Female Factory Worker Becomes 10-Wheeler Truck Driver
By hereandthere
@hereandthere (45628)
Philippines
April 23, 2017 2:16am CST
Rokiah Salim is a 51-year-old single mother to 2 sons in Malaysia who made the unusual career switch from factory worker to driving a 40-feet long, single-axle, 10-wheeler truck 3 years ago.
She picks up and delivers empty containers for repair from Penang Port to a depot. Her quota is at least 150 trips per month.
Rokiah Salim says, "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 it a point to apply make-up, no matter how dirty it gets."
"In our world today, we can’t just sit and wait for a job to fall into our lap. 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."
"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!"
Here in our neighborhood, we have 2 female tricycle drivers. Years ago, I've also ridden a city bus with a female driver once, and have ridden a taxi with a female driver once. This was way before Uber, Grab or Lyft.
However, an online commenter at freemalaysiatoday.com said female drivers are not new to him or her since he or she has also seen women driving forklifts, tractors and bulldozers before.
How about you?
News Source:
BUTTERWORTH, April 23 ? With her signature pink boots, Rokiah Salim climbs effortlessly and takes her seat behind the wheel of her 40-feet long 10-wheeler. She has done her best to give the cabin a feminine touch. Besides the butterfly
20 people like this
21 responses
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
23 Apr 17
amazing! what about carpenters, electricians and plumbers?
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
23 Apr 17
@hereandthere I have seen great women carpenters, I know for sure an electricians, I do not remember if I have ever seen plumbers.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
23 Apr 17
that's the word - girl power. i felt so proud of her, even if she's in another country.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
24 Apr 17
@JustBhem in some countries there is an imbalance, there are more males than females because males are favored.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
23 Apr 17
@hereandthere
Who runs the world? Girls! Lol
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
15 May 17
@hereandthere Well, I took a driver's education class in high school at 15 year old (I think) but my parents thought I was too young to take any real tests. So I think it was when I was 17 my dad taught me to drive - and when I was almost 18 I got my first car. But never have I ever driven a big, big truck!!! How about you?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 May 17
@much2say was never interested in driving. i was even bad at bumper cars because i kept screaming. hahaha! how about lawn mowers? hehe.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
15 May 17
have you driven cars all your life?
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24119)
• United Kingdom
23 Apr 17
So now you can apply for a job and aspire to be just like her!
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
23 Apr 17
i don't drive, but i'm always happy to read stories like this.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
25 Apr 17
some people have what i call innate or native intelligence. they observe, analyze and learn well on their own even with limited formal education.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121254)
• United States
25 Apr 17
What a woman! I admire her greatly. She's so right about not being able to wait for the perfect job to just drop in your lap. I have a female cousin who used to be a truck driver. She didn't love the job, but at the time she needed a job, and she needed it quickly. After doing that for a few years she started teaching part time at a local college.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
26 Apr 17
any honest job where you're not using or cheating other people is much better. one of her son is studying to be an engineer, while the other to be a teacher.
with your cousin, i think some bridges have to be crossed and for her it was trucking. but i think even with those jobs you learn something, about people, situations, skills, and yourself.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
25 Apr 17
good to know. now i remember that we have female pilots.
1 person likes this
But it is really nice that she has found a job which she enjoys 
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
25 Apr 17
true, and i feel lucky i've encountered them at least once (the bus driver and the taxi driver)
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
24 Apr 17
@hereandthere Rokiah Salim ,I am sure is a role model to many hard working women.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
24 Apr 17
rokiah salim says she earns more driving and manages her own schedule
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
26 Apr 17
@hereandthere Nice to see a woman working in her own terms--which is rare.
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
29 Apr 17
She's correct. Nowadays, we don't need to wait for work to find our -- even better. One thing that is different now is that the number of women doing men's work have increased.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
23 Apr 17
It is not unusual here in Canada . Women do all sorts of jobs that were typically associated with men.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
23 Apr 17
i haven't seen female carpenters, plumbers and electricians yet
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
24 Apr 17
heres to the women taking up all types of jobs.1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
24 Apr 17
are there women who drive public transportation in india?
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
13 May 17
and both of her sons are in college now.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
24 Apr 17
Yes, I have known of some women who drives trucks for a living. In fact before, it was at Jessica Soho I think that a Filipina is driving a truck abroad.
@jstory07 (148782)
• Roseburg, Oregon
24 Apr 17
That is a good job to have to make money to support a family.
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Apr 17
O, here in Canada there are lots of female bus drivers, truck drivers, carpenters, and so on.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
26 Apr 17
I don't want to drive a truck but good for her!! There is good money for driving big trucks and i think its a great job for any woman who is strong and determined.
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
23 Apr 17
it just shows that we can do men's jobs as well.
if you watch History Channel, there is a series abour women truck drivers who drive big trucks in dangerous roads, like mountainous narrow roads in Nepal or China, and they do the task with ease.
@manasamanu (3797)
• Bangalore, India
23 Apr 17
Even I have seen many. There are so many women drivers who ride 3 wheelers to big trucks. We should be proud of them and support for their hard work.
