Emmelie Defied the Stereotypes – Now She Drives a Truck on the Other Side of the World
Despite the vast distance between our phones, her voice is clear and filled with excitement. The 21-year-old from northern Jutland, Denmark, has taken an unusual leap in her career and now finds herself behind the wheel of a 26-meter-long truck, far from the Danish highways.
The Road to an Australian Adventure
Emmelie trained at Vendelbo Spedition and had always dreamed of testing her skills with big trucks abroad. During the early stages of her education, she watched the TV show The Young Truck Drivers, in which one of the participants was driving in Canada. It sparked something in her, so when she was contacted by Scandimate, which was looking for Danish drivers for a new project in Australia, it didn’t take much consideration—without hesitation, she said yes and packed her suitcase.
Today, she drives for Western Freight Management, transporting mail between terminals on routes ranging from 3 to 14 hours of driving, with some journeys stretching up to 1,270 km each way. Emmelie primarily works night shifts, but this has its advantages, as the time difference means her friends and family in Denmark are awake, allowing her to talk to them on the phone while driving. Her daily life is marked by long and irregular shifts, sometimes driving for 48 hours with only 24 hours off. This lifestyle creates a rhythm where sleep and work are the main elements of her life. That’s why it’s so important to enjoy your job, she explains.
"As a truck driver, you can’t be afraid of your own company, and it also helps if you enjoy music and podcasts," she says with a smile in her voice.
Freedom with Responsibility
The work culture is more relaxed than in Denmark, and she experiences a great deal of freedom with responsibility. Her employer trusts her judgment, which gives her a sense of autonomy that she deeply values. When you find yourself in the middle of Australia’s dark landscape at night, far from a repair shop, with a flat tire, you must be able to make your own decisions. This level of responsibility can also be challenging when unexpected situations arise, as she is expected to handle them herself. "But that’s how you grow," she says proudly.
Since April 2024, Emmelie has been living in Sydney, where she enjoys the fact that it’s practically summer all year round. During her first month, housing was arranged for her, but she now shares a house with four other Danish truck drivers. Although they are rarely home at the same time, it’s nice to have a group around, so she doesn’t feel completely alone on the other side of the world. She is the only woman in the house, but that doesn’t bother her—she has always felt comfortable in male-dominated environments.
From Prejudice to Role Model – Emmelie Paves the Way for Women in the Transport Industry
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry comes with both advantages and challenges. Some men believe that women don’t belong in the field, while others see her as tough as nails. She often gets a second glance when she jumps out of the truck cab, simply because people aren’t used to seeing a woman behind the wheel of such a large vehicle.
The biggest skepticism arises when she’s unloading cargo: "Some colleagues practically run over to help me, even when I don’t need it. They often underestimate my abilities because I don’t look like much," she says. On the other hand, it’s sometimes nice to get a helping hand on days when everything seems to go wrong.
She has encountered prejudice before, especially in Denmark. Once, a customer refused to believe she was driving alone and repeatedly asked where her co-driver was. It can be frustrating, but Emmelie chooses to take it in stride. She knows she is just as competent as her male colleagues—and statistics actually show that women have fewer accidents in large vehicles because they tend to drive more cautiously. "We don’t have the same need to flex our muscles on the road," she says with a laugh.
She has noticed that more and more women are entering the industry, which she sees as a positive development, though progress is slow. In this regard, she believes the Nordic countries could learn from Australia, where companies take a more proactive approach to recruiting women. According to Emmelie, Denmark should do more to promote the career opportunities available in the transport sector, as she feels the industry suffers from many misconceptions.
Her advice to other women considering a job in a male-dominated field is simple:
"Don’t take everything so seriously. There will always be people who think you don’t belong—but that’s their problem, not yours. Believe in yourself and your abilities and take the rest with a smile."