Juha-Matti was five years old when he first got into the cab of a big truck. After that, his career path was set: he wanted to be a driver when he grew up. He completed a vocational qualification in logistics and obtained his HGV licence during his military service at the age of 19. As soon as he returned home, he got behind the wheel of a tanker, working for years in the family business owned by his uncles, where his father also drove. Although he did not own the company, Juha-Matti was able to follow the transport business at a close range. The idea began to take root in his mind.
Juha-Matti carried milk for 17 years, until he started to long for a more regular routine and free weekends.
– My brother was driving in Joensuu for Kuljetusliike Kantola & Koramo – one of Kaukokiito’s owner-operators – and he suggested I send an application. I did and got the job. I was sceptical at first: my driving experience was with companies that only owned a few vehicles, and I was afraid that I would become just another driver among so many others in a big company. My fears proved groundless. We have a great team and the atmosphere is good, there’s a lot of humour going around and you always feel good about going to work, Juha-Matti says.
Juha-Matti had been working at Kaukokiito for a couple of years when he casually mentioned an idea to his workmates: what would it take to get his own truck on the road? Toni Sandholm, Regional Manager in Joensuu, was present and listened with a keen ear. Toni called Juha-Matti a week later and asked him to come over to find out if he was really interested in starting entrepreneurship.
– I expressed my interest right then and there. Since then, Kantola & Koramo has supported my entrepreneurial journey in many ways: in finding suitable routes, vehicle financing, and cost calculation. They have been a tremendous help, and I could not be more grateful, says Juha-Matti.
– We wanted to build an entrepreneurial path for Juha-Matti that allowed him to start his own business with as little risk as possible. This is also a way for us to solve our recruitment challenges: the man has the drive, the right attitude, and we want to keep him in the fold, says Toni Sandholm.
– To me, entrepreneurship is about commitment and responsibility. My family’s older generation has a long tradition in transport entrepreneurship, and I feel proud to be part of this legacy, says Juha-Matti.
Subcontractors sharing the entrepreneurial spirit
There are many similar stories of people becoming entrepreneurs in the history of Kaukokiito. The transport company Kuljetusliike Y. Auramaa Oy, an owner-operator company for Kaukokiito, has about 20 current subcontractors who have started as transport entrepreneurs through a tailored entrepreneurial path. All of them previously worked for Auramaa or one of its subcontractors as a driver.
At Auramaa, drivers who dream of self-employment can start as contract drivers, using company equipment, so they can try their wings as entrepreneurs with minimal risk. Afterwards, we review the situation together and discuss the next step – that is getting your own vehicle.
– We buy more than 20 new vehicles each year, which allows us to negotiate a more reasonable price level for our subcontractors. We also offer in-house financing for their vehicles, in addition to the standard leasing options that manufacturers provide, says Auramaa’s Production Manager Juho Auramaa.
Not only does the Kaukokiito chain wish to support the entrepreneurial path of talented drivers, but the employer also stands to benefit from the model.
– Our operations have grown and we now employ almost 500 people at Auramaa alone. From a risk management perspective, it makes sense to maintain a balance between subcontractors and in-house employees. The subcontractors share the same entrepreneurial spirit and responsibility that we have in the family businesses that own Kaukokiito, and help is available mutually. Our subcontractors play a significant role in keeping production running, and the level of trust is at 100%, Juho praises.
The transport sector is expected to face a shortage of skilled professionals in the future. That’s why Kaukokiito is working to boost the appeal of both the chain and the logistics industry as a whole. Subcontractor networks also play a major role here: – They manage to find great drivers for the chain within their own networks, says Juho.
