You’ve been in the industry 26 years. What’s a day in the life of Kevin Tracey like?

After making my morning coffee, I begin by reading through my emails, filtering out the most important, as in new bookings, customs issues on live loads or drivers being stuck at various places. I’ll then start on various tasks to ensure our loads get where they need to be on time.  

Next on the list will be quotes, reporting and admin, I also do my fair share of sales calls. But it’s not all desk work, last week I visited the Waste Recyclers exhibition at the NEC, engaging with people in the recycling sector and learning more about new policies coming in. I also like to get out and see my customers face to face. I missed that during the pandemic and am trying to build that back up again.  

What’s the one thing that people would be most surprised to learn about the industry?

The road freight industry is the 5th largest employer in the UK. We’re part of a huge machine that keeps the country functioning. I really enjoy being part of that and gaining a daily sense of achievement.  

You’ve seen the industry through Brexit and the pandemic. What’s the biggest change you’ve seen?

Working from home was not a thing before, but the pandemic brought out a new level of flexibility in the role. Once we had the right comms in place, we were able to continue working with a hybrid set up. It works really well for us.  

You’ve moved all sorts over the years, what’s the most obscure cargo?

Hmm, we move so much and it’s rarely run of the mill stuff. Being a big football fan, I’ll have to say shipping the back drops for UEFA cup final interview and trophy raising. You see it on TV and I can say “I moved that”. 

What advice would you give someone starting out in freight today?

Be prepared to adapt. It’s a fast-paced industry and tight deadlines means you’ve got to think on your feet and often multitask. Also, with the rise of AI, we need to keep up with technology and utilise it to support us day to day.