From truck to warehouse: meet Edwin de Ruiter, warehouse supervisor in Rotterdam.

If you’ve been working at Bos Logistics for 31 years, you’ve pretty much seen it all. And Edwin de Ruiter is just that kind of person. He started out as a truck driver and is now in charge of the warehouse in Rotterdam. Down-to-earth, dedicated, and always grounded. “No matter what everyone’s role is, in the end, we just have to do it together.”

From LZV to warehouse

When Edwin got his truck driver’s license, he had one goal: to drive one of those big trucks. “Logistics itself didn’t mean much to me back then. It was the truck that appealed to me.” And so it began: first a box truck, then a tractor-trailer, and eventually an LZV (Longer and Heavier Truck Combination). He drove them all.

After 19 years on the road, he decided to trade the steering wheel for the warehouse floor. And there, too, he worked his way up step by step: from warehouse worker to team leader and eventually supervisor at the Rotterdam warehouse. “Looking back, that was a great development. Every step shaped me.”

Not just a manager

Edwin leads, but he does so mainly by pitching in. “I don’t like standing on the sidelines and just telling people what to do. If containers need to be unloaded or loaded, I just help out.”

His responsibility lies with the daily import and export flows. But without his team, he says, you’re nowhere. “I have colleagues around me who know what they’re doing. When everyone plays their part, the process runs smoothly. And if something gets stuck, I step in.”

Leadership with a down-to-earth approach

No yelling, no fuss. That’s how Edwin sums up his style. “Treat people the way you want to be treated. With respect and space.”
If something goes wrong, there’s no pointing fingers or passing judgment. “Everyone makes mistakes. The question is: what do we learn from them, and how do we fix them? You get the most done with calm and humor. And yes, that’s worked great for years.”

For Edwin, good work starts with mindset. “If you work somewhere, you have to be fully committed to it. Taking responsibility isn’t a perk; it’s just part of who you are. And if you don’t do that, then you’re in the wrong place with me.”

Practical improvements

Rotterdam operates in shifts, with established processes. But Edwin looks beyond the standard. “A process is only a good process if it works in practice. Paper is patient, but the shop floor is reality.”
That’s why he always tests new methods himself. “Then you see where the bottlenecks are, and you can make adjustments right away. For example, we recently reorganized the warehouse: more bulk areas, extra container locations. Small changes, big difference.”

What does he enjoy most? Loading shipping containers. “There’s a lot of time pressure there. Everything has to be right: the weight, the order, the schedule. That requires an overview and speed—and that’s exactly what gives me energy.”

Connection between departments

A day in the warehouse is a constant game of coordination, taking action, and adapting. With the planning team, CSUM, and the warehouse staff themselves. “We really need each other. Shipments come and go, and everyone needs to know what’s going on. Otherwise, you get chaos.” For Edwin

, collaboration means doing what’s necessary, without hierarchy. “Whether you’re an employee or the person in charge, we all share the same goal. That’s what makes this team so strong.”
“Outside, things are often busy and hectic,” he says. “But that’s exactly why there needs to be clarity and calm in the warehouse. That’s where the strength lies.”

“No” is not an answer

What has stayed with him all these years is a lesson from the previous CEO, Frank Bos Sr.: “Never just say no to a customer
.” “That really stuck with me. You don’t say something can’t be done; you look for a way to make it happen. That’s become second nature to me. Thinking in terms of possibilities, always.”

Energy from satisfied customers

The best moment of the day? “When everything runs smoothly, the schedule is on track, and the customer is satisfied. Then you know: we pulled it off together.”
At Bos Logistics, taking the burden off customers is central, and that’s exactly how Edwin feels. “Customers need to know their goods are in good hands with us. Everything is taken care of, from A to Z. That’s why we do it.”

A down-to-earth force through and through

How does he describe himself? Fair, determined, and honest. No smooth talker, no show-off. “I don’t see myself as ‘the boss.’ I’m part of the team, and that’s worked out great for 31 years.”
He’s down-to-earth, calm, and likes to keep his work and private life separate. But on the job, everyone knows what to expect from him. He

certainly has plans for the future, though he remains modest: “Doing my job in a bigger warehouse with more and new challenges—that sounds great to me.” Beyond that, his motto remains unchanged: “I do what’s expected of me and try to deliver the best work possible every day. And in the meantime, I just try to enjoy life. That’s complicated enough sometimes,” he concludes with a wink.