Wanika with a load of logs.
Driving a fully loaded log truck on narrow, unpaved mountain roads isn’t for everyone. But for Wanika Doggett, it’s just about the most exhilarating career imaginable.
Maybe it’s no surprise that Wanika is also a biker and once wanted to be a professional skydiver when she grew up. A former road truck driver who traveled up to 700 miles a day crisscrossing the country, Wanika is tough and adventurous. But, she says, you don’t need a history like hers to be a log truck driver.
“I’m not the only woman doing this job, but I’d love to see more of us out in the woods,” Wanika says. “Sure, the bathroom situation on the road is a little harder for us than it is for men. Otherwise, I don’t think it makes a difference. I’ve felt welcomed by just about everyone. You just have to love being in the woods.”
Wanika and her boyfriend Larry, who introduced her to Ƶ.
MEET WANIKA
Your title is log truck driver. Tell us what you do.
I work out of the Goshen log yard in the Eugene/Springfield area of Oregon. I haul logs from harvest units in the woods to Ƶ mills in Cottage Grove and Santiam.
What led you to choose this job?
I’m originally from Hawaii, and I got my commercial driving license when I worked in construction there. I moved to the mainland and was an owner-operator road truck driver for about 29 years. I got tired of living on the road and not having a home life.
My boyfriend, Larry Keeney, worked as a Ƶ log truck driver for a long time before he retired in 2019. He encouraged me to apply here, but other people told me they didn’t think it was a good job for a woman. Instead, I became a chip truck driver for a local company. I saw a few women driving log trucks, which gave me the confidence to try it.
I absolutely loved it, and there was no going back! I jumped over to Ƶ in 2020 as soon as I had the required two years of experience.
One of Wanika’s favorite parts of the job is the incredible scenery she gets to enjoy every day.
Tell us what your average day is like.
Every morning, I head out to the harvest blocks and line up with the other trucks, waiting to fill my bunks with logs. I really appreciate the shovel operators who load my truck — I’ve learned a lot of tips from them that make my job easier. Then, it’s time to navigate to the mill.
Is there anything about your job that would surprise people?
We see so many animals. The canopy of trees can make the roads feel like green tunnels, and I often see birds of prey like hawks and eagles flying through. One day, a bear jumped out of the woods and onto the road, right next to the side of my truck. So he took off running at about 25 miles an hour, staying alongside me for a long time before turning off into a creek. I almost could have jumped out my window and rode on his back.
One of Wanika’s favorite parts of the job is the incredible scenery she gets to enjoy every day.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love showing up at the mill with a full load of logs, as simple as that sounds. It makes me feel accomplished. But more than anything, I love the scenery. I get to see countryside that I didn’t know existed until I got out onto the logging roads.
You must have some challenges. What are they?
Log truck driving can be a very physical job. I’m older now, and it can be hard to throw the wrappers over really tall loads. Driving in mud, snow and ice isn’t exactly easy, either.
Though she says driving in snow and ice is challenging, Wanika appreciates the tranquility of experiencing “tunnels” of trees and snow like this one.
What advice would you give people who want a job like yours?
If you’re at all curious about log truck driving, ask to do a ride-along to learn more about it. My guess is the beauty and tranquility will far outweigh any anxieties you might have about driving.
I’ll be doing this for the rest of my working life — not just because I love the job itself, but because I love being part of this tradition. My boyfriend was in the logging industry for 60 years, and so was his father, who’s 98. It’s all they talk about, and now I understand why. It’s a way of life.
Tell us about your other interests. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
Larry and I each have two motorcycles. I love to take my Harley-Davidson Street Glide all over the country, touring and camping. I have three children, 12 grandkids and four great grandkids, and up until recently I owned several horses.
