I am not your typical driver, who I am today has been forged by lived experiences, and this has made me view life not as it is but for what it could be. Today women behind the steering wheel is a common site, while there are fewer still hauling cargo, female drivers are on the move all over. A major challenge however, we in the long-distance space, the ecosystem has not taken cognizance of our unique needs. Rest stops are still built around men, and this challenge puts most women off when they consider this as a career.
To this effect, I see myself not just as a potential driver, but as an advocate for better working conditions built with women long distance drivers in mind. As an advocate of human rights, I hope to lobby for safe spaces to rest, shower and park, and I have started a whatsapp group for female drives to stay in touch while on the road. This platform allows for the members to stay in touch, keep tabs and report happenings while on the road, a first line intervention in making our industry safe for all.
Thus joining She Delivers is about much more than learning how to drive. It is about becoming part of a generation of women changing what transport looks like. While here, I hope the necessary competences to be a professional driver, while also planting the advocacy seed in my sisters as if more of us aspire for change, we will eventually achieve it.
In this regard, I also hope to help build stronger communities among women in transport. One of my aspirations is to create and expand the digital platforms where women can stay connected, share opportunities and support each other through their professional journeys. Sometimes empowerment begins with something as simple as knowing there are others walking the same path.
Ultimately, I want to become visible proof that women belong in transport and logistics. Not because someone created space for me, but because I earned my place through competence and hard work. If my journey encourages another young woman to pursue a career she previously thought was out of reach, then the impact of this program will extend far beyond my own success.
Daisy J. Rop.