MEET MICHELLE BOLTON-KING

DAF now has Dealer Driver Trainers based across the country to help hand over new and used vehicles and we thought it would be good to get to know some of them a little bit better! In this edition we talk to Michelle Bolton-King, who together with Duncan Lancaster, are DAF Dealer Driver Trainers at Ford & Slater who has thirteen DAF dealerships across the Midlands, East of England and Northeast.

Q: When did you first join Ford & Slater DAF and what was your first job there?

A: I first joined Carrow Commercials in Norwich in 1991 as a trainee receptionist. Ford and Slater acquired Carrow in the mid-nineties and I moved to the Leicester Dealership in 1999 and up until a year ago worked as PA to the F&S Directors.

Q: What did you want to be when you were at school?

A: I really wanted to be in the Police as a dog handler – but I was told, by a careers teacher, that it wasn’t a career for girls!! Thank goodness times have changed.

Q: When did you take your HGV licence?

A: I gained my class 1 15 years ago – I was organising events, and I struggled to get technicians out of our busy workshops to move vehicles for me – so I got my licence so I could move them myself.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your role?

A: The variety! No two days are the same – I love meeting new people, handing over a vehicle to a driver and helping them understand the changes and differences from the vehicle they have stepped out of. Working alongside Duncan and feeding off all of his experience has been so good, we are quite a team and we have gained the nick names of Dempsey and Makepeace!

Q: Do you have a top tip for a driver getting their new DAF?

A: Take advantage of the free driver training on offer! –Drivers can often be put off by our job title – first and foremost we are not there to teach anyone how to drive! We are there to ensure that drivers get the very best out of their new vehicles.

Q: What car do you currently drive and if money was no object, what would you have?

A: I currently drive a Model 3 Tesla but if money was no object, I would love to buy a big Winnebago and travel across Europe.

Q: What other responsibilities do you have within your role at Ford & Slater DAF?

A: I still get involved in the organisation of some customer events, which I enjoy, and along with my fellow Driver Trainer, Duncan Lancaster, we look after the Ford & Slater demo fleet.

Q: If you weren’t doing this, what would your ideal job be?

A: I think if I had my time over again, I would have loved to have trained to become a Paramedic.

Michelle loves to travel and one of her favourite places is Porthleven in Cornwall.

Living in Leicestershire but originally from Norfolk, it was a particularly proud moment for her to handover her first New Generation XG+ to E & S J Walpole in Norfolk, who have been a long and loyal supporter of the DAF product for many years.

Michelle loves to sing and is a member of Rock Choir, which has given her the opportunity to sing in some fantastic places such as Proms in the Park in London, the Edinburgh Fringe and they have also recorded at Abbey Road Studios.