Steve Harris

Steve has been working with Driver Hire Belfast for an incredible 20 years. He told us all about how he found his way to Driver Hire, and how he also became one of their Driver CPC trainers.

“I’ve driven Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Lady Di”

– Steve, Driver Hire agency driver for 20+ years

 

We caught Category C+E driver, Steve Harris, not long before he settled down for a good night’s sleep in the cab of a customer’s Volvo.

Earlier in the day he’d taken the tractor-unit and a trailer-full of flour to Dublin. The following morning, he was heading back across the border to complete another shift for Driver Hire Belfast, the recruitment agency he’s been with for the past 20 years.

Steve’s driving career goes back a lot longer than that. Now 63, he joined the Army three days after leaving school, aged 16.

In common with many fellow service-men, that’s where he learnt to drive an HGV. “It was an AEC with a 16-speed crash gearbox and a maximum speed of 32mph,” Steve recalls.

“You could warm a tin of soup for your lunch on the engine cover in the cab. Now I’m driving a vehicle with adaptive cruise control and when it’s time for a break, I can warm my soup in the cab’s microwave. It’s quicker than the engine cover – but not half as much fun.”

 

Steve’s 20-year army career took him on tours of duty in Germany and Northern Ireland, where he met his wife and was married in 1985.

His army driving wasn’t all about crawling along in an AEC at 32mph. “I also did a stint as a chauffeur/bodyguard. I’ve driven Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Lady Di,” Steve recalls.
Back in civvy street, after working for various Northern Ireland-based transport companies both as a driver and, for a time, a night operations manager, Steve found himself in need of a slightly new direction. And that’s when he decided to join Driver Hire Belfast.

It’s proved to be a great move. ”Because of my extensive experience, they asked me to become their Driver-CPC trainer,” Steve. “It’s great. I never saw myself doing it. And, as I’m doing today, it’s good to keep your hand on the wheel and get out on the road again. The great thing with being an agency driver, is you can always take off when you want. I’ve got a six-year old grandson now. Working as a temp means I can spend more time with him which is wonderful.”

If you’re considering work with Driver Hire, get in touch with your local office today. Thinking about upgrading your licence to become an HGV driver? Take a look at the Driver Hire Training website.