recognition to support their advancement in the transportation profession. After more than 40 years of growth and development, WTS is an international professional organization with over 9,000 members in 72 chapters. WTS is connected to a network of 40,000 transportation professionals. Local chapters generate high-caliber professional development and networking opportunities for WTS members across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Through its professional activities, networking opportunities, and unparalleled access to industry and government leaders, WTS is turning the glass ceiling into a career portal.

WTS stands for Women's Transportation Seminar, which is how it was named when it was founded in 1977. At that time, women couldn't get subsidized for association memberships unless they were educational. But times have changed, and now joining an association is an opportunity for women and men to work together and benefit each other in their careers.