Six months into her trucking career, Rachel Burr is already finding her feet and enjoying the change.
Based in Victoria, she’s currently driving with Dyers Distribution, and says getting behind the wheel has been something she wanted to do for a long time.
Before stepping into the driver’s seat, Rachel spent years in warehousing loading and unloading trucks and working around transport every day.
Watching trucks come and go sparked the interest, and once she finally got the chance to have a go, she knew it was where she wanted to be.
Since then, she’s been upgrading her licences and has her sights set on going bigger in the future.
When Rachel caught up with Big Rigs recently, she was hauling yoghurt and says one of the things she enjoys most about the job is the variety.
No two days are the same, which keeps things interesting. Like many drivers, the toughest part can be not having a set finishing time, but it hasn’t taken away from her enthusiasm for the work.
One of her regular stops is the Shell at Nar Nar Goon, a spot she rates as a good place to pull in when she’s passing through.
When it comes to industry concerns, Rachel points to driver distraction and unsafe behaviour on the roads as the biggest issue facing drivers right now.
It’s something she sees regularly and says it’s always in the back of her mind when sharing the road.
Her advice for anyone thinking about getting into trucking is simple and encouraging – give it a go.
Rachel says breaking into the industry can be slow at times, especially waiting for someone to give you a chance, but once you do, most people are supportive and willing to help you learn.
Still early in her journey, Rachel is enjoying the challenge, building experience, and looking ahead to the next step in her trucking career.