Co-driver at Zegwaard

Zegwaard is at home in all kinds of markets. Sewer management, sweeping, container rental and more. For some time now, Zegwaard has also had an employee from Werkse! working on one of its vacuum trucks. To mutual satisfaction and pleasure.

Previously, Gino van Pieterson worked at a waste collection company. For the past three quarters of a year, he has been a co-driver at Zegwaard. Together with his regular driver, Gino drives in front of restaurants, butcher’s shops or bakeries. To empty the obligatory grease pits. Emptying those pits prevents grease or other harmful substances from entering the sewers and possibly causing blockages as well. “Rolling out 100 metres of hose together from car to manhole is quite heavy. But you get used to that.” He tells it with a beaming smile.

Vacuum truck
Zegwaard, with several locations around the country, employs around 120 people. Johan Plooij, personnel manager and job coach at the company knows: “If you recognise someone’s talents and know what someone is good at, you can place someone in an optimally fitting position. Then someone can function at and above their potential. Eight out of 10 cars also have a co-driver. Like Gino, who sits with his mate on the suction truck, known as a ‘vacuum truck’ in business terms. Many young people quickly tire of this profession, as it is fairly repetitive work. It does require responsibility, but the driver has final responsibility. For someone like Gino, who has some distance from the labour market, this is perfect and also fun work. Gino: “We drive through Amsterdam, then to Zeeland; actually all over the Netherlands. I have nice colleagues. I have work, we have plenty of freedom and I am outside a lot.”

24/7
Johan: “There is no training for the work our employees do. ‘Rough diamonds’ often come in. On our own premises, we provide a lot of training and education. We have examples of grease pits and PVC pipes and socks in shapes and sizes as sample materials at the premises. We train on things like safety and VCA. No day is boring here, also because we often have to respond to emergencies. We are a ’24/7 company’. ‘Do you have a blockage? Zegwaard will solve it for you. We have a car wash, a refuelling station and mechanics for our equipment. A truck standing idle is a big expense; in-house, we can move faster. For example, we do 99.9% of the maintenance ourselves.”

Approachable
Johan: “I dare say we are an approachable organisation. Informal and results-oriented. Zegwaard also takes good care of its personnel. There is a 24/7 professional gym, people can lease a car, a Friday afternoon drink or sometimes barbecue, and the staff bar opens monthly. And we can always use staff!”