Kimberley’s blazing a trail to success

For most of her childhood she was surrounded by big trucks and equipment. Small wonder then that Kimberley Maynard found herself behind the wheel of some of the most powerful, imposing vehicles on the island’s roads, commanding the admiration of onlookers and the respect of her male colleagues.

The 39-year-old mother has been grabbing the attention of many over the past few years, commanding the position as the lone female oil-tanker driver on the island. In fact, she is more than certain that she may be the only woman doing this job in the Caribbean.

It is a distinction that the Rubis Caribbean employee is honoured to have and takes particular pride in representing females in a profession that is male-dominated.

The Vaucluse, St Thomas resident told Barbados TODAY that by the time she was 18-years-old she was already the holder of a heavy-duty driver’s licence, and as a teenager, she was expertly operating excavators and skid-steer loaders, commonly referred to as bob-cats.

“I started working with my uncle, who operates A. Maynard Trucking. That’s where she got my first job,” she recalls.

However, about four years ago, life changed for Kimberley when she joined the team at Rubis. “I was working on contract first, and then I was put on staff. At Rubis, I started on the smaller trucks first.

“They are called the rigid trucks and then I moved on to the bigger stuff. I applied at first to be a driver, but then when I got in, I started with the smaller trucks. I trained on all the trucks and as I progressed I was put on the small automatic trucks first, then moved to the small stick shift trucks.”

Proving that she was competent to handle the big oil tankers, she was given the opportunity to demonstrate her capabilities after an extended period of training and preparation.

Today, with a broad smile and cheerful disposition, Kimberley quipped: “I drive the big tankers like everybody else and it doesn’t make a difference.”

But Kimberley, who is one half of a twin with sister Keisha Maynard, knows that it is not all glamour. Hers is a dangerous job, with the possibility of a calamitous outcome any time she opens the door of the vehicle and takes it to the street.

She acknowledges that an accident could be disastrous. However, Kimberly said her continuous safety and first-aid training contribute to her calm composure on the road. Fire safety training is continuous because of the inherent danger of her cargo.

“We do quite a bit of training. That training has to be updated and ongoing, particularly when we are operating in facilities like the Arawak Cement Plant in St Lucy … I know that I am carrying hundreds of gallons of fuel that could explode under certain conditions. But I believe our training prepares us for anything.

“I try not to think about it. I am careful when I do my job. Each morning, I say a prayer and concentrate on what I am doing. People seem to think it is glamorous and that all you do is drive a truck, but it is also about delivering the fuel safely to the gas stations.”

She admits to reading the stories of oil tanker disasters around the world.

“To some extent I try not to think about what’s in the back because it is dangerous when it is full and just as dangerous when it’s empty because the fumes are also very flammable.

“I get in my truck, keep my head clear, be calm, say a little prayer and move off. If I think too much about what’s in the truck, I couldn’t do this job.”

Asked how she is treated by her male colleagues, Kimberley said: “The majority of the other drivers knew I had been driving trucks for a long time. They know I’m an experienced driver.

“Working with the guys is not a problem. They don’t treat me any different. They carry me along scruffy, just like anybody else. I get no special treatment and that is exactly how I like it,” she said with a laugh.

The Springer Memorial graduate is proud of her accident-free record. She appeals to other road users to steer clear of these tankers and avoid taking unnecessary chances around them.

“It is dangerous. We drive at a maximum of 50 km per hour and people seem to like to zip in and out in front of us. If there is a safe opening, yes. But if it’s not safe, please don’t do it,” she warned.

“Please stay back behind the truck. When outside is wet, for example, you don’t know what can happen. If you come in front of a truck and just brake, that can be very dangerous.”

Determined that this is the career for her, Kimberley said “driving is what I love”.

The mother of three, a 15-year-old son and a twin boy and girl who are five years old, she revealed that her twin sister Keisha is also blazing a trail as well, as a driver at the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA).

“People stare at me a lot. But many people also cheer me on. They tell me, ‘they can’t stop you girl!’ And they are so right.”

Kimberley says she loves that she is part of that group of young women who are breaking barriers for other women to follow. (IMC1)