Salla Kalliokoski from Oulu dreamed of joining the army as a child, but transport had never crossed her mind, at least not before her conscript service at the Sodankylä garrison. When she was assigned to the maintenance company, she quickly became interested in the duties of a driver. There were several military drivers working in the company, and their example made Salla consider a new direction.
“I became more and more interested in the driver’s job as I watched them work and received constant encouragement to apply for the position,” Salla says.
Military driver training provides a solid foundation for driving heavy vehicles and understanding logistics. Kaukokiito and its owner-operators work closely with military bases, participate in Defence Forces recruitment events and offer apprenticeships to motivated drivers.
Military driver training took Salla away. Winter off-road driving in the snow and with a flatbed truck in the swamp left a lasting impression, and although reversing the truck was difficult at first, the support of her classmates helped her progress. She has particularly fond memories of her first independent driving assignment: transporting equipment to the training area and returning with a friend on a Lapland summer night when the sun never sets. “I will always remember that moment,” Salla says.
A new career at Kaukokiito through an apprenticeship
After completing her military service, Salla enrolled in logistics training, but her skills were already so strong that she quickly found herself on a work placement at Kuljetusliike Ilmari Lehtonen Oy, one of Kaukokiito’s owner-operators. The work experience was a success, and after a couple of months, Salla started an apprenticeship at the company.
Her working days are spent handling various types of groupage. Salla says that only now does she truly understand how goods are transported from the manufacturer to the customer. At the same time, she has gained confidence in customer service and in the much-practised skill of reversing a trolley.
– There is a wonderful work community here. My colleagues and supervisors are always ready to help, and the induction process was well organised. I have never had to face anything alone.
When Salla compares herself to how she was at the beginning of her military service, the difference is huge. She is braver, more confident and feels that she is in the right field. “I am proud of myself. I have developed a lot and things have fallen into place,” Salla says.
The work-life balance is good. Weekends are mostly free, so there is time for friends, family and hobbies. And what would Salla say to other conscripts who are considering driver training or a career in logistics?
– I can only recommend it. You gain a lot of useful life lessons and experience that you cannot get anywhere else. And most importantly, you are never alone in this job.
