Of course she can handle it
By Melanie Guggenberger I 4 minute read
27/06/2025
In the once male-dominated world of warehouses, brains and precision are now more important than brawn. Carmen Tatzber and her colleague Lena Schweinberger show why gender stereotypes can be thrown out the window today.
When Carmen Tatzber arrives at the DACHSER logistics center Vienna in Himberg in the morning, she is no longer an exception. Five years ago, she was the only woman in the Transit Terminal; today, there are eight women working there—a clear sign of cultural change. “In this respect, the stereotype of warehouse workers is completely wrong. We women are needed in every area,” explains the 27-year-old quality trainer.
Tatzber’s career shows the diversity of modern logistics professions: after graduating from high school and beginning a degree in journalism, German studies, and English, her academic career seemed set. But an internship in a warehouse changed everything. “I never thought logistics was so varied. Precision, speed, and team spirit immediately grabbed me,” she recalls. Today, Tatzber coordinates training courses, carries out quality controls, and looks after the automated sorting system. As a mentor and quality trainer, she is shaping a new generation of logistics talent – regardless of gender.
I never thought logistics was so varied. Precision, speed, and team spirit immediately grabbed me.
“Too petite for the job” is a thing of the past
Lena Schweinberger, 24, from the Tyrol logistics center in Stans, is in her third year of training as an industrial logistics specialist and loves the freedom and responsibility she experiences in her everyday work. She deliberately chose the warehouse over a desk job. The petite young woman had to fight skepticism at first. “Many people thought I wouldn’t be able to do it physically,” she recalls, “but I wanted to prove to myself and others that gender doesn’t matter.” Schweinberger discovered her affinity for manual work as a child, when she helped her father with various projects. “Even back then, I learned that women are capable of doing anything!” This attitude has accompanied her throughout her career – from apprentice to prospective warehouse trainer. She countered her colleagues’ initial doubts with competence and perseverance. “All that matters is what you can do, not who you are,” she emphasizes.
“It’s important to listen to yourself and follow your own path,” Schweinberger advises young women who are thinking about entering the logistics industry. She herself has experienced how enriching it can be to break through stereotypes and conquer new areas. “The pride you feel at the end of the day when you see what you’ve achieved—in the truest sense of the word—is indescribable.”
All that matters is what you can do, not who you are.
Technology instead of muscles
What happens in DACHSER’s warehouses shows how the industry has changed. “Twenty years ago, a warehouse worker was a powerhouse with back problems and 45 years old,” says Tatzber. Hydraulic lifting devices, exoskeletons, and smart software have made much of the physically demanding work easier. “In the past, you used to carry 50-kilogram bags; today, you control processes,” explains Tatzber. Precision and technical understanding are the keys to success—regardless of body size or gender. This development is making warehouse work more diverse and opening up the profession to new talent.
To protect the health of its employees, DACHSER uses exoskeletons.
In the past, you used to carry 50-kilogram bags; today, you control processes.
Diversity wins
But it’s about more than just technical aids. “Diverse teams work differently, often more efficiently,” says Tatzber as she watches her colleagues plan their daily tasks. She has found that mixed teams often communicate better and look at problems from different angles. “Men and women complement each other with different perspectives—this promotes innovative solutions and creates a harmonious working environment.”
Winner of the 2025 amaZone Award
DACHSER is committed to training and promoting young women in technical professions. The latest proof of this is the amaZone Award 2025, which was presented to the DACHSER logistics center Vienna on May 26. A total of five companies received the amaZone statue for their efforts to promote women in technical professions. DACHSER Austria received the trophy in the medium-sized companies category for the first time. “The amaZone Award is not only an honor for us, but also motivation to continue our commitment to an inclusive, supportive training culture. We believe in the power of mixed teams and that diversity brings innovation and success,” emphasizes Anja Schlesinger, Training Manager at the logistics center in Vienna.
