Backup.

The dictionary definition of “backup” is “someone or something that provides support or help” and he word is usually a typical part of IT vocabulary. But it has become increasingly important in other areas, too. What does “backup” mean in transport and why is it so important?

“Earlier this year, we could not even begin to imagine the challenges we would face these past few months,” says VCHD Cargo chairman Petr Kozel, adding: “Considering our busy business with destinations in Italy and Spain, we turned on the emergency mode due to COVID-19 at the beginning of February but our full-fledged crisis plan took shape in the last week of February. In order to safely deliver our services to customers and play our part in providing essential functions to the society, we implemented backup rules to ensure safe operation.”

VCHD Cargo organised its workflow in a way that prevented work disruptions while providing maximum protection for all employees. The following rules were put in place in all branches to ensure smooth operation as prior to the pandemic:

1. One worker = one office. To ensure the rule’s application even to open-space staff, all office spaces, including management offices, were made available for day-to-day operation.
2. No contact between driver and dispatcher = information was passed on exclusively via tablets issued to all VCHD Cargo vehicles.
3. Substitutes = every worker in the office must have a backup home office colleague and together they deal with all the relevant issues.
4. Online meetings = the management has a meeting with branch managers twice a day using the Microsoft Teems platform; branch managers have regular online meetings with their teams.
5. Maximum protection = the company provided protective equipment for all employees, drivers and office staff and the government’s distancing measures and disinfectants were made obligatory in all offices.

Thanks to these measures we have been able to send out dozens of VCHD Cargo trucks every day, carrying our customers’ goods from every corner of Europe to their own clients throughout the continent. “Every meeting starts with the most important question about the health of our drivers, dispatchers and technical staff. After all, we are always on the road to Italy, Spain, Germany …,” says Petr Kozel and concludes: “All of us hope that if we get some Covid-19 cases, they will be in the very mild category. But one thing is sure: even in such unfortunate cases our backup plan will allow us to deliver goods safely and quickly to all European destinations even in these unprecedented times.”