Rob Smith
| Current role at Irving OilIrving Energy Delivery Driver and Peer Coach |
| Current work locationPEI |
| Favourite school subjectsHistory and Automotive Mechanics |
Interests and activities
I was interested in getting into the workforce at a young age. I started by doing a paper route and then moved on to food service employment throughout high school. I worked at a Chinese restaurant washing dishes and then moved on to working at Tim Hortons for the rest of high school. I took an early interest in motorcycles and purchased one as my first vehicle. I kept working hard in high school to upgrade and buy my first car before graduating. I really enjoyed the auto mechanics course I took in high school, learning the basics about cars and small engines. I was very interested in being able to diagnose issues and repair my own vehicle.
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Background
All through high school I knew I wanted to work in the trucking industry. I started early, while still in Grade 12, by working on garbage trucks when I wasn’t in school. This was a big steppingstone to gain experience in the field. After high school, I worked full-time in the garbage industry for a number of years before moving into the agricultural field. I learned a lot working on the farm, including how to drive and repair all the different types of trucks and equipment. From here, I then moved on to the building supply industry, operating boom trucks. I enjoyed this position very much, along with the opportunity to take on a management role in busy lumber yards for 15 years. While I was working in the lumber yards, an opportunity to join Irving Oil presented itself. After long consideration, I jumped on board as a driver with Irving and have never looked back!
Career
For my first six years with Irving Oil, I was responsible for a residential furnace oil route, delivering home heating oil to residents. More recently, for the last four years, I have been responsible for the commercial diesel run, delivering to farmers, fishermen and various other commercial accounts. I travel around the Maritimes and often help out in other areas as well.
Irving Oil is the best company I have ever had the opportunity to work for. After getting some experience with the company, I accepted a role as a Peer Coach, giving me the opportunity to train and mentor new employees. I am responsible for the initial onboarding of new drivers, including Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training and Transportation of Dangerous Goods training. I also do ride-along truck training until the new employee is ready to work independently.
As an employee of Irving Oil, I enjoy the healthy work-and-home balance, which allows for plenty of time to spend with family and still do the things I enjoy, such as riding my motorcycle and travelling.