For most truck drivers, the dream is simple – steady work, decent pay, and a safe trip home. But for 37-year-old Malose Mafomme from Mokopane, Limpopo, trucking has opened a door halfway across the world.
After years of hustling for driving jobs in South Africa, Mafomme has now secured a permanent post in the US as a specialised LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) driver. He flew out this week to Texas, where his skills are considered rare and in high demand.
Mafomme’s journey wasn’t easy. According to SowetanLIVE, he started out standing at company gates begging for a shot, later working as an assistant driver before finally earning his Code 14 licence.
It took seven years of applications, interviews, and visa delays before his American dream came through. Now, he says he’ll be earning four times more than what South African companies were paying him.
But his success story comes at a tricky time for truckers looking to cross over to the US.
Just last week, SA Trucker reported how the US government froze truck driver work visas after a fatal crash in Florida involving an immigrant trucker who had entered the country illegally.
That crash killed three people and sparked a full-blown immigration row, forcing US authorities to review how foreign truckers are licensed and trained.
Mafomme was lucky – his visa was approved just before the freeze. But others still waiting for their shot may now be stuck in limbo until American regulators change their stance.
For now, Mafomme says leaving his family behind will be tough, but the opportunity is too big to pass up. “I never thought driving trucks would take me to the US,” he told friends before boarding his flight. “It’s worth it.”
One man’s perseverance shows how far trucking can take you. But also, how one reckless mistake by another driver can close doors for thousands.
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