Companies should consider the impact they have on their environment and actively respond to emerging challenges. This approach to business is implemented by Dachser, a globally operating logistics provider. The company cares for its employees, customers, and the space in which it operates.
A responsible approach to business is not just about using innovative IT management systems and cost-optimization solutions, but also about caring for employees, contractors, and the environment. CSR, or corporate social responsibility, is a 21st-century challenge for companies.
Sustainable business
– Dachser ensures a sustainable supply chain in economic, social, and environmental terms. We place great importance on fair contract conditions, both with our customers, our subcontractors, and all our partners. We are sensitive to transparency in business dealings and any corrupt behavior. Our attitude and clear principles not only organize the company but often make it easier for our contractors to make business decisions – emphasizes Grzegorz Lichocik. – We adhere to the principles of equal opportunity and strive to level the playing field by supporting the development of all our employees. We place great importance on safety, applying our own additional rules and procedures in addition to health and safety regulations.
Dachser also cares for the environment – the company uses the latest trucks with limited CO2 emissions and utilizes IT systems to manage road transport in order to optimize it and maximize the use of cargo space. The operator widely uses transport consolidation, swap bodies, and double-deck loading in every country where it operates, which also allows for more economical and ecological use of the fleet. Forklifts used in Dachser warehouses have electric engines, and the facilities themselves are equipped with modern energy-saving and eco-friendly systems.
Family business
– Dachser is a family business, which is why the team, the employees, creating a community, and a sense of shared responsibility for the organization’s development are extremely important. From the beginning of the company’s operations in Poland, one of the priorities was to create a trusted team of valuable people who would build the new Dachser organization in Poland together. Looking back, I can say that this plan succeeded, and the right approach to employees played a major role – says Grzegorz Lichocik, CEO of Dachser in Poland. – At Dachser, we assume that the motivation for doing business cannot just be the financial result; relationships with people and the environment are also important, which are also an impulse for various non-business activities. Within the company, we promote principles of conduct in full compliance with the law and ethics. We also try to ensure that our employees maintain a work-life balance, for example, by participating in the international “Two Hours for Family” campaign, as part of which we encouraged spending free time with loved ones.
Sport and health
Dachser employees participate in team training and sports events – a group from the Gądki branch took part in the Poznań half-marathon, and employees from Sosnowiec recently took part in the Katowice Business Run charity race. In both cases, branch managers set a good example for employees by also participating in these sporting events.
Dachser promotes healthy habits not only by encouraging sports but also tries to persuade its employees to break harmful addictions. In May 2015, the operator launched a program supporting employees in quitting smoking called “Company without a cigarette.” As part of this program, an information campaign is being carried out, and smokers who want to quit the habit will be able to participate in group therapy meetings. The entire campaign is scheduled to last two years.
Commitment to education
– Commitment to socially important issues is extremely important to us, and where possible, we try to establish a partnership. Given the fact that the problem of the education system’s mismatch with the needs of the labor market is widespread in Poland, we decided to join the process of educating young logisticians – says Grzegorz Lichocik.
Dachser has been organizing internships for high school students almost since the beginning of its operations in Poland, and its employees have visited schools to share their experience and tips on how to find one’s way in the labor market with young people. The next stage was the development of an original internship program, i.e., paid, two-year rotational internships for high school graduates. For 5 years, about 10 young people have started such internships every year, rotating through different departments of the company every few months, learning and getting to know the specifics of each one. After completing the internship, these people most often receive an offer of permanent employment at Dachser. In this way, the operator has already acquired a dozen or so well-trained employees who know the company. Dachser’s active cooperation with the University of Lodz resulted in the creation of the InfoGeolog major at the Faculty of Management, and with the International University of Logistics and Transport in Wroclaw (or the College of Logistics in Poznań) – the launch of the first dual logistics studies in Poland, which the operator initiated. The idea of dual studies is for students to simultaneously gain theoretical academic knowledge and practical experience.
– Our activities aimed at young people are long-term – we believe that by engaging in the right projects now, in a few years we have a chance to acquire well-educated and motivated employees. It is also an investment in building a strong position for Polish logistics – even if these people do not end up at Dachser, they will find employment in, for example, industry, having a real impact on the quality of logistics in Poland – explains Grzegorz Lichocik.
Dachser also cooperates with a number of scientific logistics clubs, providing substantive support for scientific conferences and other meetings organized by them, e.g., career fairs. In this way, the operator cooperates with, among others, SKN SCM at the Faculty of Management of the University of Lodz, AELogic operating at the International Department of the Poznań University of Economics, or the Logistics Students’ Scientific Club of the National Defence University.
Helping those in need
– Dachser is also involved in charity work, supporting, among others, campaigns for children in need or sponsoring local events, such as integration picnics. Whenever we can, we try to help those most in need, most often we direct our support to children. We also join various local initiatives organized in the places where our individual branches operate – explains Grzegorz Lichocik.
Dachser in Poland
Dachser currently employs 341 people in Poland in 8 branches (two in Warsaw and in Stryków, Szczecin, Wrocław, Poznań, Sosnowiec, and Gdańsk). The company specializes in handling groupage transport in exports (part and full truckloads), contract logistics, warehousing and packaging of goods, as well as air and sea freight logistics.