For those who work in the transport sector, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are central to our industry. From Car and HGV tests to roadside enforcement, there is much the DVSA does to ensure that drivers, vehicles and operators are safe out on the roads. In this episode, Hattie is joined by Mark Horton, an Enforcement Policy Specialist at the DVSA, to discuss roadside enforcement and the measures taken to ensure vehicle and driver compliance. (0:10) Introduction (1:37) Mark's journey to the DVSA (3:12) DVSA and roadside enforcement (13:18) Improving compliance on our roads (22:2 ..read more

As parents or carers, the priority is to keep your children safe and this arguably starts when securing your newborn in car seats ready to take them home for the first time. But as your children grow, and their child seat needs change, where do we get the right information? How do we know when to change the seats? How do we make the right decision to ensure maximum safety for our children?  In this episode, Hattie is joined by Julie Dagnall and Claire Waterhouse from Child Seat Safety UK to highlight the need for proper training and knowledge in this area, as well as the misconceptions th ..read more

In this episode, Hattie is joined by former Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell, who shares insights from her career and her continued work in the road safety sector. Listen as Beverley reflects on her journey as the first female Traffic Commissioner and emphasises the need for operators to seek expert advice and be proactive in maintaining safe and legally compliant fleet operations. (0:10) Introduction (0:40) Understanding the role of Traffic Commissioner (2:03) The first female Traffic Commissioner (8:24) Beverley's standout case (11:32) The consequences of non-compliance (13:01) Commissione ..read more

In this episode, Hattie is joined once again by Former Inspector Olly Tayler QPM, as they delve into the impact on not only the drivers and their loved ones but also the wider community and the first responders who deal with these traumatic events. Please note, this episode contains discussions of fatal road traffic accidents. Listener discretion is advised. (0:10) Introduction (1:30) First Responders and traumatic events (4:17) Public perception of First Responders (7:03) The emotional toll of dealing with fatal collisions (12:44) Managing trauma and PTSD (21:26) The importance of road safety ..read more

In this episode, Hattie is joined by Dr Victoria Kroll, CEO and co-founder of Esitu Solutions, a company focused on implementing traffic psychology research into the real world. In this episode, Vicky shares her journey into road risk academia and discusses the importance of their research in improving driver safety, the benefits of virtual reality in road safety, and the impact of their research on the fleet industry. (0:10) Introduction (0:52) Vicky's journey (8:06) Driving change through research (10:47) Esitu Solutions (14:17) VR and driver safety About the guest: Victoria Kroll is the&nbs ..read more

In this episode, Hattie is joined by James Evans, the founder and managing director of First Car, an organisation that publishes over 2 million safe driving magazines each year. Listen as James discusses his background and how he became interested in road safety, along with his work with The Honest Truth, Co-Pilot and the ICE hub. (0:10) Introduction (1:17) James' introduction to road safety (3:16) Protecting young drivers (5:07) The Honest Truth (10:54) The ICE Hub (15:45) Co-Pilot (20:40) Looking to the future (21:53) How parents can protect young drivers About the guest: James Evans is the ..read more

In this episode, Hattie speaks with Andy Smart, head of L&D for PDT Fleet Training Solutions, to discuss his experience in creating and assuring effective delivery of driver training courses and the importance of driver CPC training. (0:10) Introduction (2:45) Training with unfamiliar vehicles (7:59) Improving driver behaviour (13:27) Practical VS Classroom training (16:21) Driver's CPC (22:09) Keeping drivers engaged About the guest: Andy Smart is the Head of L&D at PDT Fleet Training Solutions. Andy began his journey in the logistics world in 1988 as a Weighbridge Clerk, before he s ..read more

With rising fuel and food prices pushing inflation to a 40-year high, matched with a well-documented shortage of truck drivers, more and more pressure is being put on the supply chain. Recent statistics from Logistics UK suggest that there is currently a shortage of over 60,000 LGV drivers. In this time, the number of HGV drivers claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell to just 60, so the marketplace for drivers is extremely competitive. In this episode, we discuss what employers do or could do to attract more driving talent into the industry and how to retain them. (0:10) Introduction (5:47) Metho ..read more

In this episode of Driven By Excellence, Hattie is joined by Mark Cartwright, head of the Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention team at National Highways, to discuss road safety and National Highways' role in making roads safer. (0:09) Introduction (4:17) National Highways (10:40) Employers' road safety obligations (16:40) Post-collision Trauma Response (24:25) Smart motorways About the guest: Mark Cartwright has spent most of his working career in and around the transport logistics industry, with 32 years with the FTA. Mark joined National Highways three years ago to head up the Commercial V ..read more

For many who serve in the Armed Forces, being in the military is a structure, a family unit, and a way of life. Therefore, it's understandable that a lot of service leavers can find it a challenge to transition to new employment on 'Civvy Street'. It is clear that many qualities and skills obtained developed during military service are highly transferable to a professional driving career. It's why many of the best LGV drivers are ex-service personnel. There is a well-documented national shortage of LGV drivers, so there is plenty of work available, and good drivers can get excellent pay rates ..read more