International experience at its best: introducing DACHSER USA’s “Transatlantic Trainee” program

When it comes to promoting career opportunities, offering options for experiences abroad has always played a crucial role for DACHSER – especially when it comes to young professionals. Alma Avdylaga, who started her career with DACHSER Air & Sea Logistics in Germany, has been one of the first candidates to transfer to the United States as a part of the Transatlantic Trainee program. With her upcoming return to Germany in autumn 2024, she is sharing her story and encourages others to follow her path, which has been full of unique adventures and new learnings.

After graduating from high school, Alma Avdylaga completed an apprenticeship as an industrial management assistant. With a passion for logistics and the goal of a career in an international company in mind, she immediately found her dream job at the Air & Sea Logistics branch of DACHSER in Stuttgart. At the time when she had been working in sea import for around five years, DACHSER USA was looking for a young sea freight professional to strengthen the ocean freight team in the branch in Atlanta as a part of the newly established intercultural exchange program. She applied, and after approval of the visa, she soon found herself in Atlanta, one of the leading logistics centers of the world. “After having received my visa, everything went faster than expected. Suddenly, I was on my way to DACHSER’s branch in Atlanta, right at the doorstep of the busiest airport in the world,” she says.

Although her new place of living had kept her amazed for months to come, she immediately found a new home in Atlanta and at the local branch of DACHSER. She adds: “After all, I had already known DACHSER very well. Everything felt familiar right away and I was a firm part of the team from the first day on.”

When it comes to highlights during her work in the US, Alma mentions the fact that her responsibilities range across a much wider field of tasks than ever before, including the handling of both FCL (full container load) and LCL (less-than-container load) shipments and far more frequent customer contact. Furthermore, she says: “In Germany, Hamburg and Bremerhaven are the main ports to be considered, but here in the United States, the number of seaports in our day-to-day business is much higher. Next to this, we are shipping a lot of special equipment, including flat racks and out of gauge. In a nutshell, a working day here in the US is not only rich in variety, but also very exciting in terms of the special projects that we are handling on a frequent basis.” Finally, Alma emphasizes the fact that despite relocating overseas, she still handles customers that she has known from her time in Germany. “Logistics may be highly globalized, but in the end, the world is small. Being able to foster your network in such an international environment and across continents simply is an invaluable opportunity.”

A win-win for every side with exciting future opportunities

Next to Alma, other young professionals from Germany have already followed the same path and have transferred to the US as a part of the Transatlantic Trainee program. After all, the program is not only a success for the applicants themselves, but also an enrichment for DACHSER in the United States. In fact, their hands-on knowledge and their perspective from outside is highly appreciated across the entire organization.

“The Transatlantic Trainee program is a mutual benefit for both sides. For our young professionals from Europe, it is a unique opportunity to gain intercultural experience abroad and an exciting step forward in their career,” says Gabriele Langenmayr, Head of Human Resources Americas. “On the other hand, DACHSER USA and our teams here in the US benefit from their knowledge and their experience in the organization – without any need for prior onboarding. After all, our candidates are not only experts in logistics – they already know the DACHSER culture and values by heart.”

With the program being such a success, DACHSER USA will continue to offer regular opportunities for young professionals in several branches across the United States. When it comes to Alma and her plans after her time in the US, she has already made up her mind: “While I am planning to return to my hometown Stuttgart, one thing is clear – I will continue my path with DACHSER. A career here can take you places, so who knows where my journey with DACHSER will take me in the future.”