From truck to Europe – What the Year of the Fire Horse means for me and OCS

My father Waldemar – from driver to entrepreneur

My father, Waldemar Braun, was a truck driver himself in the late 1980s. He traveled all over Europe – for days, sometimes for weeks. Among other things, he also drove livestock transports as far as Greece. These were transports that were extremely demanding, both physically and logistically.

Back then, international logistics was truly pioneering work. There was no free movement of goods within the EU. Customs clearance was part of everyday life. Documents had to be checked, stamped, and inspected. Border crossings meant waiting times – sometimes for hours.

And Poland in the early 1990s was a world unto itself. Shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the country was undergoing a period of upheaval. Roads were largely in poor condition, administrative processes were often unstructured, and planning was not a given. Every transport was a small expedition.

My father was always a natural organizer. He had the ability to keep track of things even under difficult conditions – to find solutions when others only saw problems.

Nevertheless, a desire eventually arose: more time for family. More influence over one's own life.

The idea of ​​founding his own freight forwarding company was also an attempt for him to no longer be on the road himself for days and weeks at a time. He wanted to shape things instead of just reacting. To coordinate instead of driving.

What he didn't realize at the time: Founding the company meant not less work – but even more responsibility.

Years of development full of responsibility

In the early years, he was no less busy than before. Instead of driving himself, he organized transport, built networks, took care of customs formalities, negotiated with partners, and solved new challenges every day.

Especially in Poland – a market in transition – trust, perseverance, and courage were needed. But that was precisely where its roots lay.

My father comes from Masuria. The region, with its vast forests, lakes, and expansive landscapes, shaped him. This heritage was never merely biographical background – it has always been a driving force.

Poland is therefore not a "foreign market" for us. It was my parents' homeland and continues to shape our thinking, our network, and the way we build and maintain partnerships.

And from this connection arose a network that still forms the foundation of our company today. Many of our employees also have Polish roots. This cultural affinity fosters an understanding that cannot be captured by processes or key performance indicators.

Growth born of conviction

What began with Poland developed step by step. Close partnerships evolved into stable structures. Individual relationships became a robust network.

Today we connect not only Poland for our customers, but also the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and parts of the Balkans.

Seven years ago, another important development occurred: colleagues with many years of experience from a Scandinavian logistics group strengthened our team.

They brought not only expertise, but also a strong network in Scandinavia – just as resilient as our Eastern European foundation.

This combination is one of our greatest strengths today:

• Eastern European market knowledge
• Scandinavian structure and process clarity
• Personal support at the decision-making level

For our customers – logistics managers and managing directors from medium-sized production and trading companies – this means one thing above all: reliability.

International connections are not a marketing term for us. They have grown organically. Over decades.

And even though my father is no longer actively involved in day-to-day operations, we still benefit from his experience. He supports us as a sparring partner, contributes his perspective, and constantly reminds us what really matters: organization, responsibility, and integrity.

Many structures that we take for granted today can be traced back to his way of thinking.

Sustainability – shaped by Masuria?

When I think of Masuria, I think of forests. Of vastness. Of peace. Of constancy. These images have shaped me as much as they shaped my father.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that sustainability plays a central role for us today. Those who come from a region where nature is part of their identity develop an early awareness that economic activity means responsibility.

That's why we are consciously committed to more sustainable transport solutions:

• Option for_CO2compensation
• Regional reforestation projects as part of our “Mission Forest”
• For every FTL shipment, we plant a tree in our region

This is not a trend for us. It is a logical continuation of our history.

We want to make logistics economically sound – but at the same time responsible towards the environment and society.

The Fire Horse – Movement with direction

In the Chinese calendar, the fire horse represents energy, determination, and courage. It symbolizes movement – ​​but not uncontrolled movement.

That is exactly what I expect from OCS.

We want to develop further.
We want to grow.
We want to tap into new markets.

But always on a stable foundation.

When I look at my father's story – from truck driver to the adventurous transports of the 90s to the building of an international network – I see one thing above all: courage to take responsibility.

And this attitude still shapes us today.

Ultimately, for me it's not just about moving goods from A to B.
It's about creating connections that last – across borders.

For our customers, this means one thing above all: reliability in everyday life. Transport becomes predictable, coordination is straightforward, and even complex relationships can be reliably managed.

Good logistics are often only noticed when they're missing. Our aim is precisely the opposite: to organize processes so that they simply work in the background – smoothly, transparently, and with partners you can rely on.

That's exactly what we at OCS stand for.
In the Year of the Fire Horse – and far beyond.