Erwin Heß on the Road for pfenning logistics for 40 Years

Throughout his long-standing career with pfenning logistics, there is hardly a load that Erwin Heß has not driven. As a truck driver, he has accompanied the company on its journey from a forwarding agency to a full-service contract logistics provider, making a valuable contribution with his experience. During a celebration, the company thanked him and reflected on his distinguished career.

(Heddesheim) For Erwin Heß, it was clear from a young age that he wanted to work as a driver. The power and size of the vehicles impressed him; there was no more beautiful idea for him than to steer a truck himself. He obtained his truck driver’s license while serving in the Bundeswehr. At the age of 21 – the earliest possible age – he fulfilled his career wish and applied to pfenning logistics in Heddesheim in response to a newspaper advertisement. Since 1981, Erwin Heß has been a professional driver for the contract logistics provider. His professional start is entirely in line with the company’s tradition: pfenning logistics was founded in the 1930s as a milk transport company, and Erwin Heß also regularly drove milk transports in the region during his early years.

Training as a Hazardous Goods Driver

After spending a week in the passenger seat to learn the routes inside and out, he was allowed to take the wheel himself. Throughout his career, he has been on the road for numerous customers of pfenning logistics in the region. He transported a wide variety of loads, including hazardous goods for one of pfenning logistics’ long-standing and largest clients. To ensure he could carry out these assignments properly and always knew the current regulations and requirements, he completed several training and continuing education seminars, including training as a hazardous goods driver, a professional driver training course, a load securing seminar, and a practical seminar on digital tachographs. His reliability and flexibility have always been highly valued in dispatching.

As a driver, Erwin Heß has witnessed the company’s developments and milestones over the past years and decades from the front row. His workday has also seen changes; he cites the technological advancements in vehicles as the greatest progress in his profession. Where he once knew the route by heart or used a street map at traffic lights, he now has a navigation system at his disposal. The comfort has also improved significantly; anyone spending up to ten hours a day in the driver’s cabin is grateful for the now-standard air conditioning and improved ergonomics. He hopes that these advantages, which make the everyday life of a professional driver easier, will also attract young women and men in the future and inspire them for this exciting job.

Retirement in Three Years

Rana Matthias Nag, who presented Erwin Heß with a certificate, a pfenning surprise bag, and a Palatinate wine package fitting his preference for regional wine festivals, highlighted the driver’s contributions in a speech: “On behalf of the entire pfenning logistics group, my heartfelt thanks go to Erwin Heß, who has come to know the company better than many others during his 40 years at the Heddesheim location and surroundings. He has accompanied our path of growth and change from a transport to a contract logistics provider. His reliability and flexibility have proven to be invaluable and indispensable on many occasions.”In his free time, Erwin Heß also enjoys being on wheels, cycling, and visiting wine festivals in the region. He wants to continue practicing his dream job for three more years before retiring. However, he still wants to stay active: he plans to travel with a small motorhome. pfenning logistics wishes him all the best and a favorable tailwind for that.
Title photo: © pfenning logistics / Caption: Jubilarian Erwin Heß in front of his work vehicle