Meet Mercy Chepkirui, Kenyan Woman Who Turned Passion for Long-Distance Trucks Into Career

 

Female trucker Mercy Chepkirui 

Mercy Chepkirui fell in love with trucks in high school and knew, deep down, that was what she wanted to do in adulthood. Meet Mercy Chepkirui, Kenyan Woman Who Turned Passion for Long-Distance Trucks Into Career  Despite being a career that has not been embraced by many women, the few she saw driving trucks inspired her. When she completed high school, Chepkirui’s first instinct was to join a driving school and acquire a license.  Scania East Africa records that she got into her dream career in 2017 by securing her first job as a long-distance truck driver. Having driven 18,000kg machines loaded to the brim for over seven years, her experience has grown exponentially. Chepkirui can now comfortably average over 600 kilometres of driving daily while enjoying every bit of it. “I really love it, especially since modern trucks are comfortable. I don’t strain when changing gears, and the retarder is good, reducing pressure on the brakes,” she said. That does not mean that her job, which involves delivering cargo between Mombasa port and Uganda, is without challenges. One of her low moments on the road is encountering traffic police officers who question the truck's roadworthiness. “Some even point out issues that do not make sense, like a dirty chevron,” she lamented. Chepkirui’s other challenge is a flat tyre, a common phenomenon on long-distance commercial vehicles. Given the size and weight of the wheels, it becomes difficult to replace if it occurs in a location with little or no help. Fortunately, she has learned how to make friends along the way who often offer assistance whenever she's stuck. With every new day she raves up the engine to take on another journey, Chepkirui inches closer to her dream of owning a fleet of trucks one day. She also hopes to inspire more women to venture into the transport industry as drivers, technicians, or support staff. 

by  Hillary Lisimba