Driver with pride: on the road with Niels Eggink from Pultrum Transport
If reportage photographer in transport and logistics I regularly get in with drivers to capture their work up close. This time I was on the road with Niels Eggink (39) from Rijssen, driver at Pultrum Transport. With his brand new Volvo FH he drives building materials to various locations at home and abroad – from playgrounds to prefab roofs and from residential areas to construction sites.
An early start with a fresh truck
The working day starts at the Pultrum site in Rijssen. Niels is already waiting with an impressive combination: a brand new Volvo FH with 500 hp and an extra spacious cabin, equipped with all the luxury. "This truck is only two weeks old," he says proudly. "Leather seats, lots of storage space, power supply, microwave, television - I lack nothing, not even when I spend the night on the road."
From playground equipment to roofs: variety on wheels
The first stop of the day is a school in Stadskanaal, where a new playground is being built. The trailer is loaded with wooden parts with a natural look. Upon arrival at the location, Niels inspects the situation. “Safety comes first. We only unload when there are no children nearby.” Fortunately, an alternative unloading location with driving plates has been arranged.
After unloading, we drive to a factory where prefabricated roofs are produced. The roofs are partly pre-assembled, which means they can be quickly placed on construction sites. It is busy; we have to wait a while before we are allowed to load. A good moment to talk to Niels about his background.
A profession with deep roots
Niels is no stranger to the transport world. “My father and grandfather were also drivers. It started early,” he says. However, he temporarily made a detour into education when he injured his foot after an accident. “I gave practical lessons to students at OT&L in Rijssen. But I missed being on the road. Now, with a modified shoe, I can just do my job as I am used to.”
Every day is different in construction logistics
What the work as building materials driver so much fun? According to Niels, it is mainly the variety. “From covered trailer to low loader, from dormer windows to complete extensions – you really transport everything.” At the end of our journey, we disconnect the trailer with prefabricated roofs in Rijssen. Then we switch to a low loader to load an extension in Hengelo. “That is what makes this work so great. No day is the same.”
With pride on the road
Along the way, Niels shares how proud he is of his profession. “When I’m on the road with my family and we drive past a house whose roof I transported, I tell you about it with pride. You see the result of your work. Even if it’s only a small part of the whole, it counts.”
👉 Read the full story of Niels Eggink on the STL website:
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