Genuine help – driven by dedication
“We have more than three hundred drivers. Every one of them is like family,” says Hubert Hörndl, who has been running the family business since 1988, the fourth generation. Hubert Hörndl Transporte GmbH in Forstinning, Upper Bavaria, has been around since the 1920s. The company has been committed to its drivers for decades – whether by providing financial assistance, support with authorities, or in providing housing. Nobody should be left alone with their worries.
“We help wherever we can,” explains Sylvia Fischbach, responsible for HR and Social Affairs. “Our drivers come to us openly about their problems. And we listen.” It’s standard routine at Hörndl. The stories behind it are touching.
One of the drivers had a tragic mishap while on holiday, and he’s been in a wheelchair ever since. His wife, who also worked for the company, couldn’t come to work anymore because of the emotional stress. This left the whole family suddenly facing the abyss. “They were at their wits’ end. They were dead scared of losing their apartment,” Sylvia Fischbach recalls. So she got the company to help them out financially as well as in dealing with the bureaucracy, and provided the driver with a new career path within the company. “This really matters to us,” Hubert Hörndl explains.
Generous donations
Hörndl also regularly gives generous donations to the Fahrer helfen Fahrern aid association. The company donated a cheque for ten thousand euros to the association as a gesture of solidarity just last year. “We have a lot of confidence in Fahrer helfen Fahrern. The donations get there directly – without reams of paperwork,” says Hubert Hörndl. The drivers know that the company and association will support them if the worst comes to the worst.
But it’s not just about cash. The company actively promotes better living conditions for drivers. “Among other things, we provide housing for our employees. It’s really difficult for drivers from abroad to find accommodation – especially affordable accommodation. We either own the apartments ourselves, or we rent them and sublet them to our drivers at a lower price,” says Sylvia Fischbach. The company also helps drivers from abroad find their way around Germany and deal with the German authorities. “Without this support, we’d have thirty percent fewer drivers,” Hubert Hörndl explains.
What would the haulage company like to see in the future? More appreciation for truck drivers. “They were treated like heroes during the pandemic, but the recognition has rapidly evaporated since then. But they’re the ones keeping our economy going. So I’d like to see more gratitude for our drivers, who do an important job every day.”
During the pandemic, they were celebrated as heroes—but that recognition quickly faded. They keep our economy running. So I wish there was more gratitude for our drivers, who do an important job every day. “
