The Grand Tour

CJ Smith is a truck driver and industry advocate, connecting current and next generations.

Her career in the commercial transport industry started nine years ago when she began driving concrete trucks before quickly rising through the ranks of heavy vehicle licensing.

It was only two years ago that CJ began filming her life on the road and in this short time she has amassed an impressive audience – over 100,000 followers on Instagram, joined by 35,000 followers on Facebook, and more than 2,800 subscribers on YouTube.

CJ takes great pride in building an online community around the industry.

“I just share snippets of the industry that I wish I could have been aware of when I started,” she says.

“I wanted someone to show me these things when I was new. I couldn’t find a mentor online when I needed it, so trying to fill that role is really special to me.”

Her inclusive-natured content and positive messaging has attracted support from a variety of like-minded industry brands, notably automotive supplier, HELLA Australia.

Approaching CJ at the end of 2023, HELLA Australia has now been collaborating with her for over a year, naming her a brand ambassador.

“The interesting thing about HELLA is that when they approached me, they were really supportive of what I was doing,” CJ says.

“HELLA wasn’t looking to advertise or monetise me. The company was just a big fan of my positivity and the energy and insights I was bringing to the industry. They agreed with the community I was trying to build, and the conversation I was trying to have with industry members. That has been the foundation of our relationship.”

CJ, according to HELLA Australia General Manager, Glareh Kayhoor, has built a fantastic platform and has a unique voice within the industry.

“For us safety is at the core of everything we do — from product design to customer education,” she says.

“CJ’s commitment to showcasing safe practices and her willingness to mentor others online aligns perfectly with our values. She’s not only helping to build awareness around road safety, but also encouraging continuous learning and proper training within the industry.”

Through this journey with HELLA, CJ has received an even greater amount of exposure to and appreciation for the industry that she’s devoted nearly a decade of her life to.

One such experience, the HELLA-sponsored tour of trailer builder Vawdrey’s factory in Melbourne, particularly broadened the scope of commercial transport for CJ and allowed her to share these insights with her followers.

“When you’re a truck driver, you’re in this bubble of moving freight in one way,” she says.

“You don’t really think of the other sides of the industry, and how personalised freight can be for each customer. The sheer size of Vawdrey’s facilities and operations, and their continued growth really showed me this.”

A recent tour of the HELLA New Zealand manufacturing facility in Auckland provided her with an inside look at the company’s manufacturing process.

Some 80 per cent of heavy vehicle trailers on Australian roads are equipped with HELLA lighting, a majority of which comes from the New Zealand factory. Some of these products will be showcased at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, including the newest DuraLED rear combination lamps (DuraLED Prime) which CJ got to see first-hand in New Zealand.

“It was amazing to see the precision and technology that goes into manufacturing,” CJ recalls of her visit.

“This gave me a much better understanding of the intricacies of the products and the knowledge HELLA has on the industry and their customers.”

HELLA, Glareh says, is proud of its longstanding history and the reliability and quality of the solutions and products it supplies customers.

“But it’s more than that. To keep the industry moving forward we have a responsibility to contribute to the community, invest in innovation and support the next generation of drivers, technicians and industry professionals who will shape a more sustainable, resilient future,” she says.

“Talents like CJ have the power to inspire a new generation who will drive the industry forward.”

And inspiring a new generation she is. CJ’s passion for the industry and drive for knowledge-sharing has also seen her engaged in motivational presentations on her trucking career to students at the Kangan Institute of TAFE, and a speech on International Women’s Day at the New Zealand Truck Show.

“TAFEs are a gateway for young talent to enter the industry and offer quality training that sets the foundation for long and successful careers in transport,” Glareh says.

“We’re excited to see how we can support CJ in these types of activities — to encourage new entrants, and help create a more diverse, inclusive industry that reflects the communities it serves.”

Similar events will be held at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, which CJ has also been chosen to represent as an event ambassador.

“I’ll be doing a lot of meet-and-greets, and I’ll definitely be at the HELLA stand at points of the event,” says CJ.

“Being at Truck Week in Brisbane, there will be quite a lot of educational programs being hosted, which look at different trade pathways, so I understand I’ll be playing a role in that, too.”

For CJ, the ability to connect with her audience is a top priority.

“I just love meeting people,” she adds. “It’s one thing to see a username leave a comment under a video of mine. But seeing someone in-person, it makes all those numbers and usernames a bit more tangible. They’re real people. Hearing their feedback on my content, what I’m doing well or what I could do better, it’s so great.”

In addition to these meet-and-greet opportunities, CJ is also excited to see the new technology which will be shown at the Truck Show, including the HELLA Antares driving lights which she played a pivotal role in launching – even driving the Antares 9-inch lights over an epic east-to-west trip and back prior to the launch.

“Being trusted by HELLA as the first person to truly put these lights to the test and having the team eager to listen to my experience is a testament to our relationship,” she says.

The company is soon to release the 7-inch version of the Antares (showcasing at the Truck Show), which CJ will also have a chance to try.

“Getting to see some of the new technology at the Brisbane Truck Show is a great opportunity to get some insight into where the industry is at the moment,” CJ says.

“Before being a show ambassador, when I went by myself a couple of years back, I learned so much. So, I can’t imagine how much I’ll be learning this time around.”