Interested to see if this avenue could provide her with a reliable career, Kirstin reached out to the HR team at Arrow and was connected with Talent Acquisition Specialist, Trisha Mayer. Trisha worked with Kirstin discuss what it is like to be a truck driver with Arrow, connected her with the division manager and an interview was arranged. Kirstin was a natural fit for the position and so Arrow applied for funding for her to complete her MELT schooling to become a class 1 driver. Kirstin then was accepted to have the cost of her MELT schooling covered by the BC Trucking Association, was offered a letter of intent to hire by Arrow, and she attended Extreme Professional Driver Training in Kamloops. Once hired, Kirstin was behind the wheel with an Arrow mentor who took the time to get her comfortable in her new position. 

Kirstin says that while learning to drive such a large vehicle was daunting, nothing about the job is that difficult anymore. A typical shift sees her haul three loads of fibre from the Adams Lake mill to the Kamloops Chips yard. 

As this will be her first winter on the road, Kirstin says she has proactively been asking seasoned drivers for tips and has just begun winter driving training with a Driver Mentor. 

Kirstin’s advice to other young women entering this field is to ask questions. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. People here want to support you, all you have to do is ask.”