As Willshee’s fleet continues to grow and evolve, our Fleet Maintenance team works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep every vehicle safe, reliable and road-ready amid an ever-changing schedule. We caught up with Commercial Fleet Manager, David Willshee, to find out more about the team and the work that keeps our business moving.

David, can you tell us about your role at Willshee’s?

I’m the Commercial Fleet Manager, responsible for the maintenance, servicing and overall management of our vehicle fleet. That includes planning maintenance well in advance, responding to breakdowns, ordering new vehicles and making sure everything is compliant, safe and ready to support our customers every day.

Who makes up the fleet maintenance team?

There are five of us: myself, Mick, Mark, Luke and Peter. Between us, we’ve built up many years of loyal service and experience. It’s a very hands-on team and everyone plays a crucial role.

What does the team look after day to day?

We maintain and service the entire fleet: over 60 vehicles and growing fast as we move into 2026. All maintenance is planned well in advance in close collaboration with our transport team to ensure minimal disruption to operations and customer schedules.

Reducing downtime must be critical. How do you manage that?

Downtime is the biggest challenge in running a commercial fleet. Our priority is to keep vehicles on the road wherever possible. For example, we keep spare wheels ready to go, so if a driver reports a puncture, we can act immediately. We also carry out daily safety inspections to prevent breakdowns before they happen.

What happens if a vehicle does break down?

We run a breakdown service that can start as early as 4am. Depending on the issue, we’ll either attend with our own breakdown van for minor repairs or arrange vehicle recovery if needed. Flexibility is key as plans can change by the hour.

You’re also involved in sourcing new vehicles. What does that involve?

I order all new bespoke vehicles, built to precise specifications for the waste industry. That includes specialised equipment and kit for each vehicle. I also inspect and sign off new vehicles with suppliers: we’ve just received and approved a new bin lorry for our Stanton depot, which is always a proud moment for the team.

How important is maintenance to the wider business?

Maintenance is absolutely key. Without a reliable fleet, the business simply couldn’t function. Our work underpins the smooth running of customer waste management streams across the region.

You’ve been part of Willshee’s for a long time. Can you tell us about your journey?

I’ve always worked alongside my brother Keith, the founder of Willshee’s, from a young age. I trained as a commercial vehicle mechanic and worked for Network Rail and commercial vehicle workshops.

From 1990 to 2008, I serviced Willshee’s skip vehicle fleet from a local workshop in Burton. In 2008, Keith asked me to join the business as an employee to manage the fleet full-time. Since then, the company has grown enormously, and it continues to expand into 2026.

What are you most proud of?

The team. They’re incredibly dedicated, flexible and hardworking. They’re an integral part of Willshee’s business structure, and I’m proud of the role we play in supporting our customers every single day.

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