Robert Zacharevič, Head of the Freight Forwarding Department at Everwest Group, has over 15 years of experience in the Freight Forwarding business within our group. We invited him for a conversation on this special occasion – Robert shared his extensive experience, insights, and success stories encountered throughout this long and interesting career path.
Robert, you recently mentioned 15 years of experience in logistics and within our group of companies. How does such a period feel to you – is it a lot or a little?
Time has flown unnoticed. After finished studies, I had a period when I changed jobs every couple of years. It was as if, just before my birthday, I would get a sense of upcoming changes. I thought this would be just a temporary stop as well, but after discovering logistics, this period of changes ended.
Could you tell us about the start of your journey in logistics?
My journey in logistics has been prolonged. I didn’t think I would succeed in this field; I knew nothing about logistics, let alone expedition. When I went for the job interview, I couldn’t tell a “ref” from a “tent”. At that time, all trucks with trailers looked the same to me. I remember at the very beginning, when talking to clients on the phone, I would ask my colleagues sitting next to me, “Do we have any ref’s?”
It sounds like a challenging start. Do you notice how things have changed?
The beginning was full of such challenges, but I gradually got the hang of it. I was one of the first forwarders in the group of companies. Over time, this activity developed and changed.
We have probably never done anything like what we are doing now. Today, we work with client and partner databases, write emails, communicate via calls and messages. But at the beginning, all the work was done over the phone, and we didn’t have any client lists. On the way to work in Vilnius, a coworker from Kaunas sometimes took pictures of trucks with contact information on them and remarked “Call this one.” Compact discs with some company contacts would be passed from hand to hand among colleagues. There was a lot of stress and many phone calls.
The principle and workday probably look quite similar both then and now. But today, the work is more structured; we already have plans, tools, and work procedures that we must follow.
How do you think the company and its culture have changed over the years?
Not only the technologies we use change, but also the people, their experiences, and attitudes. Thus, the company changes as well. The organization is improving significantly. I see how the requirements for employees and their results have changed, as well as the way we communicate. During this time, I have seen many changes: new colleagues joining the growing team, colleagues leaving, and the gratifying examples of colleagues’ successful careers.
Our market is geographically very broad. Are there any markets, clients, or jobs where there is more competition among colleagues for working on certain projects?
The freight forwarding business somewhat resembles a market where new announcements about clients’ needs to transport goods constantly appear in the database. And here, negotiations take place not only about the price but also about the project details.
Geographically speaking, we work very broadly – from Europe to China. We transport everything by various routes. Speaking of directions, there are good clients and easy routes in every direction, where orders can be fulfilled without much effort. And it doesn’t matter whether we work with them in Europe, transport from Europe to Central Asia, or from China to Europe – there are clients everywhere. There are clients whose cargo disappears from the exchange (database) instantly – some colleagues choose such clients for profitability, others for the ease of implementation.
What projects motivate you?
Profitable ones 🙂 I feel excitement when striving to achieve my goal of selling a service. And of course, upon achieving it, the sweet taste of victory comes. It doesn’t matter whether we are transporting a load of wine bottles from Spain, stadium grass for the European Football Championship, or sports equipment for the Olympics.
Working a lot, it’s important to maintain a work-life balance. What helps you recharge? Do you have any rituals?
Maintaining balance is not easy. As they say, the best ideas come when you change your environment. For me, the best solutions or ideas often come, for example, while driving. Rest is truly important. So, after a day at the office, I usually stop by the gym on my way home, where I recharge with new energy and return home with a clear head, free of work-related thoughts.
What would you wish for colleagues who have just joined the team and are still finding themselves at Everwest and in logistics in general?
If you have a goal, pursue it. I have had situations where I felt like I couldn’t do anything more, that things weren’t working out, everything had come to a standstill, and I thought I couldn’t change anything. But somehow, a new opportunity would arise. Whether it’s in freight forwarding, logistics, or any other field, don’t give up, stay in shape, and believe that things will change. There’s nothing bad that doesn’t turn into good. You just need to see the positive thoughts and then changes will begin.
Thank you. Good luck and many more years in the freight forwarding!
