As global commerce continues to reshape how organizations compete, the criticality of their supply chain strategy has never been more evident. This focus is bringing tomorrow’s talent into the industry and they are eager to help solve problems. These students need valuable industry experience and an internship can be the very best way to jumpstart their careers. Over the summer, Werner Enterprises, a top five transportation and logistics provider, provided 23 college students from around the United States the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the transportation industry in a 12-week internship. The program provides an excellent foundation for the interns, which includes daily hands-on experience, job shadows and a ride-along with a professional driver. The interns end their summer with a final group presentation focused on innovation. Many of the interns have focused their efforts on the Logistics side of the business. We asked four of them to share their experiences.
Stephanie
Stephanie is a self-motivated and driven Supply Chain Management major from Arizona State University, who has spent her internship working in the Truckload Logistics Department. She describes her department as a competitive, engaging group of individuals who are determined to provide the highest possible level of service.
Throughout the summer, Stephanie had the opportunity to rotate through various roles within the department. She rotated through carrier sales, shipper sales and logistics pricing and analytics. This allowed her to gain perspective of how the entire department operates and works together
“There is an incredible amount of support in learning the processes and tools needed to conduct these activities. However, there is a lot of independence and freedom to work and learn as deeply as you can in a specific area based on your strengths and interests.”
Tyler
Tyler is a diligent and hard-working Logistics and Supply Chain Management major from the University of North Texas. During his summer internship, Tyler has worked in the Intermodal Department. Tyler knew about Werner as a trucking and logistics company before college but was able to learn more when he spoke with representatives at his university’s career fair.
As a part of the Intermodal team, Tyler starts his day by sending emails to drayage carriers across the country asking about capacity for the day. He then turns those responses over to the sales team. He spends the rest of the day tracking various rail accounts and ensuring that they arrive on time. Tyler describes his department as a group that values hard work and embraces the positive company culture, all while having fun.
“My favorite thing about being an Intermodal intern is knowing that I take part in keeping America moving.”
Colin
Colin is a dedicated and communication-oriented business student at the University of Iowa. While interning with Werner, Colin has been a part of the Truckload Logistics team. Colin has had the opportunity to embrace his communication skills while working with customers to ensure that loads arrive on-time.
His average day begins with sending tracking reports to a specific consignee, followed by a daily customer account meeting. As the day goes on, Colin sends delivery appointment requests for loads and puts accessorial charges into our transportation management system (TMS). When he finds some free time, he works on his group’s final project. He has a huge appreciation for the people in his department as they are consistently willing to help one another. He says he couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with.
“The experiences I have gained over the course of the internship are invaluable, and I will take them with me.”
Kiely
Kiely is an involved and personable Supply Chain Management major with a concentration in International Business from the University of Tennessee. Kiely has also had the opportunity to learn the Truckload Logistics side of the business at the office in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. He appreciates his team and describes their department as “fast-paced, but close-knit.” To begin his day, Kiely checks emails and creates a list of calls that he needs to make. He then searches through boards to try and match loads with specific carriers.
“The more business I do, the more confidence I have that this can be a career moving forward. I also really enjoy being part of the team here in Omaha. Everyone seems to get along so well and enjoys their job.”
Through this opportunity, our interns became familiar with Werner’s operations, business strategies, customer service needs and company culture. We appreciate the contributions of our interns and enjoyed watching them grow and develop in their careers. For more information on internships or career opportunities, click here.
