Kelly Laing
Truck Driver, Atom Hire, Wellington
Qualification: Heavy vehicle licence classes 2-5
Job Basics: Hauling aggregates from Wellington to Wairarapa and return.
Nothing beats being out on the road in a big rig says truck driver Kelly Laing.
"The great thing about truck driving is you are getting out and about and you are pretty much your own boss," she says.
The 26-year-old has been driving trucks for five years.
For the last 18 months she has been driving her company's $300,000 Scania four times a day, six days a week, over the Rimutuka Hill.
She usually hauls aggregates from a quarry in Ngauranga Gorge near Wellington to Featherston in the Wairarapa and return. The loads can be up to 28 tonnes.
"It takes about three hours for a round trip - it goes quite fast it's actually quite relaxing out here by yourself."
Driving a new truck is not a daunting task and isn't much different to driving a car, she says.
Modern features on Kelly's 580 horsepower truck include CB radio, 14-speed gearbox, CD player, airbags, GPS and even a heated driver's seat.
Kelly first got into trucking when she was looking for a new career after spending seven years showjumping competitively during and after secondary school.
"I didn't really know where I was at. I'd had enough of showjumping and I was in a bit of a bother about what I would do," she says.
Her brothers drove trucks and she started working in the office for a trucking company in the Wairarapa.
"I got the job then I took more interest and I got to do some driving - my interest in it really grew and so I started on getting my licence."
Kelly says patience and people skills are good qualities in a truck driver.
"You do need to be a people person as you meet so many people. You are always meeting people because you're never in one place. You also need patience because some things just aren't going to work out properly on the job."
Being a female in an industry dominated by males has not been a problem for Kelly although her mother had some doubts when she first started to drive.
"My mum was worried about the people in the industry and what they would be like but I have had heaps of respect actually. Not one person has said a bad word."
Kelly has some advice for anyone who might be looking to get into the industry.
She says going for a ride with another driver is a great opportunity to get a feel for what truck driving is all about.
From there going on a driver training course and getting a heavy vehicle licence is the next step which opens up a huge amount of job options.
"Lots more employers are willing to take on younger employees now whereas before they wanted people with more experience. There is a big shortage of drivers and people with the right licence would be very employable."