Iaeli Pemberton

Iaeli grew up in Kiribati and worked as a forklift driver before she drove trucks. She liked driving big machinery, but she didn’t want to get stuck in a warehouse. She wanted to move around the country.

Getting in was the hard part. She applied for plenty of truck-driving jobs and never got the phone call she was hoping for. Then a former boss, who knew Rod Alexander, put her forward: a young woman who worked hard and wanted to drive trucks. That earned her a driving assessment with one of our driver trainers, who saw what she had. Little experience, but a good head on her shoulders.

Five and a half years on, Iaeli drives Class 5 dangerous goods runs, carrying gas cylinders and ISO tanks. She’s driven as far south as Dunedin, delivering to Speight’s Brewery, and as far north as Whangārei. Her first regular run was to Kapuni in South Taranaki, off State Highway 3, and it’s still her favourite stretch of road.

For three and a half years her truck was Yellow Rose, the only yellow truck in the fleet, named after Rod Alexander’s daughter, Rose. “I’ve learned a lot with this truck.”

There’s more to the job than driving. Every load is checked off before it leaves: an ISO tank has to be at the right pressure so it doesn’t vent on the road. Cylinders on a flat deck can look intimidating, she says, but with the right training, the right gear in the cab and everything compliant, “you’ll comfortably tow that load anywhere in the country.”

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without someone like Kenny or the teammates that I work with.” Iaeli describes Kenny Rangi as a driver trainer and a father figure who’s always there when you need him.

Everybody looks after everyone, everyone helps everyone and they learn from each other. Alexander Group gave her the opportunity, then the trainers, tools and equipment to build her experience the right way.

Show your interest. If you’ve got family or friends in the industry, let them know you want in, so they can help you take the first step. It was a hard road for Iaeli to get where she is, which is why the opportunity meant so much.

If you notice anything unusual on a truck or trailer, flash your headlights consistently. It tells the driver something’s wrong that they can’t see in their mirrors or from their blind spots.