Prison officer turns truckie
FIVE YEARS AGO CAREER PRISON OFFICER BENNY Severne decided he needed a change of job. Although he’d been with the Department of Corrections for 30 years, the Taupo-based Severne had “always liked the idea of becoming a truck driver.” Now 54, he’s become a “poster boy” for Kiwi job-based driver hire service, DGH – an example of how it can help truckies and operators alike, by supplying commercial drivers to businesses on a job-by-job basis….for fixed terms, seasonal or adhoc assignments.
Severne says the problem with his truck-driving aspirations was that he “never really knew how to go about becoming one – until I was introduced to DGH.”
Through the company, he found out “exactly what was needed to become a driver and, soon after handing my notice in as a corrections officer, I went on to acquire my Class 2 licence and later my Class 4.
“Once qualified, DGH helped secure my first job – as a driver guide. I worked in tourism initially – for a range of different businesses, including Kiwi Experience, Mana Bus, Mt Ruapehu and G Adventure.
“I was able to meet all sorts of people – driving passenger buses and doubledeckers all over New Zealand, up and down snowy, icy mountain roads.
“After a couple of seasons working as a driver guide, I decided to go on to complete my Class 5 licence, so I could drive trucks too.”
That done, “DGH again helped secure my first truck-driving role – at Central Transport. Three years on, I still work with them today.”
Severne credits DGH with helping him to “grow and develop. They’ve helped point me in the right direction as to what I need to get up and running – and set me up with the right types of businesses that I want to work for.
“They really do go that extra mile. For example, they help organise and facilitate each driver’s specific training requirements to match the client’s brief and needs.
“Working in the gig economy – on a job-by-job basis – is ideal for me. It means I have real flexibility and am able to hand-pick the types of jobs that I’m really passionate about.
“For example, pre COVID-19, I would work as a driver guide in the high tourism season and then, during winter, I would change things up and work in the trucking industry.
“Unfortunately, like many things, work opportunities have changed due to COVID-19 and with the NZ borders continuing to stay closed for the foreseeable future, driving work within the tourism sector is sparce.
“Pivoting my skills and increasing my truck-driving work has meant I can continue working in a slightly different sector that I’m equally as passionate about.”
T&D