Women are rewriting the rules. Across the globe, they're challenging traditional gender roles and making their mark in every field imaginable.
In Namibia, Aili  Hosea, a 33-year-old driver at Unitrans Namibia, is leading the charge in the trucking industry, becoming the country's first female driver of abnormal trucks with double trailers.
Her passion for heavy equipment began at the age of 20 when she witnessed a young woman operating a fire truck. “While everyone else was focused on the fire, I couldn’t take my eyes off the truck and the lady behind the wheel,” she recalled. Driven by curiosity and determination, that moment sparked her resolve to pursue a career operating heavy machinery.
Cherishing the memory of the woman she once saw driving a fire truck, Hosea completed her studies and began her journey at the Swakopmund Municipality, where she trained as a firefighter. While the training equipped her with essential skills, she lacked the license required to operate fire trucks. She furthered her studies and, in 2017, obtained her Code C1 driving license, which landed her dream job with Omega SC as a fire truck operator.
Eager to advance her career, Hosea enrolled at the NamWater Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) in 2018 to study Heavy Equipment Operation, earning her Level 3 certification. In 2019, she upgraded to a Code C driving license and joined Unitrans Namibia. Through their training program, she obtained her Code CE license, allowing her to drive abnormal trucks with double trailers. Today, she operates large vehicles transporting salt from the salt pans to Namport Harbour and handles a front-end loader machine.
Like most women who venture into male-dominated industries, Hosea admitted she faced her share of obstacles. “The physical demands, especially handling heavy equipment and hooking trailers, can be challenging,” she admitted. However, her resilience and adaptability have seen her through.
She further narrated how she had to confront biases and stereotypes from many of her male colleagues, but her resilience and determination helped her overcome them. “During training, male drivers doubted my abilities. But I focused on my skills and proved them wrong. Now, I drive well, if not better than, many of them,” she said.
With her impressive list of achievements, she is Unitrans’ and Namibia’s first female driver of abnormal trucks with double trailers, a proud Code CE license holder, and a certified heavy equipment operator.
According to Hosea, her groundbreaking success has inspired other women to pursue careers in trucking. “I’ve met so many women who tell me they want to join the industry after seeing me drive,” she said, explaining that some of her female friends have started working toward obtaining their licenses.
To women considering a career in trucking, Hosea encourages them to believe in themselves and ignore negativity, no matter the circumstances. “Believe in yourself and ignore the negativity. Start small, even with a basic license; it will open doors to bigger opportunities. The industry values ability, not gender,” she advised. Seeing potential in those showing an interest in what she does, she encouraged Namibian women to enroll in trucking courses.
She describes the trucking industry as challenging for beginners yet full of opportunities, as the industry values their potential, and companies like Unitrans Namibia are actively recruiting and training female drivers. She believes more women need to pursue the necessary qualifications to meet the industry’s demand.
She concluded by giving her message of hope to women across the country, encouraging them to seize every opportunity, especially in male-dominated industries, as they recognize women with great potential and treat them with the utmost respect while ensuring they are treated equally. “To my fellow women, job opportunities in the trucking industry and other industries you consider male-dominated await you. With hard work and determination, you can achieve your dreams. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are great careers,” she encouraged.
Hosea’s story is not just breaking barriers but building roads of opportunity for women in Namibia’s trucking industry and those wishing to pursue a career in any male-dominated field. Her story is a testament to perseverance, skill, and the belief that no dream is too big to chase.