Women who rock ‘green’ logistics
Joy Ann Torres took up driving vehicles of all sizes as a profession, despite this being a male-dominated sector, because she believes that women are better and safer drivers.
Her father taught her how to drive when she was just 12 years old. At 18, she obtained a professional license that allowed her to drive large vehicles, such as buses and even trailer trucks. Along the way, she learned how to change tires and troubleshoot common engine problems.
“Honestly, mas nadadalian po ako mag-park ng trailer truck (I find it easier to park a trailer truck),” the 40-year-old says with a grin.
Torres became a bus driver in 2017 after her stint as a captain’s steward aboard a cruise ship. Every day, she used to ply the route of Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange to Monumento. It was a job she took pride in, she says, because she stood out as part of a rare breed of female drivers of public utility vehicles.
Her 12-year-old daughter often bragged to her classmates that her mother drove a bus for a living. “I guess it made her proud that her mama had a job that usually fathers do,” she says in Filipino.
In 2023, Torres saw a job posting for a female driver of electric vehicles (EV). Wanting a change of scenery, she tried her luck. After hurdling the initial screening and safety process, she was hired as the first female truck driver of Mober, a pioneer in green logistics in the Philippines.
Torres, now called a green delivery specialist, drives Mober’s electric delivery truck around Metro Manila and Cavite to transport furniture. She is joined on the road by an assembler and a helper.
Inclusive and sustainable
There is so much ease and convenience in driving an EV, she says in an interview with the Inquirer. For one, she doesn’t have to worry about harming the environment.
Mober is leading the transition to green deliveries in the Philippines. With a focus on assisting businesses in decarbonizing their delivery processes, it offers seamless solutions without the upfront costs.
This business-to-business platform facilitates delivery for IKEA Philippines, SM Appliance Center, Nestlé Philippines, Nespresso, Ajinomoto Philippines and Maersk.
Dennis Ng, founder and CEO of Mober, wants to break barriers by encouraging women to explore a career in logistics. “Mober is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has an opportunity,” he says.
Before deployment, drivers of Mober’s green fleet are trained on how to properly handle the electric trucks. “We encourage them to have a soft braking, because every time you put your foot on the brakes, it regenerates battery [power],” Ng adds.
Each truck has a battery life that can last up to eight to 10 years with proper maintenance and travel for up to 210 kilometers on a full charge.
‘Handywomen’
Aside from drivers, Mober is also hiring female furniture assemblers. These “handywomen” are trained to build and set up IKEA furniture.
Nelda Palisoc used to work as a domestic helper in Kuwait, Norway and Hong Kong before joining Mober last year. She is among Mober’s first hires as a lady assembler.
After going through the upskilling and safety training at the in-house “Assembly Academy,” she learned how to properly use a drill machine and distinguish handy tools.
Oftentimes, some customers question if she could get the job done, especially if it’s setting up a large, heavy furniture. She would just smile at them. “In the end, they will be amazed with my skills,” the 45-year-old says in Filipino.
Torres and Palisoc say they have never experienced discrimination from their male peers. Instead, their colleagues are even eager to lend a helping hand and teach them the technical know-how.
Central Charge
Wing Alforque, transport head for Mober, notes that there has been an increase in the application for female truck drivers, assemblers and helpers.
“During interviews, they would tell me that they are eager to try a job that is mostly reserved for men,” she explains.
On March 10, Mober unveiled the country’s largest commercial electric vehicle charging hub. Located in Pasay City, Central Charge is a 3,000-square-meter (sq m) facility that is equipped with 56 ports to serve fleets of e-vans and e-trucks.
With a structured three-shift system, the P14-million hub can charge up to 200 EV trucks daily. Equipped with 50 units of 7-kilowatt hour (kWh) DC chargers and two 60 kWh fast-charging units, Central Charge enables Mober to streamline operations and minimize vehicle downtime.
The opening of the new facility follows the launch of the company’s first charging hub in 2023, which spans 800 sq m and has 30 charging units also in Pasay City.
Solar energy
To significantly reduce its carbon footprint, Mober is exploring the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and a 500 kWh battery energy storage system at Central Charge.
“Central Charge is not just an infrastructure investment, but it’s a strategic step to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly delivery solutions while maintaining our zero-emission commitment,” Ng adds.
Ng explains that Mober’s innovation goes beyond infrastructure through its proprietary battery management system (BMS) and transport management system (TMS). The BMS monitor helps extend the life of the batteries of an electric vehicle, while the TMS is designed to optimize delivery routes, reduce energy consumption and enhance operational efficiency.
The logistics company plans to build two additional charging hubs, either in Bulacan or Pampanga and Laguna. The Northern Bolt and Southern Spark will have a bigger footprint of 6,000 to 10,000 sq m to enhance logistics network and support expansion.
Mober’s goal is to expand its fleet to 500 units by 2026. But in the near term, it aims to scale up to 240 EVs by the end of this year, from 110 units at present.
“We have 100 more units coming, so we need 100 drivers,” Ng says.
And yes, the company is prioritizing hiring more women.
