DHL named finalist in corporate social responsibility employee program

DHL was named a finalist in the Employee Volunteer Program category for the successful launch and deployment of its Americas Disaster Response Team (DRT). The DRT is a network of employee volunteers who are trained and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Individuals apply their professional knowledge of logistics and organize the handling, warehousing and loading of relief goods at the airport to ensure relief supplies reach intended recipients with minimal bottlenecks. The DRT is part of DHL’s strategic partnership with the UN System in the field of Disaster Management.

“Our employees have a propensity to take action to help others,” says Chris Weeks, Director of Humanitarian Affairs for DHL’s parent company

Deutsche Post World Net. “The unique model of the DRT demonstrates that DHL is an innovative company committed to social responsibility.”

A strong network of volunteers

In order to have an effective program and successful deployments, DHL communications efforts focused on recruiting a strong network of volunteers; building awareness of the DRT objectives; and field training simulations to ensure that volunteers were ready to deploy and support airport operations effectively. After a successful launch within the Americas, the DRT now has approximately 80 DHL employees stationed throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean who, in addition to their daily activities, are committed to the team’s humanitarian objectives.

In August 2007, the DRT Americas deployed to support warehousing and inventory of relief materials arriving to Pisco, Peru, in the aftermath of a 7.9 Richter scale earthquake. Within 72 hours of the earthquake hitting the Southern region of Peru, members of the DRT had arrived and processed more than 2,740 tons of incoming relief aid in just 10 days.