He leads the largest dedicated commercial vehicle unit in Europe and the only one in the UK providing 24/7/365 specialist response to serious injury and fatal collisions involving commercial vehicles.

Rik is passionate about the commercial vehicle industry and sees his position as one that can influence road safety and support the industry and drivers without a focus on enforcement. While enforcement is a tool to be used to remove the hauliers that not only risk the safety of everyone on the road, but are a risk to the reputation of the professionals seeking to be safe and compliant.

Rik has shifted focus to education and engagement, having attended numerous fatal and injury collisions, and spoken to drivers and operators he identified that the industry as a whole was not treated with the respect professionals in the rail and aviation industry were privy to. He also identified that almost 50% of HGV related road death was a deliberate act by the deceased, the phenomenon of ‘suicide by truck’ was on the increase.

In 2022 Rik developed and produced the Met CVU – Toolbox Talk. This was launched at the Road Transport Expo, with an expectation that it would be delivered to a few hundred drivers in London. The presentation included all the high risk areas including; vulnerable road users, bridge strikes, load security and fatal 4 driving offences. It also included footage of a male ending his life by means of a HGV and a video interview with the driver involved. Not content Rik reached out to a number of mental health support organisations and identified Shout 85258, who offer text message counselling. This he identified suited the industry and gave a driver an opportunity to reach out from the privacy of their cab on a break. He included suicide awareness and importantly driver welfare into the presentation.

The ‘toolbox talk’ took the industry by storm, it has reached out to over 42,000 drivers nationally and been featured in the Australian and New Zealand industry press, as well as heavily supported by the UK commercial motoring media. The BAA supported the accreditation of the toolbox talk by EMPI and drivers are now provided a certificate of CPD. The concept of supporting drivers was explained at the Brisbane Truck Show, Australasian Fleet Managers Association and Queensland Police who have all shown keen interest making the Met CVU a global brand.

Rik has been described as “the most inspirational and influential speaker in the commercial motoring industry” and his relentless efforts to support the industry have been recognised by being awarded the Commercial Motor Awards “Service to the Industry” award in December 2022, just 6 months after the launch of the toolbox talk and most recently the “executive Sponsor” award for promoting positive mental health in the workplace.

Rik continues to champion the UK commercial motoring industry, he work tirelessly to educate to save lives, he engages with not only drivers and operators, but also vulnerable road users groups to promote mutual respect for space on the road. He is passionate about the humanisation of drivers and giving them recognition and a voice that can be heard.

The results speak more than any award, since Rik has led the Mets policing of commercial vehicles road death and injury in London, involving commercial vehicles has fallen year after year.