International Women’s Day – A Chat with Emma Our Transport Coordinator

Happy #InternationalWomensDay! Today is all about celebrating the achievements of women and promoting the need for greater equality. At Barnes we like to embracing equity, not just equal opportunities!

This International Women’s Day we recently sat down with our brilliant Transport Coordinator Emma to learn what being a women in logistics means to her and what advice she’d give to those considering a career in logistics.

Lets catch up!

1. What does your role entail?

I’m Emma, and I work as a Transport Coordinator in our busy Rochdale depot and Head Office. I primarily support drivers working out of our Rochdale and West Yorkshire depots, working on various contracts from Amazon to FedEx. I coordinate roughly 50 drivers in total!

2. What does being a woman in logistics mean to you?

My Father worked in logistics for his entire career. Growing up, I remember visiting his workplace and seeing predominately male employees. I think there might have just been one woman working there at the time! I wanted to challenge the stereotype. The industry has changed hugely in recent years. It is now commonplace for woman to work in logistics. There are also female leaders in the industry, working in senior roles. I am very proud as a woman working in logistics, and how the attitude towards woman in the industry has changed for the better.

3. Can you tell us about your journey, how did you get your job at Barnes?

My background is in administration. I joined the logistics industry in roughly 2000. What attracted me initially were the shift patterns available, as there is always something to suit your personal circumstances. I was also looking for a new challenge! I love the variety of the industry and my role, which keeps me interested.

4. What does a typical day (or week!) look like for you?

When I start my shift, I check that all of our drivers are running on time. I liaise with our customers, and provide timely updates. I then start our planning for the following day, which involves collating our jobs from various customers, working out how much time each driver has for the day, and based on this, I allocate the work. Throughout the day, I brief and debrief drivers at the start and end of their shifts, answering calls and offering support with queries throughout the day. A typical day may also involve liaising with our workshop and arranging vehicle repairs and servicing. However, a typical day rarely exists, because there are so many factors that can occur throughout the day, loads being cancelled or changed, drivers breaking down or running out of driving time. So, it is important to be flexible and multitasking is crucial!

5. What would you say to other women looking to join the industry?

Give it a go! Don’t be put off by outdated stereotypes. Logistics is so varied. It really challenges you and keeps you on your toes! You need good people skills, and the ability to stay calm. It can be a high pressure environment, so you do sometimes need a thick skin, but the rewards far outweigh the challenges.