Family
Trucking runs in the Grünberg family: Nikki’s father, brother, uncle, and aunt are all truck drivers. And it seems that the love for the profession is in their blood, as Nikki also wanted to obtain her truck driver’s license as soon as she turned 18. However, her father insisted that she gain experience in a car first. She was just 19 when she obtained her C/CE driver’s license within two months. “My driving instructor knew my father too, and he said, ‘You can really tell that you’ve been riding along since you were a little girl because you already know all the buttons!'” Nikki explains.
Why Versteijnen?
Initially, Nikki worked at a temp agency and drove trucks back and forth to France at night. “After a break of a few months, I started working for a charter company, where I also had the opportunity to drive for Versteijnen during the day.” She noticed that day shifts were different and that the greater variety of tasks appealed to her. “I realized that I didn’t want to leave anymore. My former employer at the charter company and my current employer at Versteijnen talked to each other, and that’s how I was hired.”
Girls who drive
Nikki experiences few differences in tasks compared to her male colleagues. “I also sometimes have to handle 1000L IBCs or stubborn tarps, despite my height of 1.58 meters.” It may be a male-dominated world, but Nikki finds the interactions hilarious. “Dry humor and sometimes a bit coarse, but I can handle it, and I’m not shy myself. I find it great to see more and more women in the logistics industry.”
‘Oh Grünberg, we know you!’
In her four years of trucking, Nikki has met many new people who make her work valuable. She explains, “We have an address in Hoek van Holland where I had to go. The first time, I had no idea where to go. I arrived at the security guard – you don’t expect people to know you – he looks at my passport and says, ‘Oh Grünberg, we know you! You’re the daughter of.’ I won’t forget such things easily.” Nikki also feels a lot of appreciation for her work. “I’m not perfect, of course, but I do what is expected of me, and at Versteijnen, I am appreciated.”
‘Snapte junior’
Nikki’s cabin is clean and tidy. “At home, it’s cozy and filled with decorations and trinkets, so I keep it calm in my work environment.” There is a sign in the cabin that says ‘Snapte junior.’ The meaning behind it relates to her father’s catchphrase. “My father also had a sign that said ‘Snapte?’ Everyone recognized him by that. So, on my sign, it says ‘Snapte junior.’ Other drivers also always recognize me by that. It’s really nice.”
Work with variety
According to Nikki, trucking involves more than most people think. “Every day, you do different things: sometimes you use the forklift, other times the pallet jack, and then the loading ramp. They keep it exciting here, but the variety also makes it enjoyable!” Not only the variety, but also the ability to vary in break locations appeals to Nikki. “My favorite stop is at the McDonald’s in Hendrik Ido Ambacht,” she says with a laugh. “They have a parking lot where there’s always space to enjoy a milkshake in the summer.”
