For the latest edition of our Apollo member interview, we met with Mark Bekker from Lisbon, Portugal. We talked about how thinking out of the box results in the best solutions, the importance of having business partners you trust and developing his own software.
How did you get started in the logistics industry and what has your journey been like so far?
I studied logistics management in Rotterdam around 1991 and for a traineeship I worked for a Portuguese shipping agent in Lisbon. In 1998, I started my own freight forwarding company mainly focused on LCL / FCL transports and customs clearance.
Through the years, we have extended our activity to express van transport through Europe and handling military cargo and weapons. We also offer all kind of logistics services such as order preparation, packing, stock management.
The journey has been good overall with sometimes difficult hurdles to take but it has helped me to know how to deal with all kind of shipments and situations.
If there is one thing that you could change to the logistics industry, what would it be and why?
I would set a max percentage on the market share of any container line to avoid the ever ongoing concentration of container shipping into a few companies.
What is the most important lesson working in logistics has taught you?
You only should work with competent agents at the origin or destiny of your transports to have peace of mind that your shipments will be handled well and this practice eliminates 90% of possible problems during transport.
What do you like most about the industry and your job in particular?
The contact with many people from all over the world.
How do you set yourself apart from your competitors?
We try to think out of the box to find shipping solutions. We also follow all shipments pro actively and do as much advance work as we can so that our clients can lean back.
What do you like the most about being a member of our logistics network?
The many high quality members, completely different from your average forwarder. All members I talked to had their own specific expertise which is very motivating and makes you feel certain that I can handle any type of shipment with them.
How do you relax in your free time?
I like to do as much sports as my schedule allows. I play padel and go mountain biking. I love reading and I’m always following some course to learn something new. For example, a few years ago I wanted to make software to make freight forwarding easier and that’s why I learned how to program. I made several software tools that we use in the company and this has helped us a lot.
Thank you, Mark!