Ten years in any job is quite a milestone. For me, that's been 3,650 days of witnessing unprecedented change in the commercial vehicle sector, almost entirely focused on one Torque client: market-leader DAF Trucks.
It all started with a rather speculative email to the late and great Martin Hayes at Torque. To my surprise, I was invited for an interview in London. A week later, I had the job. Just a small contract initially, but I worked hard and became full-time soon after.
When I mention truck PR to family and friends, I get everything from blank stares to polite curiosity. But what I see are compelling stories of innovation, technology, and – most interesting to me – the customers who keep the UK's economic wheels turning. My job has been to unpack these multilayered narratives for journalists, fleet managers and industry stakeholders.
While our job in communications has expanded to social media metrics and viral moments, I'm still convinced of the enduring impact of well-crafted, long-form writing and tried-and-tested relationship building. There's real satisfaction in explaining why the latest efficiency breakthroughs matter to modern logistics firms or telling the story of a century-old family-run haulage business. Writing remains my first professional love, whether I'm tackling technical deep-dives or celebrating drivers who've clocked up million-mile careers.
The past decade has brought profound industry shifts. Brexit meant supply-chain disruptions, new customs procedures and much more. Through all these challenges, the commercial vehicle sector showed impressive resilience, continuing to support us all while the industry adapted. The pandemic was another defining chapter, turning truck drivers into unsung heroes who kept shelves stocked and vital goods moving, while many of us adjusted to working from home.
And the technological transformation has been remarkable. When I started my career, EVs were a distant concept. Back then it was all about Euro-1 emissions, wind-down windows, and dog-eared road maps. Today's landscape features eMotors, predictive cruise control, and AI-supported fleet management. What seemed like science fiction then, today drives daily fleet operations.
Looking toward the next decade, the truck industry is set to evolve at unprecedented pace. Electric drivetrains, autonomous technology and advanced connectivity are transforming the landscape. But the fundamentals remain constant: understanding audiences, building relationships, and crafting compelling stories that grow more complex and fascinating with each technological advance.
In my fifties, I hope I bring experience and curiosity in equal measure. I've watched industry cycles come and go while remaining interested by technical innovations. The pleasure of documenting this evolution through writing continues to motivate me.
Looking back over the past decade, I wouldn't change much. My time with Torque, and our clients, has been an object lesson in building relationships, creating meaningful content, and staying relevant in a rapidly changing world. The journey ahead promises new technologies, stories and challenges.
