Kelly Menard says she likes change, but she never imagined herself as an agent of change in a bastion for males.

On Tuesday Menard, the mother of two, punched in as the first female truck or equipment driver in the Warwick Department of Public Works. While she’ll be driving one of the city’s trash or recycling trucks, the first day was spent lifting “heavy trash” into the back of a truck. Pickups included couches and an assortment of furniture.

“It wasn’t bad, it was a workout,” she said that evening. Quitting didn’t even cross her mind.

“I’m a low key, humble girl,” Menard says, explaining that she wasn’t looking to make headlines or, for that matter, transform a job always performed by men in Warwick. Rather, her objectives are simple. She was looking for a change in her maintenance job in City Hall and to make a bit more money.

So when a driver’s position opened up, Menard applied. As it turned out, she was the only “insider” (currently employed city worker) to seek the job. As a former Cranston school bus driver for 13 years, Menard had the required license and knows what to do behind the wheel of large vehicles.

“I was very impressed,” said David Picozzi, chief of staff and director of the Department of Public Works. “She showed no fear whatsoever.” In addition to the driving test, Menard also had to pass a writing test and complete a vehicle inspection.

Picozzi said in all the years he’s worked in the department, only one other woman applied for a driving position in the sanitation division. The woman who had driven for RIPTA failed the driving test when it came to backing up.

One other female, Laurie Trudell, works in the sanitation division but she handles dispatch. Accommodations have been made for her, so the garage does have a ladies’ restroom. But other than that Menard is one of the guys.

That’s hard to accept, given she looks like she could be walking down a runway rather than driving a trash truck. Her 10-year old son apparently would agree.

“He thinks it odd, very odd that his mom is a garbage girl,” Menard said.

On the other hand, her 14-year-old daughter thinks it is great.

“This is the first day, a change of pace, something different,” said Menard soon after reporting for work at 6:45 a.m. A graduate of Veterans High School, she said she has always been one to try something new. The bus driving job wore thin and she found there wasn’t an opportunity for advancement except for taking her boss’ job that she wasn’t interested in.

Picozzi believes there’s opportunity for her in the DPW. He points out he climbed the ladder, learning different jobs, and he urged Menard to consider learning how to operate different pieces of equipment.

“Let’s hope we’re starting something,” he said.