The Logistic Training Center, one of Europe's most successful training and skills development centers in air freight and logistics, has celebrated its twelfth anniversary. Since its founding on 01JUL10, thousands of applicants have been vocationally qualified. Some of them have gone on to become branch managers of freight forwarding companies, key account managers, or dangerous goods specialists at Ground Handling Agents. Seen in this light, the LTC was, and still is, an important springboard for people embarking on professional careers. An ongoing success that was now duly celebrated.
Company owner, Elke Wasser and her team had invited well-known members of the logistics and air freight industry, customs officials, and friends of her company. In the end, around 200 guests
turned up to celebrate the anniversary at the LTC headquarters in Neu-Isenburg, located on the outskirts of Frankfurt.
“Although we have no reliable data on hand, one thing is very clear: We have given quite a number of people a new job perspective through our courses and qualification measures. So, we were
and still are an enabler of careers,” stresses Ms. Wasser.
For example, many applicants were qualified to become security experts in air freight. Others learned how to correctly build a ULD according to safety requirements, or how to handle hazardous
goods in line with official regulations.
Theory and practical work are part of the same package
In addition to learning theory, practical experience also plays a major role. Future forklift operators or hazardous goods specialists complete a two-month training course in a warehouse - with
full wages paid to them by the employment office. “Most of them are then hired right on the spot by the respective ground handler,” says Ms. Wasser, speaking from experience.
In addition, the LTC runs courses enabling students to obtain a professional qualification as a forwarding and logistics agent. This offer is coupled with international seminars on foreign trade
and customs law, including the teaching of soft skills abilities. These are just a few of the many examples of the LTC’s wide-ranging qualification program.
Broad spectrum of applicants
Course participants range from career changers coming from other industries, unemployed people, to those who are interested in starting a new professional career. Immigrants or refugees who want
to build a life in Germany are also increasingly knocking on LTC’s door.
And there is a new trend: companies are sending their own employees to the LTC in order to qualify them for higher responsibilities and to broaden their knowledge and acquire theoretical and
practical skills for new fields of work.
This is mainly triggered by demographic changes. Skilled workers are hard to source, and the baby boomers of the 1960s generation are retiring. This is tearing large holes in the staffing levels
of companies such as Dachser, Schenker, Kuehne+Nagel, Hellmann, and others. Ground handlers at onsite airport warehouses are similarly affected by the labor shortage, with next to no interest
shown by job seekers. “This deficiency situation will become even more acute in the coming years,” predicts Mrs. Wasser.
Motivated immigrants
For the LTC, this results in a shift of training and qualification courses: The number of candidates sent by companies for vocational training is increasing, while that of the low-skilled or
barely qualified job seekers is falling.
And another trend is becoming increasingly apparent: Immigrants who are motivated, eager to perform, and willing to learn hard to increase their vocational qualifications, tend to overtake native
German classmates who grew up well-protected and without financial worries. It is interesting to see that, when comparing the two groups, some of the Germans are less open-minded and more
indifferent to learning - which is hardly helpful when starting a career in air freight and logistics. “This industry doesn’t need procrastinators, but people who roll up their sleeves to get
a job done properly,” exclaims Elke Wasser. “This is precisely the attitude we convey at our LTC lessons in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Leipzig, or Berlin. Always combined with a great
deal of specialist knowledge.”
Heiner Siegmund
We welcome and publish comments from all authenticated users