Directed by Melissa Juhanson, this documentary follows the lives of women working as long-haul truck drivers. In this sequence, two truckers share contrasting perspectives on family life. One believes she is not suited to having children or settling down, joking that her family is nothing like ‘The Brady Bunch and stuff you see on TV’, while the other balances life on the road with raising a young child. Despite their different experiences, both women are united by a strong sense of independence and a willingness to live outside traditional expectations of women.

Juhanson uses voice-over to layer the truckers' personal reflections over lingering shots of empty highways and trucks travelling through the night, conveying the isolation and solitude of their work. These moments are balanced with scenes of the women cleaning, repairing and goofing around in their trucks, highlighting the pride and satisfaction they take in their work. Although long-haul trucking can be lonely, the women also embrace its freedom and the unique camaraderie of the trucking community, where purpose is found in the nomadic lifestyle and close-knit culture.

Explore more of After Dark – a Deep Dive into Australian nightlife that draws on decades of material from the NFSA collection.