Lipstick handy, lorry driver forges her own path

BUTTERWORTH — With her signature pink boots, Ms Rokiah Salim climbs up and takes her seat behind the wheel of her 12m-long 10-wheeler.

She has done her best to give the cabin a feminine touch. Besides the butterfly stickers on the corners of her windshield, she has a little mirror pasted on the top corner, for which she only has one purpose — to make sure her pink lipstick is on point.

As girly as this 51-year-old likes to be, she has a job few women would contemplate. A job so tough that most women, and even some men, fear.

She says her job is flexible, as it allows her to do as many or as few trips as she wishes in a day. She is expected to complete 150 trips a month, though she does occasionally do 200 trips, depending on how hardworking she feels like being.

“I can earn up to RM7,000 (S$2,243) a month, but that is only if I work very hard and do extra trips. With the minimum amount of trips required by my boss, the standard pay would be around RM4,500. But, again, it’s all up to me,” said Ms Rokiah. It is hard work but, for her, it beats a desk job.

SINGLE PARENT

Ms Rokiah happily took out some paper towels and a knife from the back seat of her trailer, and began peeling a large mango.

“Fresh fruits straight from the farm are delicious. Here, try some,” she said, cutting a huge slice and handing it over, eager to break the ice.

Having studied in SMK Ghafar Baba in Malacca from 1979 to 1983, the youngest of six children did not get the opportunity to further her studies due to financial difficulties. She was married at a young age.

Two marriages, two divorces and two children later, she has rebuilt her life. She has been a single mother for 18 years now.

Ms Rokiah feels her inspiration to be a lorry driver was a combination of planning paired with desperation.

“Just think, you’ve got children to look after and, with my qualifications, I could maybe get a job that pays RM1,000 a month. How is that even enough?”

“I’ve tried many jobs, including selling used cars, but nothing gave me as much satisfaction and enjoyment as my present job. This is absolutely the best job I have ever had!” she said, giggling excitedly.

She said she gained her licence three years ago, and started working for a company in Kamunting, Taiping.

“My boss then suggested I try transporting empty containers so that it’ll be easier for me to carry them to the trailer,” said Ms Rokiah, adding she initially had to struggle to carry the loaded cans into the trailer because they were too heavy for her small frame.

She said she drove a single-axle lorry, which was suited to a lighter load, as opposed to double-axle trucks, which had two tyres together at the rear.

MALE PREJUDICE

Her main frustration is with male lorry drivers who feel women should not be allowed to do this job.

“Yes, it is hurtful when they say this to my face, but I know I’m doing this to the best of my ability, and I know the right people appreciate my work,” she said.

She was quick to add there were a number of drivers who would not hesitate to help her if she were in a tight situation on the road.

As of now, there is only one other female lorry driver in Penang, whom she is currently training. They have already formed a close bond.

She also feels extremely blessed to receive the support of her children. Her elder son, Eddy Imran Ramli, 29, while pursuing his diploma in civil engineering had expressed his desire to get his lorry licence before he decided to continue his studies and earn his degree in biotechnology.

Her second son, Fitri Quyyum Ramli, 25, who is currently pursuing a degree in education in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn in Batu Pahat, also wanted to assist his mother in the trucking industry. But his mother told him to follow his dreams, and he is now working hard to be a teacher.

“In our world today, we can’t just sit and wait for a job to fall into our lap,” she said. “We’ve got to go out and search for it. I hope I’m able to inspire others to step in and explore this industry. It’s not like it doesn’t pay enough, it certainly does.

“Of course, the downside is that it’s not a pretty job. It’s dirty and dusty, but can be fun. I prefer to get dirty while looking pretty, which is why I make a point to apply make-up, no matter how dirty it gets,” she added, flashing her charming smile. MALAY MAIL ONLINE