Industry Leaders

Industry leader: Corrina Riley

TRAILER MAGAZINE SAT DOWN WITH CORRINA RILEY, WHO DRIVES FOR HERNES FREIGHT SERVICES BRISBANE, TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT HER ROAD TRANSPORT JOURNEY.

What first drew you to the commercial road transport industry?

My ex-husband. We met in 2004 and for the next five years I was with him almost all of the time in his truck. I’ve always loved trucks and all things machinery and this gave me the opportunity to learn from a trucking professional.

What does a standard day for you look like?

I get up about 5am and help my 10-yearold son get ready for school. We leave home at 5.50 and I take him to beforeschool care. I get to work at Hernes Freight Service Brisbane at 6.30am ready to drive a semi-trailer, B-double, rigid truck or forklift – whatever the day brings. I finish work about 4.30pm, pick up my son and we get home around 6pm.

What has been a highlight of your career so far?

Getting my MC licence last year which my Dad graciously insisted on paying for. Prior to that I was driving a rigid truck with a landscaping company. Having my MC licence enabled me, after much persistence, to land my dream job that I have a real passion for – driving the big trucks.

What is the best thing about the transport industry?

I love being out on my own driving and

also having the opportunity to meet people. I’m a people person so being able to travel to different places and meet a lot of people along the way is amazing. Also, I haven’t come across anyone who’s said anything negative to me due to the fact that I’m a female working in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

What do you think could be improved?

I think the industry would benefit from having more women drivers because it’s widely recognised that women, on average, look after the equipment better due to our gentler approach. The industry needs to embrace this and give more women the opportunity to show how well we can do the work.

What do female-driven events in commercial road transport mean to you?

These events are doing a great job of promoting the role of women in the trucking industry. Particularly women who have been subjected to difficult situations like domestic violence. The events put on by organisations like Women in Trucking Australia give women the support they need to help them achieve their goals.

How can people and companies in the transport industry better promote it as a career choice for women?

They can promote this better by acknowledging and advertising the fact that women can handle the big equipment just as well as men. The size of the equipment doesn’t equate to either a male only or female only industry. Until Hernes gave me a go after I kept calling them every week, I found it really hard to get a job without having previous experience in a paid MC role. But I didn’t give up and my persistence was rewarded.