Full Breakdown
Neha Thakur’s Journey from Air-Hostess Trainee to Himachal Pradesh’s First Woman Truck Driver
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: A Career Switch Amid a Pandemic
Neha Thakur, a 25-year-old from Khudla village in Sarkaghat, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, left a training program for air-hostesses after the COVID-19 pandemic crippled the aviation sector. She subsequently obtained a Heavy Motor Vehicle licence in 2023 at age 21 and began operating a heavy-goods truck, becoming the state’s first woman truck driver.
Background & Context
Neha grew up traveling with her father, a long-time truck driver, who would drop her at school in his vehicle. This early exposure sparked a fascination with trucks that persisted through her schooling. After completing graduation, she moved to Chandigarh for air-hostess training, but the pandemic-induced downturn in aviation prompted her return to Mandi, where she pursued truck driving with her father’s support.
Data & Statistics
- Age & Licence: 25 years old; Heavy Motor Vehicle licence earned in 2023.
- Vehicle Capacity: Sources differ, reporting a 12-tonne Tata truck and a 16-tonne Tata truck.
- Social-Media Reach (2026): YouTube following exceeds 4.5 lakh; Instagram following reported at over 8 lakh.
- Routes: Initially local trips, later interstate journeys transporting construction material and agricultural produce, covering “hundreds of kilometres” per trip.
Official Statements & Responses
Neha emphasizes personal agency, urging other women to pursue non-traditional fields despite societal expectations. She notes that criticism initially challenged her but ultimately motivated her to persist, and she highlights the importance of confidence and self-trust in navigating career changes.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Father’s Name: Indiatimes identifies her father as Manoj Thakur, while Economic Times names him Rajesh Thakur.
- Truck Tonnage: Indiatimes describes the vehicle as a 12-tonne Tata truck; Economic Times describes it as a 16-tonne Tata truck. The discrepancy remains unresolved in the available sources.
Why It Matters
Neha’s visibility on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram provides a rare glimpse into the daily realities of heavy-vehicle operation, especially on Himachal’s mountainous roads. Her content showcases challenges like narrow passes, fog, and monsoon conditions, potentially reshaping public perception of women in logistics and encouraging broader acceptance of gender-diverse participation in the sector.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All of this criticism did affect me, but I made that my strength,” — India. Neha
- “My message is simple: if you have a dream, don’t let the size of your town restrict it,” — India. Neha
What’s Next
Neha plans to continue combining her trucking work with digital content creation, using her camera to document further journeys across India’s highways.