Each month we take a fly-on-the-wall look at Waltet’s most valued assets – our people, and the month of October is no different.
This month we grabbed Jason, one of our tipper drivers, for a chat where we found out what he loves about life at Waltet and his freezing cold hobby. Ice ice baby!
Q: Describe your role at Waltet – your job title and what the role entails.
A: Hi, I’m Jason and I’m one of five Tipper Drivers here at Waltet. Being a tipper driver, I deliver aggregates (for example – stone, gravel and sand) to all sorts of businesses and take muck away from sites too. I am based out of our Nursling site but am a frequent visitor to our Bunny Lane Recycling Centre where I take all of the collected waste.
Q: How long have you been working at Waltet?
A:I joined Waltet in November 2022 and haven’t looked back. Prior to me working at Waltet, I was working in the same role at another company. So I am very familiar with the role of Tipper Driver!
Q: What’s the first task you usually tackle when you arrive at Bunny Lane? How do you prioritise tasks for the day?
A: Coffee, always coffee!
After the caffeine hits, I’ll start the truck, pop in my Digi Card and do all of my vehicle checks. Once I’m happy that we’re safe and roadworthy I will head into the office to collect my Drivers Manifest, which is the paperwork which tells me where I’m going that day and if I’m delivering, collecting – or both.
Q: What are your favourite aspects of the job?
A: My favourite parts of the job are the atmosphere and values of the company and, of course, the team I work with. I also enjoy that my job has a bit of variety to it – it keeps me on my toes.
From a personal perspective, I love that we are based just off the M271 as it’s a short walk (or bike ride) from my house. It means I get to stretch my legs before work and then walk the days events off when I finish!
Q: What are the main challenges you typically encounter in your role, and how do you overcome them?
A: The one main challenge we find, and I’m sure I’m not the first to say is access on to some sites can be so tricky to navigate. If we’re going on to farm land then there’s usually lots of space to manoeuvre, but that can’t be said for all the sites that we visit unfortunately.
Luckily, I enjoy a challenge!
Q: What is it like working with the team at Waltet?
A: Internally, I love the team I work alongside. Externally, I enjoy getting out and meeting new people (and old friends) at the sites I visit. There is always good camaraderie!
Q: Are there any opportunities for professional development as part of your job?
A: Yes, we are always encouraged to keep learning and on top of our trade. We often go on to courses to refresh our driver knowledge, which is so important with all the new rules and regs that pop up.
Q: In your opinion, what three words describe Waltet as a business?
A: Local. Reliable. Fun!
Q: Share a fact about you that may surprise people…!
A: I’m a keen amateur chef and I am really into everything ‘Wim Hof’ – from yoga, breathing techniques and definitely the cold showers!
Are you looking for a job at a forward-thinking, growing local company? Check out our jobs here!
