New vehicle inspection stations seem to be springing up around the region like mushrooms. However, competition in the business is tough, and new entrepreneurs are not always welcomed with open arms.
“Well, a couple of times people were chirping that this is no job for ladies,” says Liisa Laukka, who recently opened a new inspection station in Oulu near the freeway in Hiironen.
Laukka wasn’t intimidated. Being a woman hasn’t been a hindrance in the inspection business in any way, excepting the fact that it’s difficult to find coveralls that fit. Luckily though, Laukka doesn’t do the inspections herself, so she shrugged off finding the coveralls.
Her former superior, from her days working at an inspection station in Haapalehto, supported Laukka and encouraged her to try to break into the business.
There are now 16 inspection stations in Oulu and the surrounding area, and more will soon be opened.
Laukka admits that there are a lot of new stations, but not too many in her estimation.
“There are about 160 000 vehicles in the Oulu region that need to be inspected every year. There should be more than enough for each station.”
