Atlantis truck driver, Williams, breaks barriers in SA's logistics industry

AT JUST 26-years-old, Atlantis resident Ru Kellen Williams is helping keep supermarket shelves stocked across the Western Cape while challenging long standing stereotypes in one of South Africa's most demanding industries.

- ASHLEY LECHMAN

As a full time truck driver for the Shoprite Group, Williams spends her days manoeuvring massive articulated vehicles through busy roads, distribution centres and tight loading bays.

Yet her journey into logistics began with a single moment that sparked a lifelong passion.

“I don’t know what it was, but it felt like love at first sight” Williams recalled of the first time she climbed into a truck at the age of 18. From that moment on, I knew I was going to drive a truck one day.

Today, she is part of a new generation of drivers entering the transport and logistics sector, bringing fresh talent and helping address the industry's evolving workforce needs.

After finishing school, Williams initially considered pursuing studies in mechanical or chemical engineering. However, her interest in logistics ultimately led her down a different path.

Her breakthrough came in April 2024 when she joined the Shoprite Group’s learner driver programme, an opportunity she said transformed both her career and her confidence.

“The Shoprite Group trusted me to drive their vehicles and it just gave me such a boost,” she said.