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 Turning waste into a resource - it's what our people do. Every employee at Veolia is committed to doing their job safely and the best that they can. |  |  Dirk Ellerbe, an offshore manager on the Veolia ES Swordfish, spends his days and nights managing operations and job progress aboard the vessel. | |  “We used to follow the lead raid team in to confiscate chemicals and other substances. There were times when we’d walk in and there would be people on the floor in hand-cuffs. It was better than TV!” | |  Joel Clark, a roll-off driver with Veolia ES Solid Waste, spends 10 or 11 hours a day in his truck during the busy summer season. | |  “Miami-Dade is a very large facility with many ‘moving parts’ that need to be managed day-to-day." | |
A Day in the Life – Joel Clark, Roll-Off Driver
As a roll-off driver for Veolia ES Solid Waste in St. Paul, Minnesota, Joel Clark is in the business of deliveries – the delivery and pick up of large roll-off dumpster containers. And unlike other positions within the company, Joel works across residential, commercial and industrial segments, which makes for an interesting mix of customers every day. It also makes for a lot of driving across the St. Paul area, but Joel doesn’t seem to mind. “I love my job. There’s a constant change of scenery throughout the day and it’s very customer-service oriented,” he says. Up and At ‘Em On average, Joel clocks-in to start his day at 5:30 a.m. But before he hits the road, there are a few administrative duties he has to handle, such as the pre-trip inspection of his truck and completing initial paperwork for the day. He also has to familiarize himself with the day’s schedule. “I work an irregular route, so we’re going to different locations every day,” says Joel. “It’s very important that you know the area and can navigate from one side of the city to another without too much trouble.” |
In Joel’s job, traffic is a given, and is one of the most challenging parts of his job, especially in a metropolitan area like the Twin Cities. “The freeways are congested, especially during the morning and afternoon commute hours. And residential neighborhoods are especially busy with kids going to and from school, so safety is always a concern,” says Joel. “The supervisors are always stressing safety and how important it is for us to be aware of our surroundings, so safety is something the other drivers and I are very mindful of.” Never a Dull Moment Going in and out of construction sites, new commercial developments, demolition sites and even residential driveways and backyards, keeps Joel on his toes and his driving abilities in top form. Add some inclement weather to the mix and things can get even more exciting. But the bottom line is customer service. “The most important thing I do on a day-to-day basis is take care of our customers,” continues Joel. “There are a lot of times, especially for residential deliveries, when it’s physically impossible to place a dumpster in the requested location, due to space constraints or other issues. It’s my job to explain the problem and help develop a solution that works for our customers and their needs. If I do my job well, everyone comes away happy.” A Long History Joel has a long history in the roll-off business, working almost 10 years as a driver. That level of experience makes him very good at his job, even when he’s working 10- or 11- hour days during the summer – the busiest season for the roll-off division. These hours don’t leave much time for hobbies or other activities, but somehow Joel finds time. “The biggest hobby in my life, outside of working, is showing horses. I raise and show Percheron draft horses, which is something I grew up doing with my parents and still do with them today. Horses are my passion, and my supervisors know if I’m asking for a couple days off work, I’m planning to go to a horse show or sale!” |
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