It
is wonderful and inspirational
to hear someone talking with
a passion about what they do
and the transport industry has
its fair share of passionate people!
One of the most passionate we have
met is a young lady who is only just
starting out in the industry. Growing up,
Chantelle Maloney had a grandfather
and uncles who were truck drivers and
Chantelle wondered where the loads
came from, what they carried and what
it weighed.
“I was always curious! I wanted to
drive the biggest thing. I did a couple
of trips with them but Mum wanted us
to stay more grounded. She wasn’t that
keen on the truck driving idea! Nooo,
not at all” she chuckled.So Chantelle became a hairdresser.
However, the call of the road and the
desire to sit behind a steering wheel led
to taking a gamble and Chantelle headed
across to Western Australia to try and
get into the mines. Unfortunately, she
couldn’t get a break into driving so
returned east. She made the decision to
attend TAFE and obtain her Certificate
of Driver Operations.
“That is where it all started. It was
through TAFE and my first job was with
Milthorpe Transport in Corowa, driving
an Isuzu body truck” she recalled.
Chantelle was running up to the
NSW central coast, into Sydney and
occasionally over to Adelaide carrying
transformers, machinery, tanks and
general freight.Asked whether it was harder job than
she expected, Chantelle replied that
all up it was easier than she thought
it would be, but harder mentally and
physically than she thought.
“When you are sitting there, it might
look like you are not doing anything
but you are actually doing a lot. You are
driving, being in control of your vehicle,
you are staying awake, looking at traffic,
watching your load, you are always
concentrating on something. Physically,
now I don’t have a gym membership!”
laughed Chantelle “It really keeps you fit!”
For a petite young lady like Chantelle,
dealing with everyday trucking was an
issue. When she commenced in the job,
she couldn’t lift a chain out of the tool
box and thought I can’t do this!“FOR ME, IT’S GETTING PAID TO TRAVEL,
IT’S A PASSION. IT’S SOMETHING I’VE WANTED
TO DO FOR SO LONG. I DON’T SEE IT AS A JOB.
NOW THE WHEELS ARE TURNING, THE DIESEL IS
BURNING, I’M FREE AND ITS GREAT!”
< 062 > Truckin’LifeEVERYDAY TRUCKIE
Chantelle^ had^ been^ doing^ local^
deliveries^ but^ is^ now^ firmly^
entrenched^ behind^ the^ wheel^ of^ one^
of Francis’^ Kenworths