English for logistics

My logistics internship began last week. It is taking place at a distribution centre. At the start, I was very excited. I was also very stressed out about working for 6 months in a foreign country. 

To avoid public transportation, I chose a flat that was close to the location of my internship. To get there, it is straight down the road. I just have to walk ten minutes, cross two intersections, then I’m there. 

Monday was a big day, my first day. I got up early because I had an appointment at 7:00 a.m. at the site reception desk and I didn't want to be late. When I arrived, the manager was waiting for me. I introduced myself and I gave him my internship agreement. 

He gave me the mandatory equipment to enter the warehouse: a helmet, safety shoes, a fluorescent orange vest and gloves. Then, he showed me the break room. The employees were drinking coffee before going on duty.  

I spent the first day visiting the site with my supervisor. It is a big logistics platform with two buildings. The first is reserved for merchandise. There is a reception area, a storage area with different groupings, an order preparation area and a shipping area. In the second building, there are offices and a workshop for repairing machines and equipment like stackers, pallets, pallet trucks. 

On Tuesday, I spent my day in the office. I learned to use the computer to manage stock and orders, print the labels or the transport vouchers and manage inventory variances. It is very useful to track merchandise and deliveries. At first, it was a little hard because administrative tasks are not my thing, but I quickly understood how it worked.

On Wednesday, I moved to another building. I helped prepare the merchandise for shipping. All of the packages are crated and placed on pallets for shipment. It is hard work, but I like being active. At the end of the day, I watched the handlers load the pallets with the forklift into the trucks.

Over the following days, I worked in the receiving area. In this area, the merchandise arrives, it is listed for inventory and sent to the storage area.  

I loved my first week. The team is great and gives me a lot of advice. I am learning a lot. But it is more demanding than school. I went home every evening very tired. I am going to take it easy this first weekend and just stay in.

Next week, I will be in the workshop. That is the place reserved for machines and vehicles that are used for logistics. I will have to clean and repair the pallet trucks and the forklifts. I will have to wear a uniform to not get my clothes dirty.