Pall-Ex is renowned for modernising and revolutionising palletised freight but we couldn’t have done it without our dedicated team of experts. Forward-thinking, innovative, and creative, our team takes every challenge in their stride to find solutions to modern-day concerns. So we’d like to take a break from the spotlight and celebrate some of our amazing staff.
Meet Dave
Dave Dunhill is our Group Chief Technology Officer based at our cutting-edge central hub in Leicestershire. Along with managing a team and solving complex technical conundrums, Dave has recently dusted off his guitar and taken to the stage, with the Crich-based singer-songwriter also releasing his new album Long Time Coming, including the single Here Tonight. We sat down with Dave to ask him about his journey with Pall-Ex as well as find out a bit more about how an aspiring musician balances the technical demands of logistics and his creative pursuits.
How long have you been working with Pall-Ex?
I have been part of the Pall-Ex team for four years this December, but I have been working in logistics for some time now.
When not at work, how do you unwind?
I like staying busy and always have projects on the go. Whether it’s my music or other technical projects. But I do like to set time aside time for my family and our Springer Spaniel, Stanley. On the weekends I like to take Stanley for walks as he is mad as a box of frogs, and I always make sure there is time on a Sunday for a good old fashioned roast dinner. It’s become a bit of a tradition that gives me time to connect with my family after a busy week.
What does a great day at work look like for you?
I’m quite organised so for me knowing what’s on the schedule for that day and how it makes a difference to Pall-Ex is important to me. Knowing your work is affecting greater change and driving the company forward makes it a good day for me.
What’s the best thing about being part of Team Pall-Ex?
The Pall-Ex team is truly global with headquarters across Europe. This reach allows me to work with a diverse range of people. My team, in particular, are a fantastic group that get on well and work well together. Especially considering how demanding our industry is. The Pall-Ex network connects over 100 hauliers and is vastly complex. My team is always happy to knuckle down, solve problems, learn from mistakes, and drive things forward.
"I can say across my entire career this is the best team I’ve ever run. Personally, I believe they are the best in the pallet sector."
What is the most exotic delivery destination you’ve seen pallets shipped to?
I would say Kuala Lumpur is pretty out there and Bulgaria is interesting.
What’s the most unusual item you’ve seen on a pallet?
There’s no way you’d see it today but in the mid 90’s someone shipped a box through the organisation I was working at. The night porters heard something moving around, opened it up and found a live chicken and a duck. It was a bit of a surprise and fortunately, they were alright.
Other than that, anything you can imagine being on a pallet, we’ve seen it.
What’s your go-to road trip snack?
If it’s a family holiday, we have to stop off at McDonald's. I’m not a big fan myself but the kids love it. For me though, it would have to be Pepsi Max. I always drink it, at work, on road trips. But yeah for a trip probably Pepsi Max, perhaps a packet of wine gums too.
What trucker handle best describes you?
My surname is Dunhill so it often gets shortened to Dunny so probably that. I also enjoy Stella Artois so maybe something like Stella.
What is the most scenic route to travel on?
This was a few years ago with my family in my early twenties but we did a ‘Flydrive’ along the west coast of the USA. We flew to San Francisco and then drove down the coast to Los Angeles. It took about three to four days to get to LA but it had some incredible coastline and interesting towns and cities along the way. Big Sur, Carmel, Santa Barbara, we had a lot of good laughs.
Which country, that you can deliver to, would be number one on your holiday hit list?
It would have to be Portugal, lots of memories of the Algarve.
Do you have any advice for anyone starting in IT?
Be patient and be prepared to work your way up. IT is rewarding work but it takes determination and hard work. I got to where I am by going over and above. Work ethic is crucial.
It’s also important to keep up with the latest developments in tech. For example, the main language nowadays is C#, however, a lot of developers (such as ourselves) use the latest development stack from Microsoft.
It’s thanks to our people, like Dave, that we can offer market-leading services across the UK, Europe and the wider world. If you’re interested in finding out more about our leading palletised freight services or how you can become part of the Pall-Ex team contact us today.
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