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.
Stefan Kruse: 35 years at VTG
At VTG since 1991 Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor
How did you come to VTG?
“My journey to VTG began in a very traditional way: after graduating from high school, I wanted to train as a forwarding and logistics clerk, but at first I wasn’t exactly sure where. Since I come from a rural area and the internet did not yet exist in the form we know today, I received support from the employment agency. One of the five applications I submitted led me to VTG. Following an interview at Neue Rabenstraße, I started my apprenticeship there on August 1, 1991, in what was then Department C (Tank Containers).
In the UK Short Sea Dispatch department, I worked with Volker Petry. With his unique style and high expectations, he challenged me greatly, but he also taught me a great deal that continues to benefit me to this day.
My apprenticeship was intensive, varied, and highly formative, above all because of the many different assignments and the people I had the opportunity to work with. These included placements at the tank terminal in Duisburg and with Danzas, where I learned about both road freight forwarding and seaport logistics. A particularly defining experience was an assignment in Bremen, as well as a return period in Duisburg, where we took over an abandoned office, reorganized it, and got it back on track alongside the day-to-day business. In June 1993, I successfully completed my apprenticeship after just under two years.”
Kick-off in the 90s: Stefan in the red jersey as a founding member of the VTG company football team.
Which year has stayed with you the most?
“On a personal level, it is a very good time to look back on the many years I have spent at VTG. Professionally, they reflect a long period of reliability, continuous change, and constant new developments. VTG has changed quite a bit over the past 35 years!”
What does your 35-year anniversary mean to you personally and professionally?
“Over the course of 35 years, there have of course been many defining moments, both positive and challenging. The first two years after completing my apprenticeship were difficult, but a great team helped me persevere.
In 1995, I moved to Transpetrol (now VTG Rail Logistics), a pivotal decision and the beginning of my passion for rail logistics. Volker needed support, and I didn’t have to think twice! One particularly memorable milestone was the establishment of what is now the LPG team in 1997. It was exciting to help build something new and create structures that are still in place today.
In 2003, I was appointed Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor for Transpetrol. In addition to dangerous goods, quality management became another key area of focus. Two rather ‘dry’ topics, perhaps, but ones that can still be very enjoyable! My role quickly expanded to advising customers and service providers before I was organizationally integrated into the then TQM department in 2015.
And not to forget the period from 2020 onwards, when our team in the EMS department (now ES) grew even closer together. What followed were happy, productive, and highly successful years.
Alongside this, my voluntary commitment within the company also developed: from the Youth and Trainee Representative Committee (JAV) in 1992 to serving on the Works Council since 2000. These roles have provided me with a wide range of insights into the company, constructive discussions, even during challenging times, and a great deal of trust, for which I am very grateful.”
“Personally, I’m happy that – apart from a few years – I have always enjoyed working at VTG, and still do today.
Whether it’s a soccer tournament, hazardous goods, or a company outing: Stefan has experienced a lot in 35 years at VTG.
What advice would you give your “younger self” (and our Young Talents) if you could start all over again?
Which colleagues have you grown especially fond of over your years at VTG?
“Out of long-standing ties, there has always been a very warm relationship and excellent collaboration with our logistics colleagues, especially with Stephan Jost and our LPG team, even though team compositions have changed time and again over the years. In addition to the colleagues in our ES team, my work on the Works Council has also led to many trusting and, in some cases, long-standing professional relationships, both within the committee and across the workforce. Listing them all would go beyond the scope of this article. In the end, it is precisely this sense of togetherness that motivates me every day to step into the ring for VTG with great enthusiasm and commitment.”
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