Whether it is the beginning of a new day or the end of a hard week, Pall-Ex London driver Steve Thorne always goes above and beyond to make sure the job gets done.
Not satisfied with just making sure that his tasks are carried out as well as they possibly can be, Steve regularly helps fellow drivers and staff members throughout the business.
We wanted to find out what made Steve tick, so we spoke to him to find out more about his job and what he does for fun.
How did you get into logistics?
I’ve always worked in logistics, I moved into my current role eight years ago.
I had been driving long distances, often on motorways and at night and I didn’t enjoy it anymore. The love for driving was still there but not in that context. I wanted a new challenge and becoming a Collection and Delivery (C&D) driver gave me that opportunity.
What do you enjoy about being a C&D driver with Pall-Ex London?
One of the best things about my job is that I get to spend a lot of time on my own in the countryside.
I like my own company and being seeing some beautiful parts of the country on my routes each day is much better than being in an office job I think.
Another aspect of my role that makes me love coming to work is the fact that I can help not only our customers at every drop, but other drivers and staff at Pall-Ex London. It always makes me feel really good to do that little bit more, whether that be an extra collection, or helping in the warehouse for a while. Knowing that I am helping ensure the operation runs smoothly is a real buzz.
Your daily routine is clearly never set in stone, but what does an average day look like for you?
It’s true that there is no ‘average’ day, as it is always changing, sometimes from hour to hour.
Most days, I arrive at the yard at around 07:00 and prepare my truck, checking that it is safely loaded and secure, ready for the road. Then I head out and make my deliveries around the area in the morning.
You get used to some of the routes as we deliver or collect from some customers on an almost daily basis, but some deliveries take me to places I would never have dreamed of going. That always makes it more interesting.
I’m normally back at the yard by 18:00 and then I head home, looking forward to getting out on the road early the next morning.
What may surprise people about your role?
Driving a HGV is not as easy as it looks and this is backed up by the fact that we all have to pass our HGV licences that are much harder than a normal driving test. As drivers, we have to be able to multitask and be reactive to situations that are often out of our control. I might, for example, encounter road closures or accidents that mean I have to think on my feet to make sure the customer still receives their goods.
Another thing that may surprise people about my job is that delivering and collecting is quite physically demanding. Moving the pallets and operating the pump trucks can be a challenge depending on the conditions and this job definitely keeps me fit. This often shocks people, as there is often the stereotype of lorry drivers that we like our fry-ups and as a result our fitness isn’t great. Being a vegetarian, I don’t fall into that bracket and the physical work keeps my fit and healthy.