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It’s early morning when Filip Bossy climbs into his tanker. Next to him sits a new colleague, sometimes an experienced driver joining Schenk for the first time, sometimes someone right at the start of their career. Filip starts the engine and smiles. Another day of passing his expertise to someone new.
Filip’s been doing this for years. He joined what’s now Schenk Food back in 2009, and over time grew into a role that suits him perfectly: mentor driver.
“I honestly can’t remember exactly how it happened,” he says. “I think someone just asked me one day, and it stuck.” It wasn’t really a career choice he made deliberately. But with his years of experience, solid knowledge of the job, and a natural way of coaching people, he turned out to be exactly the right person for it.
A Good Start Comes Down to Good Guidance
A training day takes more than just a bit of explaining, Filip says. It’s a day where he’s fully focused on the other person. “You’re explaining, correcting and guiding all day long,” he says. “By the end of it I’m exhausted, but it’s a good kind of tired. You’ve actually taught someone something.”
On the first day, he does everything himself, loading, unloading, sealing, working the onboard computer, while the new colleague watches and takes it all in. It’s only on day two that they get to try it themselves, with Filip close by to step in when needed. “It doesn’t have to be perfect right away,” he says plainly. “That’s what we’re there for, to help.”
That’s really what sets Schenk apart. New drivers are never just left to sink or swim. They’re given the time to pick up the job step by step, with an experienced mentor driver alongside them.
Care That Becomes Second Nature
Alongside the obvious safety rules, there’s one thing Filip devotes extra attention to with every new driver: sealing the tankers properly. It might sound like a minor detail, but in food logistics it’s actually a mark of real craftsmanship. A properly sealed tanker means the customer gets a clean, reliable product, every time.
“Some drivers find sealing a bit tricky at first,” Filip says. “That’s exactly why we take the time to go through it properly. Once it clicks, it just becomes routine.”
Something that’s become routine for him after all these years is a whole new world for someone just starting out. By paying real attention to it, Filip gives new colleagues more than just know-how., he gives them confidence too. That’s how care and precision stop being a rule you have to remember and just become part of how you work.
Taking Ownership of Quality
Mentor drivers at Schenk stick with new colleagues until they’re genuinely ready to work independently. “I love watching someone grow,” Filip says. “From a bit unsure at the start to confident behind the wheel. That’s really why I do this.”
He gives honest, straightforward feedback, always with the same aim: making sure drivers only go out on their own once they’re truly ready for it. That guidance, along with his patience and know-how, gives new drivers a proper head start.
Getting Past the Language Barrier Together
Not every new driver speaks fluent Dutch. Some colleagues come over from other European countries, so Filip explains things in English or German instead. “I know the technical terms well enough,” he says, “but getting the finer details across can be a challenge. It keeps me on my toes.”
And it pays off. “There are drivers I’ve stayed close with after training them. Because I taught them, some of them call me ‘mister’. I always tell them, it’s not mister, just Filip. But still, you can tell they’re grateful someone taught them something.”
What Keeps Filip Going: People, Every Day
Ask Filip why he still enjoys the job after all these years, and he doesn’t hesitate: the people. “You always get a friendly welcome at the loading and unloading sites. People are pleased to see you.”
No two days look the same, but it’s the familiarity of his regular routes and the chats with other drivers along the way that make the job worth it for him. Even as a mentor, it’s never just about teaching procedures for Filip. He’s sharing a profession he has grown to love, teaching new colleagues about the world of oil and fat transport, what makes each product unique, and the satisfaction of completing a clean, safe run.
Knowledge You Only Pick Up on the Road
There’s no manual that covers everything Filip has learned over the years. How to handle the equipment, how to tell when a driver’s ready, how to work smoothly on a loading site — that’s the kind of thing you only really learn by doing it, with someone experienced beside you. That’s exactly what makes his role as a mentor so valuable. He’s not just a driver doing his job — he’s the link between yesterday’s experience and tomorrow’s craftsmanship.
At Schenk, You’re Never on Your Own
Filip’s story sums up what Schenk is all about: craftsmanship, quality, and colleagues who take the time to pass on what they know to the next generation of drivers. New drivers here don’t just get handed a pile of instructions and sent off. They start with an experienced colleague beside them, who takes the time to properly teach them the job — step by step, until they’re ready to go it alone.
That’s how we make sure new colleagues feel supported and welcome right from the start.
Want learning the trade from an experienced mentor like Filip? Take a look at our vacancies and see how your career at Schenk could start.
