A Reading Buses driver is celebrating winning ‘Driver of the Year’ at the 2015 FTA everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards.

Kerryn Hedley, 30, who has worked for Reading Buses since 2011, has been crowned ‘Driver of the Year,’ beating off stiff competition from across the transport and logistics sectors, including truck, train and bus drivers.

Following yesterday’s announcement of the award, sponsored by Motor Transport magazine, at the Hilton on Park Lane, London, Kerryn said:  “I want to say thank you very much to Reading Buses – I do genuinely love my job.”

“I feel like I’m a valued member of the team, and, coming from a retail environment, this really is the best decision I’ve ever made, coming to Reading Buses.”

Kerryn was in illustrious company at the awards ceremony, hosted by racing driver and television presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson, joining winners from ASDA, London Underground, Northern Rail and the Royal Navy.

Said Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer Martijn Gilbert who attended the ceremony:  “The bus industry has been superbly represented here at the everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards.

“Kerryn has flown the flag not only for Reading Buses but the industry as a whole and to hear her described as inspirational in such heavyweight company is just amazing. We are all extremely proud of her and this fantastic achievement is made even greater by 2015 being the year that our industry celebrates 100 years of Woman in Transport.”

Kerryn’s road to ‘Driver of the Year’ started in 2011 when she decided that she needed a new challenge and joked to her mum that she thought she would be a good candidate for a bus driver.

Two weeks later her mum noticed driving jobs going at the company and Kerryn applied - six weeks later she was driving a bus. After a year she applied to be a driver buddy, helping look after new drivers in their first weeks on the road.

Last year she buddied seven new drivers and spent four weeks in the Reading Buses Academy doing route mentoring to help drivers learn new routes. She is the only female buddy out of the team of seven – imparting her knowledge to give newly qualified drivers confidence to drive a bus on their own.

“Kerryn was nominated for the award, not only for her great work on the road but as a driver buddy as well,” said Performance Director Jacqui Gavaghan, herself a previous winner at the everywoman awards.

”Similarly, for the way she has helped inspire people to become bus drivers and to promote the company and the job whenever she can. She is inquisitive and helpful in equal measure, meaning that she always wants to know what new things are around the corner and how she can be part of them.” 

Jacqui continued: “Kerryn is always practical and enthusiastic.  She sees problems as a challenge that require a fix, thinking dynamically and positively.

“She is a great motivator for new starters, enthusing and sharing her positivity with them to enable them to feel as passionately as she does about the business and her role.

“She is an asset to the business in a myriad of ways – a role model employee who delivers excellent customer service and impeccable driving ability.”

The FTA everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards were launched eight years ago with the primary aim of raising the profile of women excelling in the industry in order to make it known that transport and logistics is an industry that is inclusive and open to all.