Interview with İsmail Alkan, Manager of İntertank Lojistik's Road Fleet

We conducted a pleasant, informative and candid conversation with İsmail Alkan, Land Fleet Manager at İntertank Lojistik Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş. İsmail Alkan provided clear and sincere answers to our questions about his professional background, the history of his company, the innovations they have brought to the sector, and the features that distinguish them from their competitors.

Could you tell our readers about yourself, your education and your professional background in the sector?

I was born in 1976 in Yozgat. I have worked as a manager in various companies in the sector for 17 years. I started my business career in 1999 at İlçe Taşımacılık. Most recently, I served as Operations and Maintenance Manager at Mars Lojistik. For the last two years, I have been working as Land Fleet Manager at İntertank Lojistik Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş.

Could you tell us about your company's development process from its establishment to today?

Our company is the logistics arm of May Grup. It was established to handle the logistics operations of our group companies. Starting this journey with three vehicles, as the needs and expectations of our group companies increased, our business volume grew, and vehicle demand peaked during busy seasons and periods, we made staged investment decisions and over the last three years increased our vehicle capacity to twenty-six units. We produced our tanker trailers in cooperation with Tırsan and our own R&D department. The R&D process took approximately two years. As a result, we now have the best tanker trailers of their class manufactured in Turkey. Through our investments over the last two years, we have built the infrastructure for growth in the sector. As of today, in addition to serving our group company, we provide services to a significant number of other companies. Our customer base increases every day and we continue to grow with our customers. At the end of 2016, we will conduct a reassessment for investment. We will continue our investments if needed. I can say that we are progressing toward becoming a major player in the sector.

Can you provide information about İntertank Lojistik and the sectors you serve?

In the chemical, food, oil and energy sectors, we aim to maintain the quality of professional services we create between producers, consumers and suppliers. Through our accomplishments in quality and security, and our sensitivity to occupational health and the environment, we provide services that create differentiation and added value for liquid and bulk transportation of specialty product nature.

Could you provide us with detailed information about your service offerings? What are the features that distinguish you from your competitors?

We provide services in the chemical, food, oil and energy sectors. We have thoroughly analyzed the expectations of the companies we serve. We have structured our infrastructure to meet their needs and expectations. Our entire system is designed to provide our customers with timely and accurate information from start to finish throughout the operation. Our experience clearly shows that customers have been deprived of receiving timely and accurate information about what happens in the process. The biggest feature that distinguishes us from other transportation companies in the market is our vehicles. The average age of our tractors is 1.5 years — our trailers have an average age of 1.5 years. If I were to briefly describe the features of our vehicles: we have L4BH tank code, 316 Titanium, 32,000-liter cargo capacity, and are equipped with ADR, insulation, serpentine, thermometer, cushioning, reducers from 4 to 2, and top-tier safety equipment on both tractor and trailer — very special vehicles.

Can you provide information about hazardous materials transportation? What should be considered in hazardous materials transportation?

In our country, there has not been sufficient awareness on this matter. Inspections are not yet at an adequate level. There are duties that fall on us and our customers. We do more than our share and will continue to do so. Where appropriate, we also provide consulting services to our customers. There are many aspects that need to be considered. To briefly mention what we do: we start the process by having the product's MSDS examined by TMGD. Vehicle suitability, special circumstances, tank code, and additional measures according to ADR, security and risk analyses — once all operations are completed, we select the appropriate vehicle and driver based on the product to be transported and the loading location. When customers are going to transport hazardous materials, they must first check vehicle suitability. The vehicle must have ADR tractor + trailer T9 certification, hazardous materials insurance, driver SRC5, personal protective equipment, vehicle safety condition, and most importantly, the right product and the right vehicle. Not every vehicle can transport every chemical. This is a sensitive and important matter.

Could you provide information about your company's quality policy and principles?

İntertank Lojistik offers solution partnership services that create differentiation and added value for liquid and bulk transportation of specialty product nature in the sector.

Do you provide after-sales support to your customers?

As İntertank, our primary principle is customer satisfaction. Each of our customers has a special file with us. All information is collected in this file. We analyze the logistics movements of our customers. We always have an idea of when, where and what they will be transporting. We try to help our customers through our visits and informational emails. From the start of operations until the final moment, all information is shared timely and accurately. We provide all types of assistance on technical matters during loading or unloading.

What do you do regarding employee training?

All our personnel receive their training from internal and external sources. We provide senior manager and middle manager training to our managers, and we provide twelve types of training to our drivers. To mention a few important trainings: SRC5 tanker training, fatigue management training, anti-skid training, anti-rollover driving training (Rollover Training). We do not allow drivers to operate without completing initial training.

What can you say about internal communication in your company? What efforts do you make to improve your employees' performance?

We conduct weekly meetings with managers. We have monthly performance evaluations and performance management practices. We also have monthly meetings for drivers. Every month we meet one-on-one with all our drivers, and in these meetings we discuss their expectations from us and our expectations from them, and conduct performance evaluations. Since we are open to development and growth as a system, we keep the necessary communication channels open with our managers and drivers continuously.

What occupational health and safety work have you carried out?

We have numerous initiatives. To briefly describe a few: our managers and drivers do not begin operations without receiving necessary training. Our occupational safety and health specialist trains them on the first day. They are then provided with personal protective equipment. During the trial period, drivers are continuously informed of our instructions, work rules and processes. After providing all information regarding laws, factory rules, the use of personal protective equipment, etc., employees are continuously supported with refresher training. Our vehicle inspections are carried out continuously and regularly.

How was the first half of 2016 for your company? Could you tell our readers about your targets and projects for 2016 regarding the logistics sector?

2016 did not meet our expectations; we went through a stagnant period. The stagnant period appears to continue through the end of the year. We are monitoring developments closely. Turkey experienced unforeseen events. These events did nothing but shake the markets. As a precaution, we postponed some of the applications and investments we had decided on for 2016 to a later date. We have new projects and continue to increase our investments to grow in the energy sector. We have planned to implement our new vehicle and equipment investments in chemistry and energy in accordance with customer needs and expectations. We will begin taking steps at the end of the year.

In order for us to know you better, how do you spend your free time to protect yourself from the negative effects of stress created by business life? Can you tell us about your hobbies and interests?

We work in an intense and demanding sector. Making instant decisions and meeting customer expectations are our main goals. For this reason, we work under considerable stress. Reading books is a relaxing and fatigue-relieving activity. Reading books and taking walks in my spare time are quite beneficial. I am a keen football fan and try to watch matches whenever I have the time.

Finally, do you have a message you would like to convey to the sector?

We recommend experiencing our expertise in liquid bulk cargo logistics and customer satisfaction with us. At the seventh edition of the Turkchem Chem Show Eurasia Fair, which will be held this year, İntertank Lojistik has also secured a place. Within the fair scope, we wish to present our service approach and our difference by meeting with domestic and foreign companies in the international chemical industry of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. If you want to meet with chemical sector professionals, we are waiting for you at our stand — the company that is changing the "Chemistry of Logistics."