Anup Dsilva ChatterHigh Profile

Background

I was born in a village in Kerala, India, and chose to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mahatma Gandhi University Kerala after high school. I tried a few sales roles in India, but didn’t find the right fit.

I later moved to Canada and pursued a Diploma in Project Management and Strategic Leadership in 2017 and then a Diploma in Supply Chain Management, 2018 to 2020, at Lambton College in Ontario.
I have always been interested in automobiles and maintenance, and I enjoy reading magazines about cars. My uncle was a milk truck owner and operator, and I often helped him with his job during my vacations. This really sparked my interest!

With this identified interest in driving, I decided to pursue a job with a school bus company, which trained me to get my class 2 licence and a job as a school bus driver. When school was out for the summer, I was successful in getting an aircraft fueler role at the Halifax airport. I worked closely with the Irving Oil drivers delivering jet fuel to the airport. Many of them worked for Irving Oil for several years. They were always so happy, positive and evidently enjoyed their jobs.  The pilot who regularly transported Irving employees on their flight also encouraged me to consider applying for Irving Oil because of my safety mindset, focus and professionalism. This motivated me to apply for a truck driver role with Irving Oil and continue to pursue my interest in professional driving.

Since joining the Irving Oil team, I have upgraded my licence to a class 1 which can open doors for more opportunities. I believe I have an advantage when it comes to understanding logistics and supply chain financial management because of my background in business.  I also require two important certifications to do my job: Bulk Plant Operation Certification, and Propane Rail, Car, Unloading Certification.

Career

I love my job as a truck driver because I enjoy travelling, financial stability and have a sense of responsibility. It has provided me with many growth opportunities, and I have learned a lot about the fleet and maintenance. I enjoy working for Irving Oil because of its strong roots, great customers and hardworking employees who make the working environment even more enjoyable.   

As a truck driver, my job duties include driving and delivery, customer service, tank maintenance, safety compliance, record keeping, route planning, maintenance of vehicle or fleet, and coordination/communication between dispatchers and other team members.  

I start my day by checking my delivery schedule and identifying any special delivery instructions. I then head to the propane bulk plant in Dartmouth to do my pre-trip inspection, load the truck, if needed, and one final personal protective equipment and truck safety check.

Throughout the workday, I unload propane from my truck to residential or commercial clients, conduct inspections of propane tanks and connections. I have lots of customer interactions along the way. Once I have safely completed all my deliveries, I return to the bulk plant, fuel the truck, check the truck’s fluid levels, and check/clean the equipment for the next day’s route. Safety is my top priority − making sure to follow all regulations and procedures to safely handle and deliver products.