Member Interview: Adrian Radulescu of ADD Cargo Solutions, Romania
30th May 2017
ADD Cargo Solutions have been our UFO member in Romania since 2005, offering a broad range of forwarding, transport and brokerage services. Their team has extensive experience in logistics and freight forwarding, organising domestic and international shipments by truck, air, sea and railroad. Adrian Radulescu at ADD (pictured right) is interviewed this month.
How did you first get into the freight industry?
When I was 21 years old, I was asked by a very good friend of mine (who is still my colleague nowadays) if I want to start working in the company he was working in, which was the first private Romanian freight forwarding company set up after the 1989 fall of communism. It seems that I said yes!
Tell us about a project, shipment or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career?
I do not have a specific or special shipment that I am reminded of. However, I believe that the 'project' of building the company out of scratch, with me being the first and only employee in the beginning, up to today's level, with over 150 employees, 70 trucks, and coverage in over 90 cities in Romania, is the most significant thing I've done in my career.
What drives you in your professional life?
Nothing drives me to be a workaholic - it's just how I am! What I know for sure is that I do everything to keep up my professional reputation at the highest possible level and I want my business partners to consider me as their most reliable agent in my part of the world.
What are the current trends that you see in transportation as far as Romania is concerned?
Things are growing kind of slow here when it comes to general cargo. If I have to name something that impressed me in the last years, I would definitely go for e-commerce. This domain and all its related activities is the new trend in Romania. In the past 3 years, volumes of ordered and delivered parcels are growing by over 75-80% each and every year.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
What I enjoy most is what I have missed the most in the last 15 years due to a very busy life in the office - spending time with my family and closest friends. Watching TV and gardening are also relaxing activities for me.
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Dog. They are faithful until the end.
If you could meet a famous person, who would it be and why?
One of the US Presidents. I would ask him how he can handle such pressure in being number 1 in the world. Or Lionel Messi - I believe you can imagine why!
What is your best childhood memory?
I had a safe & happy childhood. One of the thing that deeply amazed me was my family's first colour TV! I am not sure if many of the younger readers will realise, but until 1989 we had only heard that there is a possibility for TV's to be in colour! I could even tell you the TV brand!
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
I have travelled a lot more than I would have ever expected and I would go back to many places. But from the places I've never been to, there are 2 I would love to visit - Australia and Japan. Australia, because everything I've read about the country makes me feel like I have to go there at least one time in my life. The story with Japan is kind of funny, my grandfather travelled abroad a lot during the communism period because he was the Commercial Manager of the only Romanian aluminium factory in those times and he used to tell me everything about his experiences. Therefore, I owe him my traveling addiction. His biggest regret was that, at one point, he had to choose whether to travel to the USA or Japan on business and he chose Japan and then 2 months later he got the opportunity to visit Japan again but never the USA. I have travelled to the USA already and now I need to add Japan to my list!
What is a skill you'd like to learn and why?
I have always believed that people who know how to express their feelings by playing musical instruments are very sensitive. I have never played an instrument - but this does not mean that I am not sensitive!
