Already at the age of 16, Krisje wants to become a truck driver. For years she tells herself she can’t. That reversing with such a large vehicle is too difficult. She now knows better. Last month she received the keys to her own Renault Master. There is a good chance that she will have to return them soon. After obtaining her C driving license, the bigger work awaits her.
Nowadays, Krisje finds reversing just as easy as moving forward. She doesn’t understand why she didn’t chase her dream sooner. Only when she worked at a sorting center 2 years ago did she decided to go for it. After a test ride she was immediately sold.
A conscious switch from the employment agency to DM Logistics
Krisje first drove on behalf of an employment agency and made the switch to DM Logistics in April. She says “I already knew my colleagues here from my time at the employment agency and knew that we got on really well. Every morning I start with a cup of coffee and a nice chat. In addition, I work a guaranteed 40 hours a week and I save for my pension. That’s very important to me.”
A new vehicle in record time
She just joined the company and already drives a new vehicle. Sander Bogers, CEO of the Exintra Group, explains “Krisje was first on a different vehicle. She has always driven without damage. It needed to be replaced and we knew that the new vehicle was in good hands with Krisje. Although I hope she drives it for as short a time as possible. We support Krisje in her ambition to obtain a C driving license. After that she moves on to a real truck.”
From Amsterdam to Ginderbuiten
Krisje’s workweek is very varied. It’s exactly this diversity that appeals to her. “One day I’m driving to a small town in Belgium and the next day I’m in the heart of Amsterdam. Because I’m quite social, it’s easy to make contact and I meet nice people.” As a woman, she is regularly offered help by men with loading and unloading. Sometimes that’s ok, other times not so. “Then they say: that isn’t a job for a lady, is it? Well, I think to myself. Let me show you that a woman is perfectly suited for this job.”
Krisje runs on coffee (and diesel)
A constant factor is getting up early. Every night Krisje gets up between 2 and 3 am. After a good cup of coffee, made by her husband, she leaves for the head office in Roosendaal. From there she mainly drives to the Netherlands and Belgium. One day she’s ready at noon, the next day she gets out at 4 pm.
Final destination
Getting up early is no problem for Krisje. She’s more annoyed by the cyclists who try to slip through everything. But she doesn’t let that stop her. When she obtains her C driving license in a few months, she’ll be driving a larger truck. “With the same rides as now, but on a bigger car. The variety, the colleagues, the driving…I’ve found my place of happiness.”
Give it a go
Krisje has some important advice for other doubters: “Just ask somebody if you can give it a try. You only really know how it feels when you drive such a vehicle yourself. You can discover this in a safe way in a closed area. My colleagues and I would be more than happy to let you experience it.”
