“We drive aaram se,” says Riya, a 24-year-old longhaul truck driver. The Hindi phrase means taking one’s time, not rushing and not stressing.
She and her husband Jot Chahal, also 24, are team drivers for Milton, Ont.-based SSP Truck Line, hauling flatbed freight across Canada and the United States.
The journey is as important as the destination for this young couple, who focus on sleep, exercise and spirituality, while ensuring delivery and pick-up deadlines are met.
They move with the cadence of their freight and logbooks, mostly heading out from Canada into the U.S. on a Saturday and returning with a load on Thursday. “If we are heading to California, we sometimes leave on Friday, so we don’t have to rush for a Monday delivery,” Riya said.
Since they work together, there is no need to get back home quickly.
Jot has been trucking for four years, starting out with longhaul dry van and reefer loads for the first two years.
Not wanting to stay home by herself, Riya traveled with him for about six months, getting first-hand experience of life on the road. That’s when the trucking bug bit her and she got her commercial driver’s license two years ago.
Keen to drive as a team, Riya said most couples who drive together haul van freight, but they wanted something different and more challenging. They found work as flatbed drivers. The company that hired them provided training on load securement and tarping.
Riya says that over the past couple of years they have seen different types of loads and have gained experience and confidence in securing them. If the load is strapped or chained down too tightly, the freight might get damaged, and it can’t be loose either. Finding the right balance is key, she noted.
Riya said she managed OK with heavy tarps, and Jot was always around to lend a helping hand. They began working at SSP Truck Line last year, and the carrier mostly uses roll-tite trailers, eliminating the need for tarping loads.
Safe driving
Jot said although safety is a priority for a professional driver, having one’s spouse in the truck, whether riding shotgun or sleeping in the bunk, brings about an increased level of caution and safe driving.
Riya added they depend on each other on the road, and she feels safe and comfortable with Jot around as she works. “When you drive solo, sometimes you could get depressed or encounter negative feelings. We have no such issues,” she said.
The young drivers are also acutely aware that their loads can be top-heavy. They said they are extra cautious on ramps and turns and avoid hard braking.
The way to a man’s heart is his stomach, and Jot is happy with the fresh food they now eat. He recalls when he used to drive solo, he’d eat five-day-old rotis (flat round bread) on the road. Riya admits with a laugh that she was not very good at cooking and sometimes the rotis used to turn into papads (crispy Indian crackers).
They admit they are not cooking as much as they would like on the road. For a proper meal, they’d have to park for a couple of hours as it is not safe to cook in a moving truck. Cleaning the pots, pans and dishes on the road is also a hassle.
Physical and mental wellbeing
This next generation of truck drivers understand they can’t burn the candle at both ends. During their trips, they stop regularly at gyms to work out. They also spend time at places of worship when possible, saying that it boosts their spirituality and peace of mind.
Looking toward the future, this young couple has already bought a home. They married in court but have put their big Indian wedding plans on hold as they are focused on starting a business first.
They’ve also begun vlogging on YouTube where they showcase their work and lifestyle. Riya is also keen to motivate women, especially young girls, to take up driving jobs. She added if she can work as a flatbed truck driver, they can too.
