Before dawn breaks over the rugged hills of Namosi, 57-year-old Peni Qaulavo is already awake.

Hailing from Navunikabi in Wainikoroiluva Namosi, Mr Qaulavo has been behind the wheel since 1987 nearly four decades of navigating winding roads, swollen rivers and unpredictable weather.

While he is also a farmer by trade, driving has become the backbone of his household income, helping him provide for his wife and their four children.

Married to a woman from his village, Mr Qaulavo says family is his greatest motivation.

Every kilometre driven is a step toward putting food on the table and ensuring his children have opportunities he never had.

His day begins at 4am and by 5:30am, his engine is running and he is on the road, embarking on the long journey toward Navua.

The early morning air is cool, and the interior roads are quiet, but the task ahead is demanding.

By 7am, Mr Qaulavo reaches Navua, where his passengers are mostly farmers from interior communities they unload their produce like dalo, yaqona and fresh vegetables are carefully stacked for sale.

For many of them, this daily trip is their only link to the market economy.

“If we don’t drive, how will the people in the interior bring their produce to sell in Suva? how will they come and do their shopping?,” he questioned.

For Mr Qaulavo, driving is more than a job, it is a lifeline connecting rural farmers to urban buyers.

However, the road has not been easy. He recalls that during the era of the FijiFirst government, roads in his area were once comparable to those in Suva.

But today, he believes maintenance has declined and road conditions have worsened significantly with deep potholes and deteriorating surfaces make the journey longer and more costly, both for vehicle wear and fuel consumption.

“The road authorities are not doing a good job.”

Another challenge he faces comes in the form of permits; Mr Qaulavo hopes that the Land Transport Authority could assist rural drivers like him with issuing proper permits as they are frequently booked during checks.

“If we choose not to drive because of our permit, then the people suffer.”

Despite the challenges, his commitment remains firm.

After dropping off passengers and produce in Suva, Mr Qaulavo begins his return journey at 1pm and by 5pm, he aims to be back home in Namosi, ready to tend to family responsibilities and farm work.

He charges $10 per passenger, and does not charge extra for the produce they load.

It is a modest fee, reflecting his understanding of the financial realities faced by rural farmers.

To the youths of Fiji, his message is simple.

“If you are not sure what to do with your life, take up driving. It’s an easy way to make money, it can provide you with a good job and it might even take you overseas.”

Looking ahead, Mr Qaulavo dreams of upgrading to a twin cab a vehicle better suited to Fiji’s challenging terrain and the heavy loads he carries daily.

For nearly 40 years, the road has been his office, his classroom and his livelihood. And as long as there are farmers needing transport and families depending on him, Mr Qaulavo will continue to rise before the sun, engine humming, headlights cutting through the dawn and driving hope from the interior to the capital.