What's In A Driver's Name? Meet Kevin McLeod...

When we speak to passengers, we always get fantastic feedback about our drivers.  They're more than a coach driver...they're the face of Caledonian Travel, entertain passengers, look after them, and pass on their vast knowledge of the towns, cities and villages where our customers go on holiday.

We asked people on our Facebook page who they'd like to see answer our questions in our 'What's In A Name?' series, and Kev McLeod proved to be a very popular choice...and he couldn't wait to answer our questions, so we were pleased he obliged!

So...meet Kev McLeod... 

Knowledgeable: All our drivers are great when it comes to informing our passengers about where they’re going on a tour. But what’s your favourite nugget of information about one of your tours that not many people might know?
With the variety of work I do, I tend to know lots of little bits about a lot of places rather than a full on history of a regular tour. My little pearl of wisdom, if I get a date or fact wrong is: "What you have to remember...50% of what I tell you is actual fact, the other 50% is made up! So it's up to you (the passengers) to distinguish which is which!" It usually raises a titter from the passengers..!

Evening:  After a busy day behind the wheel, what do you like to do in the evening to help you relax and wind down?
Theres nothing I like more after parking up than going for a wander. Nothing too strenuous of course! After all, I am a coach driver! Just a small walk around the local areas to loosen up.

"I love the variety of the work I do..."

Variations:  Tell us about the places you go when you’re driving a Caledonian Travel coach – what’s the busiest place, and what’s the most surprising location…and why?
The variety of going different places is what make my job very interesting. I know some drivers like to do the same tour week in and week out, but I love the variety of the work I do. One day you could be going to Blackpool, the next day you could be heading off to Germany. It really is that diverse.

Indigestion: No-one likes having a funny tummy, especially on a coach ride.  What is your favourite food to fill up on when you’re away on a tour?
When I'm in Italy I like nothing more than the local delicacy to Florence, known as Lamprodotto. It's a sandwich served in a bun, made up of chopped up tripe (Yes, I know its enough to give some people indigestion) in a spicy salsa verde sauce. It is absolutely DELICIOUS!

"All our tours have the nicest people on them"

Many laughs: Tell us your favourite joke.
I was doing a skydive and jumped out of the aeroplane and pulled the ripcord. Nothing happened. So, I pulled it again and still nothing happened. Then, I saw a man flying by in the opposite direction so I shouted, "Do you know anything about parachutes?" He shouted: "Nooooo! And I dont know anything about gas cookers either...!"

Coach driver:  What made you want to become a coach driver, and what’s your favourite thing about your job?
When I got made redundant from being an engineer in 1982, after 6 month on the dole I joined community transport as a mini-bus driver. Part of the scheme was to gain either an HGV licence or a PSV licence, as it was known as then...l opted for the PSV licence, and the rest as they say is hissssstory...

Listening: What top three songs would make your Caledonian Travel Coach Break playlist?
My three songs would be 'Rotterdam' by The Beautiful South for when we're getting off the overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam. 'Highway to Hell' by AC/DC for when driving on the M25! And 'Volare' by Dean Martin...because everyone love a bit of Deano...!

Executive decision: If you could add one break on to the Caledonian Travel offering, where would you take us and why?
A tour that I'd like to add to the programme would be the Normandy D-Day Beaches, and related points of interest. l've done tours to there before and found them really interesting.

"Coach drivers NEVER get lost..."

Oh-no!  Ever got lost or had to take an unexpected detour where things didn’t go according to plan?
As everyone knows, coach drivers NEVER get lost! We just sometimes take scenic routes..! l remember taking a 'scenic route' in Switzerland once, and I remember going down this road thinking there was barely enough room for a car, never mind a 40ft long coach! Let's just say it got very interesting in parts...!

Desperately good last question: What question haven’t we asked you today that you wish we had, and what would your answer have been?
I think the question I'd like to have been asked is "What makes Caledonian Travel coach drivers love the job so much?" And my answer would be that once you've done tour work, and especially a Caledonian tour, it gets in your blood and becomes a way of life. Some drivers may try and see if the grass is greener elsewhere, but many drivers who do that eventually return to Caledonian. lt's like the lyrics of 'Hotel California' by The Eagles: "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave..."

Have you been on one of our tours with Kevin at the wheel?  Let us know all about it over on our Facebook page, and tell us there which other drivers you'd like to hear more about!