For Miriam, her truck cab is more than a workspace: it’s her kitchen and living room, and where she sleeps for nearly a month at a stretch. As an international truck driver, she routinely spends between 22 and 24 consecutive days on the road, crossing European borders while her Spanish accent and daily habits remain unchanged. “I have to improve every minute,” she says. Routine and order are survival tools. Those days represent an extended work assignment, not uninterrupted driving: under EU Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, a driver may normally lead up to nine hours a day, extend that to 10 hours twice a week, and lead no more than 56 hours in one week or 90 hours over two consecutive weeks. Drivers must generally take a 45-minute break after no more than 4.5 hours of driving.
When she returns home, Miriam faces a different challenge: time. In quieter months, she might have three or four days to rest before heading out again. During peak periods, that window shrinks to just two weeks a year. The relentless schedule leaves little room for friends or downtime, making every hour at home precious. EU rules generally require at least 11 hours of daily rest, though reduced rest of at least nine hours is permitted under specified conditions. Daily rest may be taken in a suitably equipped vehicle, but regular weekly rest cannot be spent in the cab. The same applies to weekly rest longer than 45 hours taken as compensation; employers must arrange or fund suitable accommodation.
On social media, where she posts as @lachicacamionera, Miriam shares stories from the road and offers a candid look at European freight transport. Her followers see the long hours and logistical hurdles, as well as the strategies she uses to cope. Meticulous planning is one of them. Rather than improvise, she stocks up at the supermarket before returning home, making the most of her limited time off.
Domestic organization is only part of the equation. For Miriam, mastering English matters as much as knowing her route. “Download apps and start practicing English today,” she urges those entering the industry. She has driven through France and Germany, and her routes have also taken her through Poland and Ireland, as well as Italy and Spain. That experience has shown her that English is the common language at loading docks and offices across the continent.
Despite her experience, Miriam still relies heavily on her co-driver to communicate, often using her phone’s translator app to handle paperwork and conversations. That reliance slows her down and complicates even routine tasks, a practical barrier for many drivers in the sector. EU rules also cover two-driver operations: when a crew operates a journey, each driver must take at least nine hours of daily rest within a 30-hour period. A co-driver changes how driving and rest can be scheduled, but each driver still has to meet the rest requirements.
Miriam’s journey stands out in a field still dominated by men, though the gender gap is slowly narrowing. The International Road Transport Union (IRU) reports that women make up about 23% of the EU transport workforce, but only around 4% of truck drivers in Europe. By sharing her story and advice online, Miriam brings visibility to women in transport and encourages others to consider a career behind the wheel. Her experience echoes that of other women who have entered the industry, including those who have rebuilt their lives in Spain’s trucking sector. One example is a Venezuelan engineer who found a new path as a national driver, detailed in this report on career change and adaptation.
Information from elespanol motor, Miriam’s story reflects the discipline and flexibility needed to succeed in international transport, along with ability to recover. The work also unfolds amid a impressive staffing challenge: the IRU’s 2025 survey estimated about 502,000 unfilled truck-driver positions across Europe, a shortage rate of 13%. Around two-thirds of surveyed operators said they had turned down new contracts because they could not recruit enough drivers. The survey describes pressure across the sector, though it does not establish why any individual driver has a particular schedule.
Spain’s logistics industry is a critical part of the European supply chain, with thousands of drivers covering millions of kilometers each year. The IRU puts the average age of European truck drivers at about 48; drivers aged 24 or younger account for roughly 5% of the workforce. It projects that approximately 660,500 European truck drivers will retire by 2030. Drivers face language barriers and long absences from home, while constant organization is also required. As more women enter the field, stories like Miriam’s are helping reshape perceptions and open doors for the next generation.
