JUST a year after hitting the headlines for becoming one of the youngest fully qualified female truckers in the country, Laurie Bartram has taken top honours at a transport industry award ceremony.

At a glittering event at The Savoy Hotel in London, Laurie was declared commercial driver of the year in the 2012 MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards.

Laurie, 22, of Chatteris, who is licenced to drive a 44-tonne articulated lorry, currently works for Littleport based Bartrams Express, run by her father Ray and mother Yvonne.

“We are very proud of her indeed,” said Yvonne. “Laurie is an accomplished horsewoman and I first encouraged her to take her class 2 licence so she could drive the horse box.

“We then encouraged her to do all the other qualifications, and she has taken to it like a duck to water.”

Laurie gained her class 1 and full drivers CPC (certificate of professional competence) just 12 months ago. She also has an advanced CPC for carrying livestock.

Yvonne added: “Laurie has been approached by various agencies to help promote commercial driving to young people especially women. They hope she will become a role model to encourage young people into the transport and logistics industry.”

The Everywoman awards, set up to raise the profile of women who are excelling in the non traditional sector of transport and logistics industries, are now in their fifth year.

They are supported by industry leaders including MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and Media Partner Motor Transport.