On a typical day, Virginia Nduta wakes up around 5 or 6 a.m. and drives a Mercedes truck with a 40-foot trailer for as many as 8 hours.
A widowed mother of five and truck driver, Virginia is one of the women who make up just a fraction of the occupation that's male-dominated.
The long hours discourage many women from joining the field, but Virginia says she enjoys the adventures of the road and the freedom to work independently.
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Growing up, Virginia says her father involved her brothers in his towing business that later inspired her to want to get into driving, a dream that only came to life after she lost her husband.
She says her late husband taught her how to drive using his small car but she went into truck driving later after she struggled finding a job as a single parent.
Unsurprisingly, Virginia says that many female drivers are met with criticism from their male peers.
"I was given my first job as a test, they discouraged me and thought I would quite because am a woman, women in male-dominated industries need to prove themselves, and it is even harder in the trucking industry," she says.
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Virginia says during her early years as a driver, she experienced plenty of derogatory remarks from male counterparts and that seeking help of any kind from them would be met by uncomfortable sensual conversations.
Trucking presents a lot of challenges to women who choose to join the occupation, Virginia says every type of work has its own challenges that one must be willing to bear if they are to grow in their respective careers.
Virginia advises anyone looking for a truck driver to try women because they take their work more seriously compared to their male counterparts.
As the industry continues trying to attract more drivers, Virginia says she is doing her part to ensure that women are aware of the opportunities driving can provide.
She also tips women who want to get in this industry to give it a try, despite the challenges they may face, the job presents significant opportunities.
