Life at Goldstar – Behind the scenes at our Container Parks

The Goldstar Transport origin story began with just a few office staff and a tiny fleet of 4 Scania’s. From day one, our ambitions have been big. But the truth is, we wouldn’t be where we are today without the team of people past and present who make Goldstar great.

Over this series, we are shining a spotlight on what really makes Goldstar tick. We’ll take you behind the scenes to meet the people who keep the wheels turning on the UK’s number 1 container haulage company.

The UK’s Off-Dock Storage Experts

You can’t become the UK’s Market-Leading Container Haulier without an expert team who specialise in off-dock storage solutions and secure container parks. Our container park teams have been developing our network for over 12 years now, and they’re strategically located at key transport hubs across the UK, including Felixstowe, Liverpool, Leeds, Newmarket, Southampton and Woolpit. 

A Typical Day Behind the Scenes in a Container Park

We asked Shay Richer, our Eastern Container Parks Operations Manager, to describe a typical day running Goldstar’s Container Parks. He smiles – “I’m sure Container Park Managers across the company will agree with me on this one – BUSY”.

“I’ve been in the industry for twenty years, although I’ve only been back at Goldstar for a year, and no two days are the same. At Woolpit, our Container Park allows 24-hour operations, offering our customers more flexibility than our competitors. We’re immensely proud of our extremely fast turnaround times here – we average under 20 minutes. That means when a vehicle turns up to collect a container, they’ll be up and back out on the road the other side in less time than it takes to make and drink a coffee! 

Our state-of-the-art container control system is a game-changer aiding in avoiding lengthy digouts and downtime for drivers.

As a father to two boys, Shay knows how to break it down simply sometimes too.

“If I was to describe my job to a five-year-old, I’d just tell them I look after all the containers that come in on them large ships!”

What makes a great Container Park team?

If you ask what makes a successful Container Park, the answer is always LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION – for the network to be successful, the locations need to be accessible and near to major road networks, railheads, ports and transport hubs. 

But arguably, the team that makes the Container Park successful is even more important than the location. Shay is a champion of this message.

“I believe 100% we are a great team. We always meet our targets, and everyone is on board and always willing to help out in all areas. So much so, in fact, that I can’t really give you a particular name since the whole team deserves a shout-out!” 

Massive Machinery – Reach Stackers and Container Lifters

Running a Container Park is like building a house of cards and requires knowledge, expertise and strategic planning to ensure that boxes are stacked in the most efficient way. 

The sheer size of the machinery at the container park never fails to impress, whether you are an industry stalwart or a total newbie.

Driving one of these juggernauts – like a Sany 45/31 loaded reach stacker or a forklift with up to 16-tonne capacity – is a feat in itself. They are so big that they actually arrive disassembled and are put together on-site; even changing a tyre on one of these is a group effort and takes immense training and skill from the operators. We’re grateful to our incredible friends at Cooper Handling, who are always on hand with strong products and a reliable service.

The Importance of Off-Dock Storage and Container Parks Operators in the Supply Chain

Our facilities can store empty and full containers at our depots across the UK. We’re much better value and more accessible than storage at the Ports, which is a big plus given the rounds of industrial action hitting various sectors of the economy at the moment. We’ve recently expanded operations at Woolpit taking storage capacity up to a whopping 4500 TEU across an additional 3 acres.

General Manager Steve Jones is pleased with how things are growing. “Our investment in off-Dock Storage and Container Park areas of the business will offer our customer base even more flexibility during uncertain times. We would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in the Woolpit expansion project – your hard work and dedication to the company is valued and appreciated.”

Container Park jobs in the Transport, Haulage and Logistics Industry

The transport industry has a reputation for being tough with long hours and hard work. It’s diverse, expanding and teeming with specialist roles and opportunities that can pull experience from a range of different backgrounds. It is also one of the highest-paying careers for anyone for whom the traditional degree route isn’t an option.

Goldstar Transport offers a supportive and friendly work environment with opportunities for growth and development. If you enjoy the banter and the graft, then some of your best relationships can be formed at work – with everyone pulling together towards the same goals. But don’t just take our word for it.

Shay told us, “I would like to thank Goldstar for the opportunity to show what I am worth, and I’m really looking forward to my future with the company – I just love my job and come to work with a smile on my face every day”. 

Check out our current office and on-site vacancies and drive your career forward – the Goldstar way.