Neha Thakur has carved out a space for herself on India’s highways in a way few imagined. From a small town in Himachal Pradesh, she has taken on a job long seen as a man’s world and made it her own. Her
journey is not just about driving a truck but about choosing courage when plans fell apart and turning a childhood wish into real work on rough mountain roads.
She is now known both on the highways and online for doing something different.
How Did Her Journey Begin?
Neha Thakur is from Sarkaghat in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district. Early on, her career path looked very different. She trained as an air hostess and later worked in Chandigarh. Life was moving in a steady direction until the 2020 lockdown brought everything to a stop. With flights grounded and work uncertain, Neha returned home, unsure of what would come next.
Back in her hometown, she found herself drawn again to something familiar. Her father, Rajesh Thakur, has been a truck driver for more than 25 years. Watching him all through her childhood had quietly planted a dream she had never acted on.
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Why Did She Choose Truck Driving?
With time on her hands and her earlier plans no longer working out, Neha decided to give that old dream a chance. She began training seriously and worked towards getting a heavy vehicle licence. In 2023, she earned her Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) licence, becoming Himachal Pradesh’s first woman truck driver.
She now drives a 16-tonne Tata truck, carrying construction materials and farm produce across state borders. Her routes often pass through steep hills, narrow roads, and sharp turns. On busy days, she drives close to 500 kilometres, handling long hours and tough terrain with focus and care.
What Does Life On The Road Look Like For Her?
Neha documents her daily work through vlogs on YouTube. Her videos show the real side of trucking, from checking tyres and managing loads to dealing with bad weather and risky mountain passes. She speaks openly about safety, discipline, and the physical demands of the job.
Her online presence has grown steadily, with a large following across YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Many viewers, especially women, see her as proof that such jobs are not off-limits.
How Is She Changing Mindsets?
Neha’s visibility has had a real-world effect. Local transport offices have seen more women apply for heavy vehicle licences since her rise online. By simply doing her job and sharing it honestly, she has pushed back against old ideas about who belongs behind the wheel of a truck.
