Brake, 10:15 a.m. A dull clack echoes across the L.I.T. Cargo GmbH yard in Brake as Jantje Wulf opens the door to her truck. After a rainy night, the roads are still wet, and the air is fresh. A light breeze gently blows while the sun slowly breaks through the clouds – a cool, slightly humid summer morning in northern Germany. Jantje Wulf carefully pulls on her gloves and checks the tarpaulin of the trailer. Today’s task: delivering bumpers for a major German automobile manufacturer from Rehau in Brake to Bremen.
»Opening the tarp is sometimes really a test of strength,« Jantje says, bracing her whole body firmly against the frame. Her hands slip briefly, and a sudden jolt runs through her body. »Especially as a woman, you notice that the job is physically demanding.« Yet she remains calm, almost routine. »If it does not work, there is usually someone nearby to help – for example with a little trick that only experienced truckers know.«

Silicone Spray vs. Muscle Power

Jantje grins and pulls a small spray can from the side compartment. »It just makes things slide better. For example, at the air connections,« she explains, tilting the can slightly to get just the right amount. She means the connection between the truck and trailer – a spot that has challenged even seasoned drivers, especially on damp or cold mornings when everything feels a bit stiff. The tarp is now open, the trailer ready. On Rehau’s factory grounds, a forklift is already waiting. Nine lifts, thirty-six bumpers – carefully stored and secured. Jantje then disappears briefly into the office building, returning shortly with a stack of shipping documents. »It has the borderon number on it,« she explains, quickly entering the eight-digit sequence into her tablet. The »Truck« app displays her route for the day. A QR code appears. »I’ll need this later at the Bremen gate. Without it, I won’t get in.«
Alongside the digital workflow, there is still some paperwork: a handwritten note from the L.I.T. office with license plates, freight details, and recipient info for the local colleagues. »It will also be scanned there again,« she says almost casually, tapping the clipboard against her leg, as she climbs into the cab, balancing quickly on the step.