Left air hostess training to drive a 16-tonne truck: Meet 25-year-old Neha Thakur, Himachal Pradesh’s first woman truck driver who now travels across India

For Neha Thakur, the road to becoming a truck driver began long before she took control of a heavy vehicle. The 25-year-old from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, grew up watching her father drive trucks through the state's challenging mountain roads. Years later, after training for a career in aviation, she returned to that childhood fascination and chose trucking as her profession.

Neha, from Khudla village in Sarkaghat, Mandi district, is now widely recognised as Himachal Pradesh's first woman truck driver. She drives a 16-tonne Tata truck and also documents her life on the road through videos and vlogs on social media.

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Neha Thakur's childhood connection with trucks

Trucks were familiar to Neha from an early age because her father, Rajesh Thakur, has spent more than two decades working as a truck driver. Neha has recalled travelling with him during her childhood and developing an interest in the vehicle.


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In one of her social-media videos, she spoke about how her father would even take her to school in his truck. That early exposure eventually became more than a childhood fascination.

Her father's profession also meant that Neha was familiar with the realities of life on the road, including long journeys and the challenges of driving through Himachal's hilly terrain.

She trained to become an air hostess before choosing truck driving

After completing her graduation, Neha moved to Chandigarh and underwent training to become an air hostess. She subsequently worked in the aviation sector, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her career plans.

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With the aviation industry severely affected during the pandemic, Neha returned to her hometown. It was during this period of uncertainty that she began considering truck driving more seriously.

Rather than continuing on the conventional career path she had initially chosen, Neha decided to explore the profession that had fascinated her since childhood.

Neha Thakur learned to drive a heavy truck

Switching from aviation to truck driving required Neha to acquire an entirely different set of skills. She trained to operate a heavy commercial vehicle and learned the practicalities of handling gears, clutch and brakes.

She obtained her Heavy Motor Vehicle licence in 2023 at the age of 21. Her father supported her decision and helped her gain experience behind the wheel of the family truck.

Neha initially drove shorter local routes before gradually taking on longer journeys. She now drives a 16-tonne Tata truck and has been reported transporting construction material and agricultural produce across different routes.

"I drive a truck just like my father"

For Neha, truck driving is closely linked to her relationship with her father and the memories of travelling with him.

Her journey has also meant dealing with questions and criticism surrounding a young woman entering a profession traditionally dominated by men. However, she continued to build her experience on the road.

In an earlier account of her journey, Neha said that criticism did affect her, but she chose to use it as motivation.

"All of this criticism did affect me, but I made that my strength," Neha said.

Her experience has gradually changed the way people view her profession, particularly through the visibility created by her social-media videos.

Neha Thakur's truck-driving vlogs go viral

Truck driving is only one part of Neha's digital journey. She began documenting her experiences through vlogs, giving viewers a glimpse into the daily routine of a heavy-vehicle driver.

Her videos cover long-distance journeys, life on highways and the practical challenges associated with truck driving. She has also shared content around aspects such as tyre pressure, driving during the monsoon and navigating difficult roads.

The videos helped her build a sizeable social-media audience. Reports in 2026 have put her YouTube following at more than 4.5 lakh, while her Instagram following has also crossed several lakh.

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What Neha's truck-driver vlogs show about life on the road

Behind the viral videos is a demanding profession. Long-distance truck driving can involve extended hours on the road, unpredictable weather, irregular meals and time away from family.

For Neha, mountain driving adds another layer of difficulty. Narrow roads, sharp turns, fog, rain and changing road conditions require constant attention.

Her vlogs allow viewers to see these less visible aspects of trucking while also showing the routine involved in operating a heavy vehicle.

Neha Thakur's message: Don't let your background limit your dreams

Neha's story has evolved from a childhood spent travelling in her father's truck to a career of her own behind the wheel.

She has also spoken about not allowing the size of one's hometown to restrict one's ambitions.

"My message is simple: if you have a dream, don’t let the size of your town restrict it," Neha said.

Today, her truck and camera travel together. One allows her to earn a living on the highways, while the other lets her document a profession that many people rarely see from the driver's seat.


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