In this series, British Baker talks to people from across the baking industry to find out about their career path, what their job involves, and the latest trends that are shaping their work.
We’re looking to showcase a diverse range of talent and job types across the industry, so if you’d like to be involved, please email dan.riley@wrbm.com.
Name: Darren Hillyer
Age: 61
Job Title: Multi-skilled electric truck driver
Company and location: ADM Milling, Corby, Northamptonshire
Education: Marketing degree
Tell us about your career to date:
I started in sales, progressing through various management roles in companies involved in packaging manufacturing and container logistics. I then ran my own motorbike retail business for many years, which I sold just before Covid. I joined ADM shortly after as a newly qualified C+E Driver [HGV Class 1 licence].
How would you describe your job, and what kind of tasks and responsibilities does it involve?
As a multi-skilled driver, my role involves the safe loading of bulk flour into our tankers, driving it to our customers, and then safely discharging into the customer’s silos. We also deliver palletised bags of flour to our smaller bakery customers.
Tell us about a challenge you have overcome recently:
Winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of my ADM colleagues to the electric way! Many of our truck drivers, with decades of only driving diesel trucks, naturally had reservations. I’m pleased to say the vast majority are now converts.
What have been some highlights of your career?
I’ve been proud to be part of the Implementation team at ADM with responsibility for pioneering the transition from diesel trucks to electric over the last few years.
This has brought significant environmental and cost-saving benefits for both ADM and its bakery customers across the UK. Many bakeries now proactively push for deliveries using our electric truck fleet as part of their supply chain strategy.
What is a common misconception about your role?
That an electric truck does not have the range or the pulling power.
This is not the case. ADM can deliver flour in electric trucks to most of our bakery customers in the UK on a single charge, which typically has a range of between 200 and 250 miles. The amount of charge/miles remaining as indicated on the gauge is also very accurate, which removes any range anxiety.
The torque you feel, even with a gross weight of almost 42 tonnes, is amazing!
What advice would you give to aspiring young professionals looking to get into the baking industry?
Go for it! Listen and learn from those around you and stay focused. And well done for choosing a career path in an exciting innovative industry with lots of opportunities and a bright future.
Interested in a career in bakery? Check out Foodmanjobs for the latest vacancies
This September, sustainability takes centre stage across William Reed.
As the food and drink industry navigates economic uncertainty, evolving consumer expectations, technological disruption and the transition to a low-carbon future, access to trusted intelligence, expert insight and meaningful connections has never been more important.
As a trusted voice in the food and drink sector, we have a responsibility, and an opportunity, to use our influence to accelerate progress on one of the most important challenges facing our industry. Sustainable September brings together our content, expertise and people to explore the industry’s biggest sustainability challenges and showcase the solutions making a difference.
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