Portraits of VTG Anniversary Celebrants
Long Haul VTG
Curtain up for our VTG veterans: In this series, we put our long-standing colleagues center stage and give insights into their stories.
What does it feel like to work at VTG for 25 or even 35 years? Which experiences shape you and what keeps you on board for so long? Our anniversary employees look back, share their personal highlights, and talk about what they look forward to in the future.
Peter
Appel:
25 years
at VTG
At VTG since 2001
| Single Wagon Management
How did you come to VTG?
“I joined VTG in 2014 as part of a business transfer. The background was the establishment of a joint venture between Transpetrol and Kühne+Nagel, as a result of which Kühne+Nagel’s rail division was fully integrated into VTG in 2014.
Before that, I worked for Ferroviasped, a Kühne+Nagel subsidiary specializing in rail transports to the Balkans and CIS countries. There, I supported machinery and equipment customers, planned and executed industrial projects, and focused on exceptional shipments.“
Back then in Berlin-Lichtenberg: Peter at the Kühne+Nagel office in 2008
Which year do you remember most vividly?
“It is difficult for me to single out one particular year, because in rail freight forwarding you learn something new every day. In my 25 years in the industry, plus my training period, there have been many exciting, thrilling, and humorous moments.
However, the situations that stand out most are those in which the responsibility turned out to be greater than initially expected. One example is a transport project in 2009: In Brest (Belarus), we supervised the transshipment of a 230-ton support roller for a rolling mill. After nine months of preparation, numerous obstacles, permits, crane relocations, and 24-hour welding operations, the successful delivery was a moment of great relief and pride.”
What does your 25 year anniversary mean to you personally and professionally?
“This work is a part of my life. I identify with my tasks, and it means a lot to me to know what our team has already accomplished and what it will continue to accomplish in the future. At VTG, I am probably now regarded as a passionate advocate of my views. It is always important to me to actively contribute my experience and perspective so that both my colleagues and our projects can benefit from them.
The environment has constantly changed, and with VTG I have been able to grow, focus on new areas of responsibility, and demonstrate my flexibility. It is important not to stand still in your development and to seize opportunities when they arise. Over the past few years, I have adapted quite well to VTG’s transformations and my changing personal roles, always drawing on my experiences at Ferroviosped and Kühne+Nagel. My trainer, Karl-Heinz Schmidt, instilled the fundamental knowledge in me and sparked my understanding of rail freight forwarding in the first place.”
“Through continuous transformation processes, I found my place in the company and reinvented myself professionally.”
A major moment after nine months of preparation: Transshipment of a 230-ton support roller in Brest (Belarus)
What advice would you give your “younger self” (and our Young Talents) if you could start all over again?
“Everyone has their own path and way of learning. In my case, it took some time before I was able to work independently in my field and move forward with the necessary self-confidence. It requires self-belief and the confidence of your trainer, or, as in my case, sometimes even an unplanned opportunity.
When a colleague left our department back then, his position initially remained vacant, but the customers and orders were still there. Without overthinking it, I threw myself into the work and was quickly able to prove that I was the right person for the role.
My advice to those starting their careers is to test their own strengths and discover what they genuinely enjoy and what gives them satisfaction when they succeed. In freight forwarding, we do not need one specific personality type. Everyone can be an important link in the team.
The greatest motivation often comes from personal success stories. VTG offers an international network and a wide variety of tasks and fields of work unlike almost any other company. Be courageous, dear apprentices. The paths you can take are diverse!”
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