Jacob MacKenzie
Truck Driver, Freight Haulage Limited, Invercargill
Job Basics: Transporting freight to Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter
Young Southlander Jacob MacKenzie is living his dream.
The 18-year-old started driving trucks for Invercargill-based road transport company Freight Haulage Ltd this year - a dream job which is allowing him to follow his passion for getting behind the wheel of big rigs.
It’s the role he’s always wanted.
“What I like about truck driving is that you are the biggest thing out on the road. I like lots of chrome – as far as trucks go Kenworths are what I’m really into.”
School wasn’t Jacob’s passion, although he says he was more than capable of the academic work.
“I never really liked school. I knew what I wanted from an early age and I was probably just sitting there looking out the window thinking about driving a truck.”
“Nothing else really interested me. It’s all I’ve wanted to do since I was young – become a truck driver and make my father proud.”
Jacob was inspired by his father and grandfather who both drove trucks, and he is proud to carry on the tradition.
Freight Haulage Ltd Manager Steve Manaena saw the enthusiasm Jacob had for truck driving. Steve asked Jacob’s father if Jacob would like to start working for him during his final year at Southland Boys’ High School.
“I was really lucky that I was given the opportunity by Steve and I started in the yard learning from the other more experienced guys.”
It helped that Jacob had his Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Licence so he could make a start by driving the forklift, shifting containers and driving smaller heavy vehicles.
He has been on the job now for just under a year and has progressed through to a Class 5 Learner Licence thanks to a Land Transport New Zealand accelerated licence course.
Jacob now transports freight from his company’s Invercargill depot to the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter near Bluff, sometimes up to four or five times a day.
“You think it would get boring but each journey is different and I just really enjoy being out there,” he says.
Jacob has some straight forward advice for anyone who would like to start working in the road transport industry.
“Get stuck in and show you are keen and earn the respect of the older guys around you. Be reliable and honest and complete the tasks that you have been assigned.”
Jacob says nothing will stop you from succeeding if you have the right attitude.
“The thing about this job is that you have to want to do it. You have to have a passion for it.”
Having pride in your work and your company goes as far as making sure your truck is always clean and looked after in the right way, Jacob says.
“You should treat it as if you own it yourself. When I see a truck that isn’t clean it reflects on the driver,” he says.
Jacob has lots of goals for the future including owning his own vehicle but at the moment he is just focused on learning the basics.
“I would like to have a crack at logging trucks,” he says.
“But at this stage I just want to keep learning.”