Let's Talk Logistics - Tom Garland

I find people-management to be the most exciting element of the transport and logistics industry. I’d say 75% of the role is about managing people and developing leadership skills, so you get to deal with a lot of different people day-to-day. Leadership is a key transferrable skill that is important in any industry.

Sustainability has become a focal point in the industry. There are lots of different projects related to sustainability. For example, how to cut down carbon emissions with renewable energies and using new sources of fuel. So, you may be looking at how an organisation can move away from being powered by fossil fuels and move towards electric vehicles, which is really interesting! Business and technology play a key part too, with things like Power BI and Excel to create clever spreadsheets that calculate emissions and emission savings.

Logistics is always going to be a vital part of any organisation and there is a strong backing by the Government to encourage people to take up careers in the logistics industry through various schemes such as Generation Logistics.

Can you tell us a little bit about your role?

I'm currently on the Oxalis graduate scheme, which is a two-year graduate scheme. The first 8 months I spent shadowing the Transport Manager. So, I was more on the front line, getting to understand the drivers and how they operate as people on a day-to-day basis. This included deliveries going out, checking, and making sure the drivers were supposed to be doing what they should be doing. It also included a bit of paperwork and general management of drivers, which is a skill you can transfer to any sector. Disciplining and investigating individuals in the workplace, particularly when they are older, can be challenging as a young newcomer. However, mastering these skills early has prepared me well for professional life.

The next project I worked on was about developing a new delivery method. We changed the way we deliver to a process called Oxalis Controlled Delivery, which means that the driver became the competent person when getting petrol. Instead of the shop operator. For this project, I had to ensure the drivers were trained on how to do this, so I produced training material and travelled across the country to roll out the method.

Now in the final phase of the graduate scheme, I'm working in the Control Centre, which has more links to Geography. My favourite part about the control centre is tackling issues that arise when drivers report problems. Each day brings a new challenge, requiring problem-solving and quick re-planning. It's a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

This part of the graduate scheme has helped me understand both a controller’s point of view, as well as a transport manager's point of view, so I get a full-rounded picture of operations. The goal, as an Oxalis graduate, is to grasp the entire picture of the supply chain.

This experience allows you to progress and develop through the ranks as well as understand the intricacies of each role within a business, contributing to its overall success.

 

What’s next?

I really enjoy transport management. I think my strength is people management and communication, so that will help me liaise with drivers. After the graduate scheme, I would love to become a Transport Manager at one of Oxalis’s sites and work my way up in the organisation.