There should always be a spare delivery route. How do RIO-TRANS professionals work?

22/ 02/ 2022

Constant traveling vs working from a smartphone? Technical proficiency vs communication with people? High salary vs interesting workflow? As part of the Like a pro Project, we would like to present to you two professionals whose works differ radically in their specifics, but they pursue the same goal. They work in a team to ensure that the cargo is delivered on time no matter how far it is from a client. Why their professions do not exist without each other, what they have in common and how they differ – learn in the interview with RIO-TRANS professionals: Serhii Khomych Long-haul trucker at RIO-TRANS Volodymyr Melnyk Logistian at RIO-TRANS Why did you choose a career in transportation? What do you do at RIO-TRANS? Serhii: I don’t have a fantastic story about the dream of my whole life or something like that. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a teacher and for a long time, I studied education science. But adult life dictated its rules, so I decided to change my profession. The first reason for me to switch to long-haul trucking was a high salary. The second was the opportunity to travel, to visit not only different parts of Ukraine but also the world. Having gained certain experience, I submitted a resume to a local company and thats how it started. I control loading and unloading, I have been delivering cargo to RIO-TRANS clients for 4 years already. Volodymyr: I was looking for a job where I will never get bored. Becoming a logistician will make you forget about boredom. Logistics as a profession is exciting and versatile. I communicate with many people every day, manage interesting and important operations, take responsibility for their outcomes, and process a huge amount of information. What skills and abilities do you need for your work? Serhii: I think the most important is to be responsible! You transport goods that cost hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars, within one country, or with crossing the borders of several ones. The whole delivery path is your own responsibility. As a truck driver, another equally important task for me is to ensure road safety in the countries where I work. Knowledge of languages is welcome. Nearly every trip, you have to deal with documentation and registration of border crossing. To avoid problems and delays, it is helpful to know at least Polish or English. And, surely, you should have vehicle maintenance and repair skills. You never know when your wheel may get slashed, or the message may light on the onboard computer. You need to know how to fix an unforeseen situation, or who should you turn to for help. Volodymyr: A logistician is a multifunctional player in a team. So, one of the most important skills is communication. Ability to negotiate, correctly inform colleagues, coordinate, make planning, respond to changes, and guide the truck drivers. It is also important to properly organize all work processes so that any disruptions can be quickly addressed. You often have to learn a second language, be well versed in international documentation, because RIO-TRANS is an international business. What does your schedule look like? What do you like in your profession? Serhii: As a truck driver, you should not expect a fixed schedule with weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. We dont have holidays and Im often away from family at important times. Yes, this is a disadvantage of our work, but everyone has made their conscious choice. But there are pros too. Every driver must work with the tachograph – a device that records and monitors the speed of the vehicle, the mode of operation, and the driver’s rest time. Therefore, with the help of this device, I work in accordance with the law, I do not overwork and have plenty of rest. Volodymyr: My work schedule is well-organized. I use corporate tools that help me work better with tasks and projects, keep all communication channels under control, and automate business processes in general. I like that at RIO-TRANS I can combine office work with remote work. This flexibility allows me to fulfill tasks from any gadget or device. I can quickly get connected to monitor and track the necessary information online from my smartphone. What prospects do you see for your profession in Ukraine? Serhii: A long-haul trucker can work for a company or transport goods as a self-employed person. But I believe that working for the company and in a team with a logistician is more efficient and better rewarded. In fact, even in a technical specialization like truck driving, you need the talent to succeed in your career. Our country is developing which means new opportunities for exports, so there is a prospect for the development of the transport sector. Volodymyr: Logistics is diverse and specific at the same time. I gain skills and knowledge that make me an expert in a certain niche. Improving your skills provides opportunities for growth. In my opinion, a good logistician should always have some tricks up the sleeve so that in case of force majeure (problems with customs, vehicle breakdown, road repairs, aircraft delays), the cargo was still delivered on time. Therefore, if you really love your job and you are a qualified specialist, many employers will be happy to hire you as logistics is a leading specialty in every organization. And you definitely need to improve your skills, learn languages and discover new horizons. Choosing the profession of logistician puts you in front of a big path. And this is a challenge to face! How do a logistician and a truck driver interact? How is your teamwork organized? Serhii: Ensuring efficiency and timely delivery to the customer is not only the task of the logistician because he is not present at the loading process and does not directly affect the pace of warehouse workers, does not see the external condition of the cargo or its packaging. It is the driver who accepts the cargo and checks its proper condition, quantity, and compliance or non-compliance with the data specified in the documents provided by the logistician. Thus, after numerous checks, our cargo is ready to travel, to travel safely on highways. Volodymyr: Our tandem - a logistician and a truck driver - is about interaction, about teamwork, about the relations between us. As a logistician, I organize and control transportation, I have to be technologically savvy because my cargo travels on paper. The data in the documents must be comprehensive, compiled in accordance with standards and laws. I am a communications specialist to a driver, I transmit data and systematically monitor transportation so that the driver can move safely along the specified route. The cooperation between a logistician and a truck driver is a model of efficient and dynamic balance, where information control and transport security are closely linked. 🔎 Like a pro is the EBA Project that highlights interesting professions represented in our business community.

Constant traveling vs working from a smartphone? Technical proficiency vs communication with people? High salary vs interesting workflow? As part of the Like a pro Project, we would like to present to you two professionals whose works differ radically in their specifics, but they pursue the same goal. They work in a team to ensure that the cargo is delivered on time no matter how far it is from a client. Why their professions do not exist without each other, what they have in common and how they differ – learn in the interview with RIO-TRANS professionals:


Serhii Khomych Long-haul trucker at RIO-TRANS	Volodymyr Melnyk Logistian at RIO-TRANS

Why did you choose a career in transportation? What do you do at RIO-TRANS?

Serhii: I don’t have a fantastic story about the dream of my whole life or something like that. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a teacher and for a long time, I studied education science. But adult life dictated its rules, so I decided to change my profession. The first reason for me to switch to long-haul trucking was a high salary. The second was the opportunity to travel, to visit not only different parts of Ukraine but also the world.

Having gained certain experience, I submitted a resume to a local company and that’s how it started. I control loading and unloading, I have been delivering cargo to RIO-TRANS clients for 4 years already.

Volodymyr: I was looking for a job where I will never get bored. Becoming a logistician will make you forget about boredom. Logistics as a profession is exciting and versatile. I communicate with many people every day, manage interesting and important operations, take responsibility for their outcomes, and process a huge amount of information.

What skills and abilities do you need for your work?

Serhii: I think the most important is to be responsible! You transport goods that cost hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars, within one country, or with crossing the borders of several ones. The whole delivery path is your own responsibility.

As a truck driver, another equally important task for me is to ensure road safety in the countries where I work.

Knowledge of languages is welcome. Nearly every trip, you have to deal with documentation and registration of border crossing. To avoid problems and delays, it is helpful to know at least Polish or English.

And, surely, you should have vehicle maintenance and repair skills. You never know when your wheel may get slashed, or the message may light on the onboard computer. You need to know how to fix an unforeseen situation, or who should you turn to for help.

Volodymyr: A logistician is a multifunctional player in a team. So, one of the most important skills is communication. Ability to negotiate, correctly inform colleagues, coordinate, make planning, respond to changes, and guide the truck drivers.

It is also important to properly organize all work processes so that any disruptions can be quickly addressed. You often have to learn a second language, be well versed in international documentation, because RIO-TRANS is an international business.

What does your schedule look like? What do you like in your profession?

Serhii: As a truck driver, you should not expect a fixed schedule with weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. We don’t have holidays and I’m often away from family at important times. Yes, this is a disadvantage of our work, but everyone has made their conscious choice.

But there are pros too. Every driver must work with the tachograph – a device that records and monitors the speed of the vehicle, the mode of operation, and the driver’s rest time. Therefore, with the help of this device, I work in accordance with the law, I do not overwork and have plenty of rest.

Volodymyr: My work schedule is well-organized. I use corporate tools that help me work better with tasks and projects, keep all communication channels under control, and automate business processes in general.

I like that at RIO-TRANS I can combine office work with remote work. This flexibility allows me to fulfill tasks from any gadget or device. I can quickly get connected to monitor and track the necessary information online from my smartphone.

What prospects do you see for your profession in Ukraine?

Serhii: A long-haul trucker can work for a company or transport goods as a self-employed person. But I believe that working for the company and in a team with a logistician is more efficient and better rewarded. In fact, even in a technical specialization like truck driving, you need the talent to succeed in your career.

Our country is developing which means new opportunities for exports, so there is a prospect for the development of the transport sector.

Volodymyr: Logistics is diverse and specific at the same time. I gain skills and knowledge that make me an expert in a certain niche. Improving your skills provides opportunities for growth.

In my opinion, a good logistician should always have some tricks up the sleeve so that in case of force majeure (problems with customs, vehicle breakdown, road repairs, aircraft delays), the cargo was still delivered on time. Therefore, if you really love your job and you are a qualified specialist, many employers will be happy to hire you as logistics is a leading specialty in every organization.

And you definitely need to improve your skills, learn languages and discover new horizons. Choosing the profession of logistician puts you in front of a big path. And this is a challenge to face!

How do a logistician and a truck driver interact? How is your teamwork organized?

Serhii: Ensuring efficiency and timely delivery to the customer is not only the task of the logistician because he is not present at the loading process and does not directly affect the pace of warehouse workers, does not see the external condition of the cargo or its packaging. It is the driver who accepts the cargo and checks its proper condition, quantity, and compliance or non-compliance with the data specified in the documents provided by the logistician. Thus, after numerous checks, our cargo is ready to travel, to travel safely on highways.

Volodymyr: Our tandem – a logistician and a truck driver – is about interaction, about teamwork, about the relations between us. As a logistician, I organize and control transportation, I have to be technologically savvy because my cargo travels on paper. The data in the documents must be comprehensive, compiled in accordance with standards and laws. I am a communications specialist to a driver, I transmit data and systematically monitor transportation so that the driver can move safely along the specified route.

The cooperation between a logistician and a truck driver is a model of efficient and dynamic balance, where information control and transport security are closely linked.

🔎 Like a pro is the EBA Project that highlights interesting professions represented in our business community.