Two women, one passion: Kama, Magda and their European tour

They’re leaving tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn. Near the Polish town of Ozorków, in a car park belonging to a branch of Kawczyński Logistics, a company headquartered in Ślesin, the red Actros is ready and waiting for Kamila Lange and Magda Jurys, who are due to set off once again on a long journey. Both women arrive with a fully packed car. The preparation for this trip has required a considerable amount of planning. “I have a list of things I need in my head, but I can never sleep before such a trip, because I’m always worrying I’ll forget something,” says Kamila. For the young woman who calls herself Kama, driving has become part of her life. But indeed, just one part. She has a bachelor’s degree in human resources management, and she’s starting her master’s degree in clinical psychology over the next few weeks.

“She wrote her bachelor’s thesis in the cab. If Kama wants something, she just does it – no hanging about,” grins Magda. Magda is a graphic design artist and spent twelve years in California.

The two have known each other for a long time, since before Magda went to the US and Kama spent some time in England. When they returned to Poland, it was Kama who decided to get her LGV licence. Magda was inspired by the idea. “My uncle had a shipping company, so I asked him a million questions and found out everything I could,” explains Kama. “I wanted a challenge that would make me stronger, improve my self-confidence and give me job satisfaction, also financially. I found all that in this job. And anyway, cars have always been my thing. So it was great to be able to combine passion with practicality.”

The pair have been driving together for over a year and a half now. Before they started at Kawczyński Logistics, they worked for smaller transport companies. “We were impressed with the atmosphere and the way the employees were treated. We really like the modern way the company is run,” Kama explains.

The MirrorCam marvel.

The drivers enjoy lots of mod cons. “This latest Actros comes with a MirrorCam, which we can’t imagine working without now.”

“To start with, it was strange driving without the normal mirrors,” describes Magda. “But once we had got used to it, it was fantastic. It’s especially useful at night in car parks to be able to see everything happening around the outside of the truck from the inside. We feel a lot safer.”

The campaign against clutter.

The women get the cab ready. “Every single centimetre counts – we don’t have as much space as at home! You really have to watch out. Even just a cup left out and it starts getting untidy,” says Magda, as she sorts food, water and clothes away.

She mostly drives to southern Spain, her favourite destination. “As well as beautiful countryside, there’s also a lot less traffic,” smiles Kama. “And the car parks are the size of small airports, so there’s always a parking space!”

Kama and Magda work as a dual crew: their day is 30 hours long, with each driving for a total of nine hours in two slots of 4.5 hours. They have lots of time to chat while on the road, but also time to do other things. “We’d never survive these trips without our hobbies. We love driving, but there’s more to life than just that,” says Magda. “Sometimes you have to spend some time alone. I like drawing; it relaxes me.”

Photos: Krzysztof Skłodowski