When I left school, I started an apprenticeship with a leading heavy goods vehicle manufacturer. My time there was enjoyable, and I learnt a lot. However, I started to look at other avenues of employment where my skills, knowledge and experience could be utilised and somewhere I could still be productive into my mid to late 60’s.
I applied for a career as a Vehicle Examiner with the DVSA (Formally known as VOSA). The annual leave and pension package was far superior to what I currently had, and the job role looked appealing and varied.
At the age of 28 I started work on the High-Risk Transport Initiative (HRTI) team working early, late and night shifts.
The DVSA support a healthy work / home life balance and have facilitated my working patterns to suit my childcare arrangements. , When I began I worked shifts, and as a new father, my time off through the week allowed me quality time with my son during his early years. Now my children are older I am able to work day shifts which enables quality time in the evenings with my family. I also have the option of working from home should my work require. My job is more varied and I manage my own workload between roadside enforcement, MOT compliance and Operator visits.
My role consists of working within an enthusiastic and passionate team of vehicle and traffic examiners. We use intelligence led information to target dangerous vehicles and operators. The whole team take great pride in removing unsafe vehicles and drivers from the road network and I personally feel a great deal of job satisfaction. Every day is different, you never know who you might meet or what you might find.