Girteka Drivers

Meet Oleh — our colleague and driver who has been delivering goods with Girteka trucks since 2012. 
It’s easy for Oleh to count his years with the company — when he went on his first trip with Girteka, his youngest daughter had just been born. Today she is already 13. 

Remembering the beginning of his career, Oleh told us about the times when Girteka was completely different from what it is today — just a large garage for trucks with a few desks for managers. 

There was no 24/7 SOS or monitoring service back then. Drivers learned everything on the road — how to put snow chains, fix something in the truck, or deal with unexpected problems — mostly by helping each other. 

Today, new drivers receive plenty of information from the training center, which did not even exist at that time. When they leave for a trip, they take a truck that has already been serviced at Girteka’s own workshop. 

“I look back and can’t believe how much the company has grown and changed over the years,” says Oleh. “Two large transport bases with full infrastructure for drivers — rest areas, showers, a canteen, laundry facilities and more — regular fleet renewal, investments in employee training, and strong information support. Together with the company, I have grown and continue to develop too.”

Oleh admits that being a truck driver requires a lot, but it also gives a lot in return. 
“When you see the results, stability, and the opportunity to earn a decent income, you realize that you made the right choice. Over time, you adjust your life to this rhythm and learn to find balance,” he shares. 

“Those who have been on the road for a long time will understand: it’s hard to imagine yourself sitting in an office among many people, without your own small personal space — the truck cabin. We go through many things on our own, far from home, but that’s what makes us stronger. Not everyone can do this — but not everyone is a long-distance driver,” says Oleh. 

There is also another side of the story, one Oleh is very proud of. 
Over these 13 years, Oleh and his family have achieved a lot — they bought a three-room apartment, a summer house, a garage and a car, got a family dog (a labrador), and sent their eldest daughter to medical school. Because of the war in Ukraine, his family moved to Lithuania, where they are now successfully integrating, learning the language, and have even started their own small business. 

Oleh doesn’t hide that if he had chosen another profession or hadn’t decided to come to Lithuania, his life would probably look very different. 

As they say, we have only one life, and we choose how to live it. There are no second scenario in this movie, says Oleh — a happy husband and father of three daughters.

We asked Oleh to share some advice for young drivers, and here’s what he said: 

Remember that the road is a big responsibility — for your own life and for the lives of others. There is no room for mistakes. 

Understand that every employee is a small but important part of the big Girteka mechanism, and your actions affect the whole company. 

Take care of yourself and represent the company properly. A neat and tidy appearance shows respect for yourself — and at loading or unloading points, you are the face of the company. 

Don’t forget that this is a sitting job — do some sports, walk, and take care of your health. 

Use every opportunity to grow, develop your skills, and move forward together with the company, which, Oleh is sure, will continue to grow and succeed. 

We thank Oleh for his 13 years of loyalty to Girteka, for his inspiring example, and for sharing his story and photos that capture both his personal journey and the history of our company.