A driver’s day-to-day life at a bustling industrial area

Mornings in the Kokkola industrial area have their own precise pace, and Jarkko Härmälä, driver at Adolf Lahti, knows that success only comes from seamless cooperation between people. In slightly over two decades, Jarkko has worked his way from manual stevedore shifts and varied mechanical work to his current role as a driver. A significant part of this time, 15 years, was spent at Rauanheimo. Since 2024, he has been an Adolf Lahti employee, and thanks to his experience, he can be seen in a variety of mechanical tasks at sites – where his skills are needed the most. Jarkko has also recently completed a specialist vocational qualification in management, which is clear indicator that learning and development never stop. 

A driver’s job involves being constantly on the move 

Although his tasks have changed over the years, one thing has remained the same: the ability to see everyday life from the field level. Jarkko started his career in the early 2000s as a manual stevedore, gradually moving to machines and learning to understand the pace of the site and an driver’s responsibility step by step, just as the old culture taught him. Nowadays, mechanisation, occupational safety and sustainability have taken giant leaps forward, but Jarkko believes that the same principle still applies.”When you know the work practices, you can drive a machine more safely and smoothly,” Jarkko says.  

Over the years, Jarkko has worked in a wide variety of jobs, and often his work may have included up to four different sites in a day. Two decades of work are filled with the most incredible stories, coloured by port personalities who have already become legendary, and with the most incredible coincidences. One of the most memorable experiences was his first experience of the more demanding flow of goods on a timber ship with old–school co-worker Jouni Hulkko. ” The orders for timber going to the ship were clear and cooperation was almost seamless, even though I was nervous at first,” Jarkko laughs. It was moments like these that taught him the importance of reading the site, the hand signals and the people around. It is this versatility that motivates Jarkko the most in his work. – “It’s great to be part of a chain that builds opportunities and operations for big customer accounts practically every moment,” Jarkko says. 

“When you learn the job from the ground up, you learn to value every link in the chain – and that is what creates a safe, smooth, and successful working day.”

People are the most important strength  

For Jarkko, partnership at work means that everyone understands their role, respects each other’s expertise and builds solutions together. That is why he also encourages newcomers to take their first steps with humility: to watch, learn and listen to those who have been working there for decades. “Here, you don’t act cockily. First, you look at, learn from and respect the older employees who were loading ships even when many were a mere twinkle in their father’s eye,” Jarkko says. Jarkko’s story is an example of a career built on expertise, the right attitude and the desire to develop. And, above all, a reminder that no matter how large the port machines get or how busy the sites are, the most important strength is still people.