Jari Saksa, who works at the Vantaa terminal, ensures that incoming shipments are forwarded to their postcode and location-specific routing zones and then dispatched across Finland. He also loads and unloads trucks, manages yard operations, and labels import shipments, among other things. Jari likes the variety provided by rotating morning, day, and evening shifts, while some of his workmates prefer working one particular shift.
– Here, you have quite a lot of influence over your own shifts, and the management is rather considerate of employees’ personal circumstances.
The terminal employs more than 60 full-time workers, and thousands of shipments pass through it daily. Jari describes his work community as a high-performing team: the goal is for everyone to be multi-skilled to ensure that the operations run smoothly and people can be deployed to wherever they are needed the most.
– We have developed processes so that shift handovers are seamless, because everyone knows precisely what to do and how to do it. However, everyone has their own working style, and when a team has been working together this long, you can tell just by the look on a workmate’s face how far along a task is, says Jari, describing the team’s practicality.
In the largest Kaukokiito terminal, peak times fall between 3 pm and 5 pm and between 4 am and 6 am. During these hours, the pace needs to be rapid. The atmosphere remains person-centred despite the pressure. Jari feels it’s important to enjoy your work, as you spend a major part of your day at the workplace.
– You don’t have to feel stressed at work, because everyone is always ready to help. If you’re having an off day, you can talk to your mates about it and they will understand. A good atmosphere gives you a lot of energy, says Jari.
