Woman vs truck

A woman behind the wheel of a truck? Many people are surprised to see it because it’s still not a common sight. But at Logistic Force, it’s not unusual at all, as we have many female drivers in our workforce. Edyta is one of them. She has been pursuing her greatest passion in this field for several years. How did she manage to make it happen? She told us her story in an interview.

Edyta, why did you move to the Netherlands?

My husband, who was still my boyfriend at the time, worked in the Netherlands. We met through Instagram when I was still living in Poland. I left my job and everything I had behind to come here. Thanks to him, I not only ended up in the Netherlands but also started working at Logistic Force. A friend of his recommended Logistic Force to us.

Before coming here as a truck driver, did you have a different job?

I worked as a manager for a telecommunications company. It was a great job, and I had a lot of responsibilities. The downside was that stressful situations often arose due to the many interactions within the company.

So, you were looking for a less stressful life. Did your passion for driving develop at that point?

When I passed my car driving test 12 years ago, I started thinking about it. I was 18 at the time. However, I had to wait because in Poland you can only get your C and CE driving license when you are 21 or older. Since I was still in school and working a lot, I didn’t take any further steps at that point. It still surprises me that three years later, I’m still excited every night when I get behind the wheel.

Did you think about other career options?

I studied law. I chose this because someone in my family works in this sector. I received a lot of support when making this decision. I was almost done with my master’s degree, but… here I am now! I’ll finish it eventually; I still have just two years left. It’s not exactly what I want to do, but I believe it’s important to finish what you start. Motivation is secondary.

How did your family react to your plans that were unrelated to law?

At first, my mom didn’t like the idea. She said, “Are you going to drive a truck? That’s not a job for women. It’s hard work!” Then I started riding motorcycles (laughs). Unfortunately, one dangerous situation made me no longer want to ride a motorcycle. I decided to put that dream on hold. I started saving money, and when I turned 25, I got my CE driving license. It was really tough, but I passed the C license in one go and the CE license in two attempts. I hadn’t even received my license yet, and I already had a new job!

Were there other women in the courses?

No. I remember when I wanted to get my Code 95. There were 30 people present, and I was the only woman. I was also the only one who had prepared well, so I ended up helping others with the exam questions (laughs). I must admit, not many people choose this profession because of passion, like I did. Most people do it for the money.

What did you find attractive about this work, aside from the salary?

I recently discovered that I am an introverted person. I also realized that this work gives me a lot of freedom. Additionally, I chose to drive at night, so I can cover more miles since there’s less traffic at night. The fact that I get paid to visit all these interesting locations also makes it appealing. It’s true that since I started driving at night, I don’t really get to enjoy the places I visit, but my friends who work other shifts often send me photos of various nice and beautiful places. I see more and more women in the profession, young and old. Of course, I’m happy about this, but I also hope more women join in.

Do you ever get tired of driving at night? How do you deal with it?

You get used to it. I sleep in intervals. After work, I sleep for 4 hours. During the day, I try to function normally, and then I sleep again before my next shift. At the moment, it works well for me. I’m young, so I recover quickly. To have enough energy, I try to eat well and avoid sweets and junk food. I also exercise. I use a jump rope a lot and even do exercises while I work. I make sure my body stays in good shape because it’s very easy to gain weight and get back pain from sitting all the time. Your leg muscles don’t do much either. You have to keep everything under control!

There are several serious dangers. Do you feel safe during these long night shifts?

So far, nothing dangerous has happened, but I have seen some dangerous situations. Safety comes first for me. It’s important to know where I can take a safe break. During breaks, I always lock the doors from the inside. I avoid dangerous places, so for now, I’m not worried.

Is there anything about this profession that really surprised you?

Hmm… Not really, because I’ve been interested in it for a long time. I’ve read a lot about it, watched videos, and talked to people. However, many people discouraged me by saying it’s hard work and that I wouldn’t last more than a month. It still surprises me that three years later, I’m still excited every night when I get behind the wheel. Of course, it depends on the type of shift you work, what you’re transporting, and where you’re going.

How do men react to seeing a woman behind the wheel of a truck?

People often laugh, wave, and sometimes even ask for my number (laughs). When I arrive at a company, the employees often want to help with unloading. Men are usually surprised to see a young woman behind the wheel of a truck. I’m happy to see more women in the profession, both young and old. Of course, I’m really happy about this, but I also hope more women join in.

We hope so too! What are your personal plans?

As long as I can drive, I’ll keep driving. Maybe with a different kind of cargo, I’d like to try transporting wind turbines. I could also teach people when I’m older. Not long ago, I gave training to a new employee at the company for a week. I really enjoyed that. I love new challenges and am considering getting more driving licenses. I already have several licenses, including B, BE, CE, T, A, an ADR license, and a forklift certificate. My dream is to fly a helicopter, but that’s pretty expensive.

You really are a determined person! A continuous journey where work and personal development are your main drivers. We hope you get the best out of yourself in this profession. Thank you for this conversation!

Thank you, and maybe we’ll run into each other on the road sometime!