Sievert Logistics hires first paraplegic driver

Sievert Logistics SE welcomes Holger Schönenberg as the first paraplegic professional driver in the team. The 48-year-old will be deployed in the area of planned transports from the Lengerich location. To make this possible, the transport and logistics service provider had a brand new MAN tractor unit specially modified to meet Schönenberg’s needs by the vehicle and body manufacturer Greshake.

(Lengerich) “Holger convinced me from the very beginning. Despite his handicap, he is pursuing his dream of becoming a professional driver. His enthusiasm for mobility and logistics is something truly special. Therefore, I am very pleased that we can help him achieve this dream. I am proud to have won Holger for our team,” says Karsten Bley, Managing Director of Sievert Logistics SE.

Schönenberg (48) will be deployed after his training by Sievert driver trainer Ronny Cornelsen on the MAN tractor unit number 404, which has previously been modified to allow for operation in manual mode. Outside of the 48-year-old’s working hours, the vehicle can be dispatched normally. The customized truck adaptation was implemented by the vehicle and body manufacturer Greshake from Münster, which has been carrying out modifications for people with disabilities for 30 years. In addition to a hand control for gas and brake, a lockable box was installed in Schönenberg’s new work vehicle, where he can store his wheelchair during the drive. Since the native of Lüdenscheid must also sit during this process, a pull-out folding seat was also installed. Schönenberg accesses the driver’s cabin using additional steps, bars, and handholds.

Impressive career

New Sievert member Holger Schönenberg explains his motivation to become a professional driver: “I have a passion for large technical devices.” For this reason, he contacted the commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN, which put him in touch with the Lengerich logistics service provider. “Sievert Logistics was not only willing to work with me but also to create the necessary conditions for it,” the 48-year-old is pleased to say.

“We have come to know our new colleague as an inspiring personality,” says Bley. Schönenberg has impressed his new team not least with his career. Since the age of 15, Schönenberg has been paraplegic due to a spinal cord operation. Despite the challenges, he has achieved remarkable successes since then: he won a vice world championship title in para-sailing, completed training as a commercial pilot, and flew passenger planes. Because the workflows did not allow him to practice the profession of a pilot permanently, he is now transitioning to truck driving.

Medical reports and certifications

Before the professional driver could start his service, he had to obtain medical reports and certifications and acquire the necessary driving license at the only truck driving school for paraplegics in Germany. At Sievert Logistics, Schönenberg will initially receive a technical introduction and be paired with an experienced onboarding partner, Ronny Cornelsen – just like all new employees at the logistics specialist. Schönenberg will initially be deployed mainly with pre-loaded planned transports in the Osnabrück area. However, the new Sievert member is also expected to take over container transports in the future. Schönenberg: “My goal is to be independently on the road for Sievert Logistics.”

Photo: © Sievert