Riitta Kekäläinen

Roots and early career

Riitta Kekäläinen’s connection to timber transport began already in childhood as she followed in her father’s footsteps. She was so enthusiastic about being around trucks that as a child she was nicknamed “Jooseppi.” Her work began in the 1970s as her father’s assistant, around the time he acquired his first hydraulic loader crane. While her father operated the crane, Riitta would straighten the logs on the truck by hand. She received her first actual wage from her father in 1974.

Her professional qualifications developed step by step.

Riitta obtained her truck driving license in 1979 and her articulated truck license (CE) in 1981. Since then, timber transport has been her main occupation, although she briefly tried other jobs so she could better understand and discuss with men which jobs truly suit women and which do not.

Challenges and breaking attitudes

At the beginning of her career, Riitta faced a considerable amount of patronizing attitudes, belittling, and being treated as “just a girl.” One particularly memorable moment occurred when she obtained her articulated truck license in 1981. Before taking her CE driving test, the driving examiner asked Riitta if she understood that the required driving experience had to be with a vehicle weighing at least 3,500 kilograms. Riitta pointed to a timber truck waiting outside, loaded with birch logs, and asked, “Is that big enough for you?” After that, the examiner had nothing more to say for the rest of the day.

Although attitudes have changed over the years, Riitta notes that even now, in her seventies, she is occasionally still referred to as a “girl,” which she now takes partly with amusement. She is a strong advocate for equality and emphasizes the importance of paternity leave, for example, so that both genders can have equal opportunities in working life.

Championship-level skills and strong work ethic

Riitta is not only an experienced driver but also a five-time Finnish Timber Loading Champion in the women’s category. She won her first championship in 2009, when the women’s category was organized for the first time.

Her strong work ethic is reflected in her precision and sense of responsibility.

Cleanliness and order: Riitta emphasizes that a load must be neatly arranged already in the forest so that unloading into log wagons at the station is easier and faster. Keeping the truck clean is also a matter of pride for her.

Role in the workplace: the “mother figure”

In her work community at Heikki Tukiainen Oy and Kalla Forest Oy, Riitta is the oldest member of the team and describes herself as the “mother figure” who keeps the younger drivers in line. She values her employer’s fairness and the ability to discuss matters openly. Riitta has also noticed that the culture in the industry has improved: today employee well-being and family time are valued much more than in the past, when employers might pressure drivers to work even during holidays.

Looking toward the future

Riitta jokingly says that her current workplace is the perfect “final resting place” for her career. When it comes to retirement, she has a clear principle: she plans to keep working as long as she can keep up with the rest of the team, and she has asked her employer to tell her honestly if the day comes when she can no longer keep up.