60-second interview: Keith Child, marketing director, Isuzu Truck (UK)

60-second interview: Keith Child, marketing director, Isuzu Truck (UK)

Favourite holiday destination and why?
Pomos which is a tiny, quiet fishing village on the northwest coast of Cyprus. We’ve had a couple of fun-filled family holidays there and the seafood and local wines are absolutely delicious.

What car do you drive?
My business car is an indestructible Isuzu D-Max Utah – which will go anywhere. But for even more fun I have a replica AC Cobra with a 5.7 litre V8 engine.

Hobbies?
Shooting, fishing and long walks with my dogs – hence the Isuzu D-Max.

How did you get into the road transport industry and why?
When I passed my car driving test at 17, still in education and with limited finances, I taught myself how to service and carry out minor repairs on my own vehicle. This gave me the appetite to do a City and Guilds automotive technician’s course at the local college in High Wycombe. I then started seeing lots of Daf 2300, 2500, 2800 and 3300 trucks running around the local vicinity with very square cabs and flat windscreens. I hadn’t really had much of an interest in trucks until then but these intrigued me so I got a job with Daf in 1982.

How would you encourage more young people into the industry?
I would explain to youngsters that the commercial vehicle sector will always create interesting career opportunities provided you work hard, are willing to adapt and willing to embrace technology.

What will be the outlook for the used trucks market for the rest of 2015?
We have more legislation involving technology coming our way before the end of this year – all new trucks will need lane departure warning systems and stability controls. These extra safety devices will come at a cost. We have an improving economy and business confidence is high. Adding all of these factors into the mix with the build-up to an inevitably busy Xmas period, the second-hand truck market should be very buoyant indeed.