Dave joined TJ 10 years ago as a business administration apprentice, but it soon became clear that he had a keen interest in vehicle maintenance, so he moved to that part of the business and has not looked back since! Outside of work Dave enjoys spending time with his partner and socialising with friends.
WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE?
I’m responsible for all the daily maintenance for the entire fleet. This could be anything from reacting to a breakdown and dealing with it quickly to ensure the impact on operations is minimal, to arranging any routine repair that the vehicles require to remain compliant. Basically, if it’s got wheels, it’s my responsibility!
I also look after the tablets that the drivers use, which is the way that the office team communicates with the drivers. I ensure that they know how to use them and that the communication via them is clear and consistent. I ensure that vehicles attend all six-weekly inspections according to the schedule that TJ’s Fleet Manager, Lee Downer manages, and any of the other repair bookings I’ve made too.
Our drivers must conduct daily safety checks at the beginning of their shift and I oversee these. Once the checks are submitted, I look through them and action the tasks that need sorting immediately and put a plan in place for the things that aren’t urgent to ensure they get done. I do all I can to keep the fleet safe and compliant, whilst also keeping track of the spending too!
WHAT IS YOUR CAREER BACKGROUND?
I joined TJ Transport as a business administration apprentice. I did this as part of a career change and it was a great way to get into a new industry. It soon became clear that I had an inclination towards vehicle maintenance, repairs and tech, so I moved over to the fleet department and that’s where I’ve been ever since! I finished my apprenticeship, which was helpful to my learning and a great thing to have on my CV. I actually worked for a training provider prior to joining TJ and I truly believe in the apprenticeship scheme as it provides great opportunities for people to learn something new or change career direction.
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR ROLE?
Completing repairs without a shadow of a doubt! When a driver comes to you with a problem and you’re able to use your skills to solve it, that’s a great feeling. Ending the day with a list of jobs ticked off and happy drivers all-round gives me a real sense of job satisfaction.
HOW HAS TJ SUPPORTED YOU OVER THE YEARS?
I joined TJ as an apprentice, which was a great way for me to get into the industry. Once it was established I’d be more suited to a fleet role, TJ quickly got me onto the Transport Manager CPC course, which I undertook alongside my apprenticeship. I passed the course first time and since then, I’ve consistently been given opportunities to engage in continuing professional development.
It’s great to feel valued and invested in, and TJ is keen to keep my skills up-to-date, which I appreciate. I’ve recently completed my Transport Manager’s refresher course, and I’m looking forward to seeing what my next learning opportunity will be!
WHAT DO YOU PRIDE YOURSELF ON?
TJ is a FORS Silver transport company and for the past six years I’ve been responsible for preparing for the annual audit. We’ve recently passed our sixth consecutive FORS Silver accreditation, which is a great achievement. We got through the audit first time, with no elements needing to be reaudited. I’m thrilled that I was able to take the company through the process smoothly and proud that I’ve accomplished this.
WHY IS TJ A GREAT PLACE TO WORK?
TJ is an extremely flexible company to work for. While they expect their staff to work hard, it is very much give and take, so if I have an appointment to attend or an issue in my personal life, they’ll happily accommodate reasonable requests. Some employers keep count to the minute whereas TJ doesn’t; they treat us as employee assets rather than just bums on seats, which creates a great environment to work in.
Find out more about our services and meet other team members on our blog thread…
Here at TJ, we know what’s important. We prioritise our staff, our customers and our duty to the environment to ensure we’re doing our absolute best by everyone. In return, we’d like to ask you to support us in doing all these things – support TJ, so we can keep supporting our communities and partners!
TJ Group is the strategic arm of the highly successful companies TJ Waste and TJ Transport. Over the 29 years we’ve been operating, TJ Group has served both commercial and domestic clients with a range of waste management services, as well providing transport solutions to a range of industries.
Christmas is approaching and in the wake of COP26, it’s the ideal time to take a fresh look at some of the things we do during the festive season and how we could make some small changes that would really benefit our planet.
