Driven by Excellence

Is your company truly prepared for the aftermath of a fatal road collision? In this special episode of Driven by Excellence , host Samantha Leleu welcomes barrister Charlotte Le Maire to introduce a powerful new event, "Driving The Verdict." This immersive mock trial places a company's driver risk policies on trial in a real courtroom setting.  With recent reports highlighting that the UK's active...

What if the biggest risk your business faces is something your team does every day without thinking?  In this episode of Driven by Excellence , host Hattie Hlad sits down with leading road safety expert Andrew Drewary to uncover why driving remains one of the most dangerous daily activities—and what organisations can do to minimise risk.  With over 40,000 road traffic investigations under his belt...

What does it take to build a thriving business in the logistics training sector while fostering a strong company culture? In this episode of Driven by Excellence, host Hattie Hlad sits down with Samantha Leleu, Director of PDT Fleet Training Solutions and Pertemps Southwest. Sam shares her incredible journey from recruitment to leading one of the UK’s most recognised fleet training organisations....

How are disruptive technologies reshaping the logistics and supply chain industry?  In this episode, Hattie speaks with Dr Muhammad Azmat, Assistant Professor in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Aston University, to explore the transformative power of innovations like drones, autonomous vehicles, and green logistics. Dr. Azmat shares his inspiring journey, groundbreaking research, and visi...

What does it take to transition from a structured policing career to a flexible and impactful role in road safety?  In this episode, Hattie Hlad is joined once again by Olly Tayler, a retired traffic police officer turned road safety trainer, to discuss his remarkable journey. Throughout the episode, Olly shares his insights into leveraging decades of experience to drive positive change in road sa...

In this episode, Hattie Hlad explores the transformative impact of the government-funded HGV Skills Bootcamp Programme with Jack Hicks, National Skills Bootcamp Manager, and Damian Waszak, National Employee Liaison from PDT Fleet Training Solutions. The discussion highlights how the programme addresses the critical HGV driver shortage. With over 3,000 individuals trained and 150 employers supporte...

In this episode, Hattie Hlad explores the vital importance of immediate legal support for drivers involved in road traffic incidents. Joined by Charlotte Le Maire, an experienced barrister and founder of LMP Legal, the conversation highlights the critical role that 24/7 roadside legal assistance can play in protecting drivers and their employers from severe consequences. Through case studies, Char...

In this episode, host Hattie Hlad welcomes Dr Elizabeth Box, a seasoned transport researcher and head of the RAC Foundation's research programme. Dr Box brings over two decades of expertise in road safety, behavioural psychology, and transport policy. The conversation delves into Elizabeth's career journey, from her academic roots at the University of Cambridge to her current work at the RAC Found...

Welcome to Driven By Excellence, your trusted place for all things logistics and road safety from PDT Fleet Training. Each month, join host Hattie Hlad as she interviews experts on a wide range of topics within the logistics field. About the host: Hattie Hlad works for PDT fleet training as the coordinator of LGV advanced training, an investment for the next generation of drivers, funded by Pertem...

For those who work in the transport sector, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are central to our industry. From Car and HGV tests to roadside enforcement, there is much the DVSA does to ensure that drivers, vehicles and operators are safe out on the roads. In this episode, Hattie is joined by Mark Horton, an Enforcement Policy Specialist at the DVSA, to discuss roadside enforcement an...

As parents or carers, the priority is to keep your children safe and this arguably starts when securing your newborn in car seats ready to take them home for the first time. But as your children grow, and their child seat needs change, where do we get the right information? How do we know when to change the seats? How do we make the right decision to ensure maximum safety for our children?  In thi...

In this episode, Hattie is joined by former Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell, who shares insights from her career and her continued work in the road safety sector. Listen as Beverley reflects on her journey as the first female Traffic Commissioner and emphasises the need for operators to seek expert advice and be proactive in maintaining safe and legally compliant fleet operations. (0:10) Introd...

In this episode, Hattie is joined once again by Former Inspector Olly Tayler QPM, as they delve into the impact on not only the drivers and their loved ones but also the wider community and the first responders who deal with these traumatic events. Please note, this episode contains discussions of fatal road traffic accidents. Listener discretion is advised. (0:10) Introduction (1:30) First Respon...

In this episode, Hattie is joined by Dr Victoria Kroll, CEO and co-founder of Esitu Solutions, a company focused on implementing traffic psychology research into the real world. In this episode, Vicky shares her journey into road risk academia and discusses the importance of their research in improving driver safety, the benefits of virtual reality in road safety, and the impact of their research...

In this episode, Hattie is joined by James Evans, the founder and managing director of First Car, an organisation that publishes over 2 million safe driving magazines each year. Listen as James discusses his background and how he became interested in road safety, along with his work with The Honest Truth, Co-Pilot and the ICE hub. (0:10) Introduction (1:17) James' introduction to road safety (3:16...

In this episode, Hattie speaks with Andy Smart, head of L&D for PDT Fleet Training Solutions, to discuss his experience in creating and assuring effective delivery of driver training courses and the importance of driver CPC training. (0:10) Introduction (2:45) Training with unfamiliar vehicles (7:59) Improving driver behaviour (13:27) Practical VS Classroom training (16:21) Driver's CPC (22:09...

With rising fuel and food prices pushing inflation to a 40-year high, matched with a well-documented shortage of truck drivers, more and more pressure is being put on the supply chain. Recent statistics from Logistics UK suggest that there is currently a shortage of over 60,000 LGV drivers. In this time, the number of HGV drivers claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell to just 60, so the marketplace f...

In this episode of Driven By Excellence, Hattie is joined by Mark Cartwright, head of the Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention team at National Highways, to discuss road safety and National Highways' role in making roads safer. (0:09) Introduction (4:17) National Highways (10:40) Employers' road safety obligations (16:40) Post-collision Trauma Response (24:25) Smart motorways About the guest: Ma...

For many who serve in the Armed Forces, being in the military is a structure, a family unit, and a way of life. Therefore, it's understandable that a lot of service leavers can find it a challenge to transition to new employment on 'Civvy Street'. It is clear that many qualities and skills obtained developed during military service are highly transferable to a professional driving career. It's why...

In this episode of Driven By Excellence, Hattie is joined by Pip Bains, arguably one of the most knowledgeable people in the logistics and compliance sector as they discuss his 20-year career within logistics and his thoughts on some key topics including future trends, the impact of Brexit and the shift to zero-emissions vehicles. (0:09) Introduction to Pip Bains (5:09) Pip's career highlights (7:...

In the first episode of Driven By Excellence, Hattie is joined by Former Inspector Olly Tayler QPM, as they unpack his experience in road policing and dig down to find out what led him to get involved and proactively reduce road risk. Please note, this episode contains discussions of fatal road traffic accidents. Listener discretion is advised. (1:34) Olly's career in policing (5:17) Arriving at t...