Ainoa Blasco on her life as a truck driver for four years: Psychology is not given importance and we spend a lot of loneliness

Ainoa Blasco, a Spanish truck driver who has spent four years on the road, shared her experiences in a recent interview with the YouTube channel Rutas de éxito. Speaking candidly about the challenges of being a female trucker, she highlighted how little attention is given to psychological well-being within the industry. “The psychology isn’t taken seriously, and we go through a lot of loneliness,” she said. Blasco, known for her social media content showcasing life as a truck driver, used the opportunity to provide an honest look into the realities of long-haul transportation in Spain. Her four-year experience driving a refrigerated truck gave her insight into the often-overlooked difficulties faced by drivers. She emphasized the lack of support for mental health issues, pointing out that the isolation of long trips can lead to frustration and emotional strain. “We don’t have tools to manage this, and it’s something that goes against us because we’re alone in the truck, our minds get stuck in loops, and we don’t know how to stop them,” she explained. Her journey into trucking was a major shift in her life. She described how becoming a truck driver changed everything, no more social outings, no family gatherings, and no predictable daily routines. “It really changes the way you live, it changes everything completely… you can’t make plans, you can’t imagine things because it’s unpredictable. It changes so much that even the five minutes you had every day to take coffee, which is a simple thing, you won’t have anymore,” she recounted. Blasco noted that while the unpredictability of the job forced her to adapt, it also sharpened her ability to let go of old habits and embrace new ways of living. The constant change in sleep schedules, difficult eating conditions on the road, and the emotional toll of being away during family emergencies were among the biggest challenges. She described the mental burden of carrying responsibility for a heavy vehicle over long distances, saying it creates a cycle of worry that’s hard to break. When asked about the treatment she received from male colleagues, Blasco mentioned that she felt uncomfortable only once in four years. “There was just one situation in four years where I felt uneasy. The respect you show yourself is the respect you project onto others,” she said. In closing, Blasco issued a warning to fellow truckers, especially those in Spanish-speaking countries. “We aren’t aware that we carry a missile of 40 tons under our butts, so we need to be very conscious and not get complacent,” she urged. Her words reflect both the physical and emotional demands of the profession, offering a rare glimpse into the struggles of women in a traditionally male-dominated field.