Neha Thakur, Himachal Pradesh’s truck driver and first woman truck vlogger, is challenging deep-rooted gender stereotypes by steering trucks in the state’s demanding highways.
The 23-year-old from Sarkaghat in Mandi district traces her dream back to childhood journeys with her father, a truck driver, through Himachal’s mist-covered hills.
“I watched him navigate sharp turns and foggy passes, dreaming of gripping the steering wheel myself,” Neha recalls in a vlog. While her passion grew, society remained skeptical, often dismissing her ambition with taunts like, “Girls don’t drive trucks.”
Defying Stereotypes and Taking the Wheel
Unfazed by criticism, Neha enrolled in a driving school at the age of 21 and earned her heavy motor vehicle licence in 2023.
That year, she became Himachal Pradesh’s woman truck driver and first YouTuber in the respective feild, marking a personal milestone and a symbolic breakthrough in the male-dominated logistics sector.
Today, she drives a 16-tonne Tata truck, transporting construction material and farm produce across interstate routes and covering up to 500 kilometres daily on Himachal’s challenging roads.
Vlogging from the Driver’s Seat
Alongside trucking, Neha launched her YouTube channel to document her journey and educate viewers about road safety. Her content includes tyre inspections, load balancing, monsoon driving, and safe overtaking on hill roads.
These videos struck a chord with audiences, helping her channel cross 50,000 subscribers by December 2025, with some videos garnering over five lakh views.
Through her vlogs, Neha aims to demystify truck driving for women and inspire others to consider the profession.
Impact Beyond the Screen
Neha’s growing visibility has translated into real-world change. The Mandi Regional Transport Office reported a 15% increase in women applying for heavy vehicle licences, crediting her influence and online advocacy.
Officials have publicly acknowledged her role in encouraging women to enter the transport sector.
Local traders in Mandi have also come to rely on her services, citing her punctuality, safety record, and professionalism.
Himachal Pradesh’s terrain presents daily challenges-narrow roads, landslide-prone slopes, and relentless monsoon rains.
“Those runs taught me resilience-trucks don’t stop for stereotypes,” she said, reflecting on the experience.
A Father’s Faith and Family Support
At the heart of Neha’s journey is her father, Rajesh Thakur, a truck driver with over 25 years of experience. He supported her ambition from the start, modifying their home truck for practice sessions and ignoring neighbourhood criticism.
“I saw fire in her eyes. Why clip her wings?” he said, underlining the role of family support in her success.
Part of a Larger Shift
Neha’s story aligns with broader changes in Himachal’s transport sector. In 2024, the state organised women-only driver training camps to address a driver shortage, licensing 150 women.
Nationally, the number of women heavy vehicle drivers rose from 400 in 2022 to 1,200 in 2025, though women still constitute less than 2% of India’s truck drivers.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Neha Thakur steers us towards a kinder world, where empathy erodes barriers and courage paves roads to coexistence.
At The Logical Indian, we champion such harmony-stories proving gender norms yield to shared dreams and dialogue.
Her vlogs foster understanding in male bastions, urging society to amplify women’s voices in every cab, field, and factory. True progress blooms when we celebrate resilience with kindness, dismantling divides one mile at a time.
