February is International Career Month, a time to celebrate the diverse professions that keep economies thriving. In Jamaica, one often overlooked but essential career is that of a motorcycle bearer.

Despite the stigma surrounding motorcyclists and the act of riding itself, bearers like Dwayne Wilkinson of Aklamar Courier and Damone Brown from the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA), play a critical role in the country’s logistics industry, ensuring the smooth transportation of goods, documents, and packages.

Yet, while bearers are key to keeping Jamaica moving, they also face serious risks when on the road. In 2024 alone, 127 motorcyclists and pillions lost their lives in crashes. Many of these deaths could have been prevented had the victims been wearing certified helmets, a message that Mr Wilkinson and Mr Brown advocate for daily.

“Safety is a choice, and wearing a certified helmet is one of the best choices you can make to protect yourself,” says Mr Wilkinson, who has been a motorcyclist for 16 years and a bearer for 14. “It’s about making sure you can go home to your family at the end of the day.”

Mr Brown, who has been riding for eight years and working as a bearer for five, shares this perspective. “Bearers and other motorcycle riders should be very careful on the road and ensure that they are making decisions that will keep them and other road users safe.”

Despite the well-documented dangers of riding without proper protection, many Jamaican motorcyclists continue to wear cheap, non-certified helmets, which offer little to no real protection in a crash. The National Helmet Wearing Coalition (NHWC), launched in 2024, is working to change this culture by promoting helmet safety through education and community engagement. Supported by the JN Foundation, the National Road Safety Council, and the FIA Foundation, the coalition is raising awareness about the importance of wearing only certified helmets, those that meet safety standards and provide real protection for motorcyclists and their passengers.

Like many Jamaican motorcyclists, Mr Wilkinson and Mr Brown learned to ride informally, watching others and refining their skills through trial and error. Mr Wilkinson turned his passion into a profession. “I enjoyed motorcycle riding so much that I said, ‘Why don’t I just do a job where I will get paid to do what I love to do?’” Today, he finds fulfilment in his work, enjoying the daily interactions and the vital service he provides.

Mr Brown’s journey into the profession came out of necessity. “I was laid off from my previous job and decided to become a professional bearer because it was something I had been doing informally for a while,” he explained. Over time, he came to appreciate the job not just for the income but also for the networking opportunities and the people he meets each day.

Yet, bearers face challenges beyond the dangers of the road. “A downside to being a bearer is that law enforcement often sees us as criminals because there are others who use motorcycles to commit crimes, sometimes even pretending to be bearers,” says Brown. “But we are just law-abiding citizens working to earn and take care of ourselves and our families.” Wilkinson agrees, adding that while biking culture is often viewed negatively, bearers are essential to Jamaica’s logistics network, keeping businesses connected and ensuring critical deliveries arrive on time.

Both men are keen on continuing to contribute to the logistics industry, but harbour aspirations of becoming entrepreneurs. “One day, I want to own my own logistics company,” said Mr Wilkinson, who plans to use his years of experience on the road to build something bigger. Similarly, Mr Brown hopes to transition from bearer to business owner. “In five years, I want to be running my own business, using the skills I’ve developed as a bearer to create something of my own,” he shares.

For now, both men remain committed to their work, navigating Jamaica’s roads with purpose and a strong belief in responsible riding. They are clear in their message: safety is not optional, it is essential. Certified helmets save lives, and every motorcyclist’s decision to wear one could mean the difference between making it home or becoming another statistic. Through their professionalism and advocacy for safe riding, bearers like Wilkinson and Brown are proving that motorcyclists are not just part of the road, they are vital to keeping Jamaica moving.