David Hobson
A Day in the Life
David is responsible for the smooth running of Gulf’s fleet of tankers across the length and breadth of the UK. He has over 25 years experience in the oil industry and joined Gulf in 2004.
We are a closely knit team of four, responsible for the scheduling and delivery of fuel to the Gulf network. With sites from the tip of Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides and a network that is rapidly expanding, the job can be daunting and comes with a fair amount of stress. When you spend so many hours a day in work it is important to enjoy the job and I certainly do. It is one of the reasons that I have lasted so long in the industry.
The snow fall earlier in the year created a logistical nightmare for all those up and down the country managing deliveries and vehicle movements. Road closures, traffic gridlocks and reduced fleet numbers were just some of the tests we faced. On top of that our office is based in Leeds where heavy snow fell, so getting to work was a challenge in itself for the team, Nicola, David, Judy and me.
It is at times like this when the elements are against us and everything else seems to be conspiring that we prove we are worth our salt – excuse the pun! We try to maintain a light hearted approach and stay calm, a clear head is essential under such circumstances. Even with a fleet of 600 tankers at our disposal, the Siberian snows meant we had to be absolutely on our game, constantly keeping abreast of road closures and weather patterns around the UK, managing expectations and somehow delivering products with minimal disruption. There is no better sense of achievement than knowing that we have defied the odds to keep the network operational.
Our brief also extends beyond orders and transportation to include setting the day’s prices, managing the network’s pump maintenance and forecourt signage.
These roles occupy a significant part of my day. Gulf prides itself on the quality of its service and we ensure that in everything we do, the customer is at the forefront of our actions.
Gulf customers know they will receive a personal service from the order office. We do have an automated routing programme but choose not to use it because our customers prefer the traditional method. Customers order by phone and ask for us by name. We have an understanding of their forecourt layouts, load preferences and opening hours. We don’t talk about a slot or a window in seven days time; we ask them about tomorrow or at worst the day after. Customers see us as the front line for Gulf and so do we.
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