Driver Of The Month: January 2022
We are extremely happy to announce Paul Cooper as our Driver of the Month for January. Congratulations, Paul!
Paul is a pleasure to work with and upkeeps every movement to a great standard - a very big thank you to Paul from the Engineius team and our customers, and we look forward to working with you further in 2022!
Make sure to read on to find out more about Paul’s time with us to date, including his top 2 experiences with the business so far, and advice for the rest of the network 👇
What do you love most about the job?
Having run my own company for over 20 years, I appreciate being my own boss. The ability to undertake jobs I want, when I want, is what attracted me to Engineius in the first place. I love the opportunity to visit parts of the UK that I haven’t been to before and I am looking forward to taking jobs up into Scotland and it’s Islands in 2022. To be honest, every job has a story behind it, and some are quite extraordinary! 🙂
How do you ensure you deliver vehicles on time?
Don’t over-commit, and assume the worst will happen! The first mistake I made, and there were a few, was to try and cram too much into one day. That’s not good for the customers or for stress levels! Trains can be late, buses may not turn up, accidents will clog the motorways, etc.
Planning is important, not just your first choice options, but also your back up ones. Communication is also key – people accept things happen, as long as they are kept informed.
What has been your best experience with Engineius so far?
I'm going to have to go for two – for very different reasons. The first one was delivering a Royal Mail van to the Isle of Wight. It was a sunny autumnal day and I sat on the dock waiting for the ferry, gazing out across the Solent… bliss. And I got to take the hovercraft back which was a first!
The second one was delivering an AA car to an instructor – it was the first vehicle that was truly hers and we took photos of her, the car and her license – she was so happy and it was a privilege to share the moment.
How many miles do you do on average a week?
It varies immensely but it must be around 500 on average. My perception of distance has changed radically since starting. 180 miles used to be a big deal - now it’s popping round the corner!
What do you think are the secrets behind getting to where you’ve got to?
Hard work, planning, and listening to people. Accepting that you will make mistakes and learn from them, and not getting frustrated. That and a good pair of boots! 🥾
What drives you to succeed in this job?
I’m a perfectionist and my own worst critic. Every job affects many people – the customer, their employer, the Engineius Operations team, me… Aim to make everyone’s lives easier but also recognise that when things go wrong, a fix is often a bigger win.
Do you reconcile your jobs and expenses on a regular basis?
I try - not only keeping records to reconcile against Engineius invoices but also to maintain records for my accountant and my own personal valuation of the "worth" of each job. Given my programming background, I am working on a system to automate this... just need to find 5 minutes! 🤔
What are you most excited about this year?
Taking on more jobs each week and looking further afield, like travelling to Scotland, Ireland, and the many UK Islands are definitely targets of mine when the weather improves. I was also hoping to win Driver of the Month, so ticking that box in January means I need another goal! 😄
What makes Engineius a special place to work?
Autonomy yet with the Operations crew behind you. Decent tech and a real camaraderie between drivers!
What is the best advice you can give other drivers?
I’m not sure I’m qualified to do that, however, I guess make the job what you want it to be… Oh, and be nice to depot staff, a kind word can get you far!
By winning Driver of the Month, you not only have the opportunity to feature on the company website, but you will also receive a brand new high-vis Engineius-branded jacket as a thank you from the Engineius team for all your hard work! Could you be our February Driver of the Month?
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