Joe O'Dwyer

As rental controller, my role is to manage a fleet of HGVs and trailers in a busy, high paced environment. I work hard to provide an efficient, and high quality service of vehicle and trailer rental, using my past experience and knowledge of the industry.

My main role is ensuring that every vehicle and trailer that we rent are to the highest of quality standards, in line with the strict compliance regulations that are set to HGVs and trailers. I also show strong communication skills, to manage a team of drivers to ensure efficient transport schedules to meet customer demand.

As Assistant Branch Manager of our head office location in Leicestershire, my role from an operational point of view is to ensure a smooth daily running of a busy, and often stressful working environment, working closely with the Branch manager on a day to day basis.

Vehicle rental is an incredibly fast paced and proactive industry, with initiative and reactiveness at the forefront of what we do daily. Working closely with the majority of departments across the business, our main aim is to successfully maintain our fleet of almost 4000 vehicles.

Main responsibilities include:

• Manage a team of 4 rental administrators
• Planning daily driver movements and yard tasks for our team of 15 drivers and 4 on-site valeters
• Process new and additional vehicle bookings, liaising with sales agents daily
• Ensuring the fleet is legally compliant (MOT dates/insurance)
• Interviewing potential candidates for both office and driver roles

As a Rental Administrator in our Head Office Location in Leicestershire, I worked closely with the assistant manager to ensure that our branch ran smoothly and efficiently on a day to day basis.

Communicating regularly with our vastly growing customer base, email and telephone requests were of paramount importance. Adapting to the fast-paced office space came quickly, due to a hands on and direct training programme.

Main responsibilities included;

• Email and telephone communication with customers
• Daily yard checks
• Processing new and existing customer bookings
• Vehicle safety checks

With a fleet of then 1500 vehicles, all fitted with GPS telematics, my role was to ensure the constant maintenance of the telematics system in place.

Daily data analysis of live and historical vehicle movements, customer mileage coverage and driver behaviour ensured that our vehicles were being maintained as they should by our customers

Responsibilities included;

• Daily vehicle tracking (company delivery drivers and customers where required)
• Monthly customer mileage checks (in correspondence with customer mileage contracts)
• Fitting and removal of GPS tracker units in new and departing fleet vehicles
• Ensuring that all vehicles on fleet were fitted with fully operational tracking devices

From leaving Sixth Form College, I began my career at Radius Vehicle Solutions. Fresh out of school, I was eager to learn the ins and outs of a busy, and rapidly growing business.

As a management trainee, I spent the a year rotating through the business with each individual department. Gaining an insight on all company functions and policies, whilst meeting new employees each day enabled me to progress quickly after the trainee programme was complete.

Learning quickly, and my eye for detail meant that I was able to take on a permanent, and crucial role moving forward with the business.

From the age of 16, I felt it important to learn and experience the world of work. I began work at Od'thorpes Cafe, whilst studying for my GCSE's and A-Levels.

A small family run Business - Od'thorpes gave me the opportunity to start earning my own money, whilst enhancing and improving my communication and social skills in a busy and fast-moving working environment.

Responsibilities included;

• Preparing fresh food and drinks
• Key holder
• Stock taking
• Till operation
• Daily cash reconciliation