The Logistics Drive: Featuring David of Sin Chew Woodpaq



Solving ‘Big’ Problems

The learning curve was steep for Mr David Neu when he transited into the specialised world of customised packaging and project logistics trade from conventional truck driving. Out-of-the-box thinking and experience is required to skilfully transport out-of-gauge cargoes, and David had to handle and move humongous cargoes that typically protrudes way out of the conventional low bed size.   

“Each project is unique and presents a different challenge. No matter how many times I’ve moved odd sized cargoes, there’s always new challenges that will surprise me, and put my brains to the test,” explains David. 

For 28 years, David has been in the transportation industry moving cargoes from army tanks and water tanks during his national service days, to oil tanks and rigs for the oil and gas sector and frozen and fresh pork for a food manufacturing company in his 20s and 30s.  

It was only in the last 10 years that he started to specialise in the packaging and project logistics trade, solving ‘big’ problems – literally, for Sin Chew Woodpaq’s customers. His journey with Sin Chew began with a rather straightforward role of simply ferrying workers, transport loose cargoes, and assist whenever there’s packaging services required. These wooden crating services are customised to the various sizes of the cargo, and is a vital protection to ensure the goods are undamaged through rain or shine, stormy seas, and even prevents rusting. 

David later upskilled himself by signing up to take his Class 5 driving license and when Sin Chew expanded their fleet to purchase heavier vehicles such as prime movers to haul out-of-gauge cargoes and project logistics, he was presented the perfect opportunity to fully utilise his skills as their very first prime mover driver. 

Along the way, he was given other opportunities to take on administrative roles, such as logistics administration and co-ordination with various departments to ensure jobs are carried out smoothly. Today, he mentors not only drivers in the team, but also the logistics administrators. To learn the ropes of this specialised trade, he networked with others in this field to get trade information and constantly hones knowledge in safety, especially when it comes to driving and fastening the lashes. 

On a daily basis, David has to plan his routes as certain odd sized cargoes can only be transported via specific roads, and monitors the traffic condition. David sees his job responsibility beyond merely driving, and plays a pivotal operational role in ensuring the successful execution and delivery of all these large sized projects through well-thought-out and precise planning and project management. This requires him to work closely with the other departments and sometimes with other specialists to hoist or manoeuvre the out-of-gauge product in perfect harmony.

His most interesting and exciting project to date was to move a ferryboat into the river at Mandai Zoo. The entire project took two full days, starting from the time the ferryboat arrived at Jurong Port where David had to do a night drive with police escorts, to having it successfully placed into the river for families to enjoy at the zoo.

“It was very challenging as this project needed us to do a detailed recce and surveying of the surroundings, from the zoo gates where the ferryboat entered via our low bed, to the narrow roads and uneven terrains we had to pull it into that was well populated with trees and branches that were obstructing the view, to carefully placing the ferryboat into the waters. This required 10 men from our team, a crane to hoist the boat, and one of us to dive into the river to remove lashes that secured the ferryboat, just so that it can enter the river smoothly!”, David recounted. 

While this project was a challenge, it helped the team bag a second project with the zoo that was related, again, with that same ferryboat. However, this time, the ferryboat had to be towed up on shore for maintenance and hauled back into the water once it was done – a ‘same same yet different’ project, which perfectly encapsulates what project logistics is really about!

“Occasionally, whenever I drive past a former site that I had once performed a difficult project, the memories of it will still flood my mind," David jested. While he light heartedly quipped, we understand that it takes grit, an astute mind and many times, unconventional problem-solving abilities, to achieve and carry out each project effectively and efficiently.

To him, logistics not only became his livelihood, but it gave him both a wealth of opportunities and challenges to grow in his personal development as well as career. He likes how logistics makes the world move, and requires real skills to solve everyday problems, while meeting timelines, keeping things safe and providing great service quality to customers all together!


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