Feed safety is at the forefront of what we do, and we are consistently working towards a ‘target zero’ policy to ensure we achieve this. A part of this journey involves ABN’s strong team of HGV drivers who work hard to deliver customers’ feed safely and on time.
Mark Trump
Mark started his career at West Country retail butcher Lloyd Maunder in 1984 at age 16. Whilst working in the abattoir, Mark took his HGV test, before moving to the poultry side of the business.
After a series of acquisitions over many years, Mark is proud to have accumulated 40 years of continued service, and he finds being part of ABN’s bigger picture in working towards a target zero policy rewarding.
“We take our vehicle checks very seriously, so we start the day by completing a visual inspection of the feed to ensure it is of top quality,” says Mark.
“The checks continue once we have arrived at our destination and the feed is being discharged. We consistently assess our surroundings to be certain we, and those around us, are safe,” Mark explains.
Part of this visual assessment could be clearing up any spillages that could become hazardous or impose a risk to the farm and its animals.
“A typical day for me starts at 5am and finishes at 8pm. I work a 15-hour day, 3 days a week, with two nights out in the lorry, allowing me to help other feed mills with late deliveries in the day if needed,” Mark shares.
Mark enjoys being out on the road and in the countryside, and this is made more enjoyable by sharing a lorry with a great friend.
“Ian and myself grew up in the same street, and it has been a pleasure to share a lorry with someone who has the same passion and commitment to keeping it as clean as I do,” Mark says.
Ian Pyne
Ian has been an HGV driver for almost 38 years and works alongside Mark. Ian started his driving career with a family-owned company, delivering animal feed all over Southwest England in a bulk blower truck.
“I have always believed that following farm biosecurity and feed safety procedures should be at the forefront of an HGV driver’s mind when out on deliveries,” Ian says.
Ian starts the day with vehicle checks, ensuring the lorry is roadworthy and safe to drive. This is also repeated on departure from the farm, along with wheel washes to prevent the spread of any animal diseases.
“Alongside the visual checks of the feed, I like to take a small sample to give to the customer. I believe this is good practice to show the quality of the feed they will be giving to their animals, and to make sure they are happy with the product before unloading,” explains Ian.
“We follow individual farm protocols during our visit, which often involves signing in and out and leaving disposable overalls and overshoes on the farm before returning to the mill. We are also provided with PPE during the winter months to help us stay safe on-farm,” Ian adds.
Alongside ABN’s account managers who regularly meet face-to-face with customers, HGV drivers also have regular contact with customers, allowing them to receive any feedback.
“I enjoy being part of a larger team that works together to ensure customers get their feed safely and delivered in good condition,” says Ian.
Staying safe on-farm
Mark and Ian’s transport manager, Matthew Jenkin, ensures ABN HGV drivers are safe during their day-to-day activities.
“We provide extensive training on all aspects of the delivery process with tailored individual driver training. Training is supplemented with regular toolbox talks providing up-to-date information on health and safety and delivery processes,” explains Matthew.
“Alongside training, all drivers are issued with and carry GPS lone worker devices, which are monitored 24/7 should they get into difficulties while out on deliveries,” adds Matthew.
Devon Truck Show
All of ABN’s HGV drivers are provided with the latest vehicles, equipped with trackers, all around work lights, cab step lights and reversing, forward-facing and side wing cameras. These are all on a strict 5-week inspection rota and includes 24-hour defect support.
One of Mark and Ian’s highlights of a career as an HGV driver is taking part in truck shows across the UK. So far, the pair have taken their lorry to a total of nine events, and in May 2023 drove to the Devon Truck Show where they entered their shared Mercedes lorry.
The Devon Truck Show takes place annually at Honiton Showground and raises money for local charities and community groups. Ian and Mark were thrilled to take home the award for ‘Best Mercedes in Show’ for the second year running and be highly commended in the company driver category.
“Last year we also attended Truckfest in the Southwest where over 1000 trucks were entered into the competition. We were delighted to be chosen as one of the highly commended entries. We are proud to represent ABN at the truck shows and talk to visitors about the work we do,” says Ian.
Alongside the truck events, Mark has taken part in a carnival run to advertise the United Truckers Childrens Convoy and a prom run for fellow employees’ children.
Tips for a career in HGV driving
Interested in a career as an HGV driver? Mark and Ian’s tips for being a successful HGV driver are to take care when you are out on the roads and be certain to take farm safety seriously.
“Look after your lorry and equipment. You will be spending most of your working week in the HGV, so it is important to keep it clean,” Mark advises.
“The tip I have for anyone who wants to go driving is to follow your dream in whichever route it takes you, fellow drivers will help, so don't be afraid to ask,” Ian shares.
Keep an eye on the AB Agri website for our latest vacancies and careers in agriculture, including our HGV driver roles.
https://www.abagri.com/careers/our-vacancies