Life as a Driver Behaviour Business Partner
Niall Carroll works in our Learning & Development team, supporting the training needs of our drivers. He also has a particular focus on our telematics system, helping drivers establish how they can drive more efficiently. It’s a unique role so we asked Niall to tell us more about it.
How did you become a Driver Behaviour Business Partner?
I started my career working on a farm and then became a long-distance HGV Driver. For 12 years I travelled all over the UK, France, Spain and Portugal and really enjoyed being out on the road with every day being different. The one aspect I didn’t enjoy was the waiting around in the RDCs!
One of my old managers saw something in me and asked if I’d consider becoming a trainer and the rest is history!
What does your job entail?
I focus on linking our drivers with our telematics system, helping them use the data to drive more efficiently. Each driver has an EEDI (Energy Efficient Driving Index) score which is calculated by rating different aspects of driving such as idling and braking. By drilling into the data and identifying areas for improvement, drivers can reduce carbon emissions and lower fuel consumption.
In addition to this, I also work closely with managers ensuring they have everything they need to support their drivers, and I also create training plans. Looking to the future I will be involved in driver familiarisation of new vehicles, so we can get the best performance from the outset.
What makes you passionate about your role?
I love seeing improvements and getting involved in new technology. When I passed my HGV licence, I never thought we’d be driving electric trucks, nor did I consider that I would be working alongside telematics software! But once understood, these things make a real difference, and I consider it a privilege to be able to influence positive change.
You’ve been at Gregory Group for 26 years, how has the business, and wider logistics industry, changed in that time?
Gregory Group has grown significantly. We have always been keen to move forward with new ideas and that is what keeps me interested.
Looking at the logistics industry as a whole, the trucks of today are no comparison to what was on the road 26 years ago. They’re comfortable, quiet and efficient with much better vision. And now we have electric and hydrogen powered trucks which are taking haulage to a new level. Ratchet straps were not used when I first started driving, just ropes, and the road network has improved with bypasses around most large towns. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more traffic to fill them up now though. What we’ve lost is respect for one another when on the road.
What are you most proud of in your career?
I’m very proud of my career progression but I get the greatest sense of pride when I make a difference. We all learn in different ways, whether by sight, sound, or touch, and over the years I’ve developed techniques to identify an individual’s learning style. Finding that and helping them learn new skills and embrace change is very rewarding.
Our team spans multiple generations, what is it like working with such a diverse group of people?
It’s really refreshing and it’s good to see the transport sector is not wholly a male industry anymore like it was when I started.
If you weren’t a Driver Behaviour Business Partner, what would you be?
I love the outdoors, so I think I’d choose to be a ranger in one of the UK’s National Parks.