How Mapai owner, Jacob Luke, created 10 new trucking companies, each owned by his drivers

For four years, I’ve been trying to trying to get a proper interview with the owner of Mapai Transport Jacob Luke.

It’s not that he is difficult or that my requests have been snubbed. He always distracts me with a story and then tells me… “We have to do it later when I’m ready…” or   “…when I have my thoughts together, I’ll call you.”

In recent years he has said… “You have to come and work with me for some time then you can write the story…”

So he has not granted that request yet. 

Four years ago, an unfortunate circumstances brought me to his office in West Taraka. A pair of his shoes got lost while we were renting his apartment in Lae during the PNG Games. I felt terrible and I called him up. He was gracious enough to talk to me. I offered to replace the shoes.

He refused. I insisted. He refused.
I realised then, that he was indeed a remarkable character.

In between his conversations, he drops sparking gems of wisdom and as a younger person, you have to be alert enough to pick them up. They’re gifts that he generously gives.  It’s like he carries a bag of it around with him and drops one or two… sometimes many… when he talks to people.

During that initial phone call he dropped some of those gems.

“Look, son, they’re just shoes. Money is not important and it really doesn’t matter. In life, things happen and we can’t hold on to things like this. They’re too small.”

I insistedon meeting with him the next day and we went.

So the shoes discussion continued. We apologized. He accepted our apology.

“I’ve had people who steal from me. But what can I do? It’s always best to put it behind you and move on. Otherwise it poisons you. And I keep telling these young people. Forget it. Move on. But they never learn,” he laughed.

What I know is Mr. Luke has worked hard all his life. He built a company from scratch with just one truck in the mid 1980s. And this is the part of the story I don’t really know. His roots, his hard work and Mapai’s growth. I still need to talk to him about it.

But the snippets he tells you gives you just a hint of the kind of person he is.

One line I’ve always heard is “Money is not important” and that “the enrichment of life comes from hard work and the journey you make.”

It is almost as if he recounts his past life as a truck driver… Going through some of the best scenery in the country, meeting people along the way. Seeing their generosity, gaining that enriching experience… and probably making some money at the ended of it all. But the experience and the enrichment is what stays with you. It cannot be taken away from you.

In recent years, Mr. Luke has taken a more laid back role in his company. The executive management runs things for him.

When Mapai bought 10 new Kenworth trucks, I was standing at the back of the crowd, talking to his daughter Stephanie.

“He doesn’t like formalities. If you ask him for a formal interview he won’t give it to you.” She laughed about the unfortunate tale of me trying to secure ‘formal’ interviews with her dad.

In front, Mr. Luke announced the arrival of the trucks and why the investment of eight million kina was made.

Then some more advice and words of wisdom…

“Traditionally, we have a saying in Enga… if you give bilas to a person who doesn’t own any, he will not look after it. He will break the headdresses and the bilas.

“Some of you act like cowboys in my trucks. So now I am giving you bilas which you will own and you will look after it will be yours.”

With the expansion of the company, Jacob Luke, announced he was giving away 10 of the older trucks to 10 long serving drivers. Jacob Luke’s Mapai Transport registered 10 companies under each of their names.

Again, some more advice to the staff. Then, Just before they came out to get the keys, he paused and made another important statement.

“When you come out to get the keys, I want you to bring your wives with you. I know that when you drive the trucks, many of you misbehave. Your wives are going to get the keys because the trucks belong to them.”

Each truck is worth about K600,000. In one decision,   he created 10 new Papua New Guinean owned transport companies and passed on the ownership of more than six million kina worth of Mapai assets to his drivers and their families.

“I used to be a driver before and I know. The most important people in a transport company are the drivers. They make the wheels turn. The rest of us are just support staff.”

Of course, the vehicle assets will have to be paid off over time. But each company has a guaranteed revenue stream as sub-contractors of Mapai Transport until it is paid.

So after short story, I am hoping that he   will be generous enough to grant me an interview so I can do a better piece about him.