1 August 2024

A day in the life of Nick – Dispatch Worker and Day Shift Operator

Meet Nick, 36 years old. He’s a Combination Worker at Liquin. With nearly 2 years of experience, he fulfills a combined role as a Day Shift Operator and Dispatch Worker at our TTR terminal in Rotterdam. What exactly does his daily work entail? Nick takes you through his varied world, in which he’s active both indoors and outdoors at the terminal.

Fixed working hours and varied tasks
Nick works from Monday to Friday, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. He appreciates the regularity and stability of his job. Yet, his work is anything but monotonous in his combined role.
“In the office, I handle orders from truck drivers who come to load or unload and process them for the operators outside. When I work outside as a Day Shift Operator, I execute the orders myself”, he explains.

Nick works exclusively with trucks and sometimes with wagons. Loading and unloading ships is the work of a Dispatch Worker, like Marc.

Trucks coming and going
Every day, around 40 to 50 trucks come to the TTR terminal to load and unload liquid chemicals. These trucks are handled by our day shift operators at four loading bays and four unloading bays. Each truck driver is assigned to a specific bay, depending on availability and the type of cargo to be loaded or unloaded.

“During my outdoor shift, I help with loading and unloading at the bay. We do this as a team, and it goes on all day.”

Much of the work at the bay is automated. Nick operates the panel to safely connect and disconnect the trucks.

Sometimes wagons also enter the terminal to load and unload. “We maneuver them into the right position, like a train conductor, and we also learn how to do that. Then we proceed to load or unload.”

Safety is the highest priority
When loading and unloading trucks containing various liquid chemicals, Nick ensures that the correct protective equipment is used.

“As both Dispatch Worker and Day Shift Operator, I take the order from the driver in the office and turn it into a detailed work order for the operator outside. This order clearly states what chemical substance is involved and what protective equipment the operator should use. A colleague checks this again to make sure everything is correct. We all work very precisely because we’re well aware of what we’re dealing with.”

Flexibility and challenge
The variety of tasks as both Dispatch Worker and Day Shift Operator gives his job an extra dimension.

“Sometimes I can be found behind a desk in the office, and the next moment I’m busy outside. Both aspects have their charms, but the combination appeals to me the most.”


Career advancement and a close-knit team
Nick is currently a 3rd Operator and aims to advance to the position of 2nd Operator. He likes the friendly team he works with and enjoys the mutual cooperation. “It’s a great atmosphere, and I enjoy my time here,” says Nick.

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