Being an international truck driver is already remarkable, but it's truly unique when you operate a truck alongside your spouse. For Tomasz (49) and Agnieszka (43) Trojnacki, this is their daily reality. Why did they choose this path? How do they find it? And what special experiences have they had at De Rooy? They share everything in this interview.
Tomasz and Agnieszka met 26 years ago in the provincial hospital of Legnica, a city in southwestern Poland. The spark ignited immediately. Six years later, Tomasz started working as an international truck driver and eventually joined our company sixteen years ago. Tomasz: "A friend of mine already worked here and recommended De Rooy to me. So, I applied and started working here."
For years, Tomasz drove alone, and he and his wife often didn't see each other for weeks. Agnieszka: "It could be lonely." Missing each other, Agnieszka decided to change that by becoming an international truck driver, too. Tomasz: "After a conversation with De Rooy, they agreed to hire my wife. Now, we've been working together for almost four years."
Not everyone can imagine being in the same space with their partner every day. For Agnieszka and Tomasz, it's different. Agnieszka: "We love it! For years, we saw each other very little, and now we have the chance to spend a lot of time together." How do they ensure it stays pleasant in the cabin? "We try to be understanding towards each other, and we make sure we can rely on one another. When you work together so much, you need to be able to depend on each other."
The Trojnacki couple didn't choose just any industry to drive for. High & heavy transport is much more complex than, for example, general cargo. Quite challenging, especially for Agnieszka, who has only been working in this field for four years. "I had to get used to it; transporting such large and heavy loads is sometimes nerve-wracking. But you get used to it quickly. Although it's not an easy job, we both find it very interesting." Tomasz: "After all these years, it still fascinates me."
The fact that it continues to fascinate them is also because they experience many exciting things on the road. "Once, during winter in Germany, we experienced something we'll never forget. We stopped for a nightly break at a parking lot at the bottom of a hill. It’d snowed heavily, and as we were going downhill, we realized we couldn't go any further because of the snow.
We wanted to reverse, but we couldn't maneuver due to the weather conditions. So, we decided to drive down, not to block the road. The next morning, we found out that we weren't the only ones stuck: two other colleagues from De Rooy were also snowed in. We then asked for help from some snowplows that happened to pass by. Fortunately, the drivers were kind enough to clear the parking lot for us and tow us up the hill."
Tomasz and Agnieszka often find themselves in adventures. Agnieszka: "What we found very exciting is that we had to transport the trucks for the Dakar Rally to the port of Marseille. That was such a unique experience. It's a different load than 'ordinary' trucks and tractors. It's truly a job full of challenges and adventure."
Would you also love to experience various adventures as an international truck driver? You can! Check out all our job openings here and apply.