Can you tell us a little bit about the development of the location in Leipzig?
Leipzig was chosen as a location because of its good infrastructure. The transport links to the A9, A14 and A38 motorways mean that the new German federal states and Eastern Europe can be served in the best possible way. This decision is still of benefit to us today. Leipzig's good distribution network and attractive customers enable us to grow. As a result of the increase in delivery volumes, we also moved to a larger warehouse and office space six years ago. The branch currently employs 35 people, including three trainees, who are responsible for monitoring transport and managing transport partners throughout Germany.
You have been branch manager in Leipzig since 2021. What are your responsibilities?
As branch manager, I act as the operational liaison between the departments and the other branches. I keep an eye on personnel planning, sales development and target achievement and am in daily contact with the department and branch managers to ensure that the day-to-day business runs smoothly. Due to the structure of our company, each branch is able to co-ordinate the transport of goods throughout Germany. This means that our staff are prepared for any disruptions and can be relieved by the support of each branch. Furthermore, this open and effective communication allows us to respond flexibly to challenges. We can therefore offer our customers fast and individual transport solutions at any time.
What are your biggest challenges at the moment?
There are always challenges, but as a hobby triathlete and racing cyclist, I see this as an incentive. Like the whole logistics industry, we have been shaped by Corona and the current economic situation. In addition, we are constantly confronted with bureaucratic and spatial hurdles. However, the biggest challenge at the moment is the lack of skilled workers. It is particularly important to me that new employees feel at home with us - and also that we create an attractive place to work for our existing colleagues. That is why I have an open door policy. This means that I always have a sympathetic ear and that I take all concerns seriously. I am a firm believer that all challenges can be overcome in an environment of collegiality and trust.
How do you plan to develop the branch in the future?
The battery waste business is currently growing. Together with our subsidiary, LiBCycle, we are therefore planning to acquire more customers in the automotive sector and to continue to strengthen the services we offer. Our mega-trailer transports are also experiencing an upturn at the moment, as the transports are tending to be bigger and heavier. Overall, I would like to see growth in both transport volumes and the size of our branch. As the gateway to Eastern Europe and with the great team that we have, I have no doubt that we will be able to achieve this in the future.