Clear communication and knowing “English for Logistics” terms drives success in logistic companies. But when your team speaks multiple languages, misunderstanding risks rise. Discover why generic English courses fail and what your logistics workforce really needs to thrive.
Understanding Role-Specific Communication Needs
In multilingual logistics teams, different roles face very different communication demands.
- Warehouse staff must understand and follow safety protocols, labels, and inventory instructions accurately, often under time pressure.
- Drivers need to interpret route details, respond to last‑minute changes, and communicate clearly with clients and transport coordinators.
- Planners manage complex supply chain information, coordinate across departments, and deal with international partners where miscommunication can quickly become costly.
Many logistics and manufacturing operations rely heavily on migrant workers. In Ireland, the scale of this multilingual workforce is growing fast: in the 12 months to the end of April 2023, 141,600 people immigrated to Ireland, including over 107,000 from non-English speaking countries (CSO, 2023).
This diversity is a strength, but only when everyone has the communication support needed to work safely and efficiently. When English is not everyone’s first language, hesitations, misunderstandings, and lack of confidence become common, which drags down productivity and slows decision‑making.
Why Off-the-Shelf Courses Fall Short & the Difference English for Logistics can make
Most English courses can’t meet the complex, practical needs of multilingual logistics teams. Generic, classroom-style training often results in low engagement and little workplace impact.
Effective language programmes are:
- Role-specific programmes that are tailored to the language skills needed for drivers, warehouse staff, and planners, AKA an “English for Logistics” course.
- Scenario-based, focusing on real-world workplace situations
- Trackable, with progress dashboards for managers to monitor learning and evaluate ROI
Without a targeted approach, training programmes risk becoming a tick‑box exercise rather than a real driver of safety, efficiency, and onboarding for logistics workers.
Real Results: Samar Internacional’s Experience
Samar Internacional, with headquarters in Alicante, Spain, operates globally in logistics and distribution. Their teams, representing diverse language backgrounds, struggled with confidence during client calls and supplier negotiations. Their HR Manager, Laura Ruiz, recalls how team members often focused too much on “saying it right” , losing the message’s meaning altogether.
Everywhere English provided native-speaking tutors who customised lessons according to each employee’s role and language proficiency. Training emphasised speaking, listening, and vocabulary relevant to daily tasks. Detailed learner profiles and ongoing feedback ensured the lessons stayed practical and evolved with needs. Learners had access to online self-study resources plus one-on-one tutoring, with progress checks every 12 weeks.
The results were transformative. Confidence and fluency improved significantly across the team, including Laura herself. Employees became more effective in client communications, negotiations, and presentations. Laura now confidently leads meetings and interviews in English, skills she once found intimidating.
Laura says, “The professionalism, flexibility, and tailored approach to each employee’s needs make it an excellent choice for improving English skills in the workplace.”
Visit our website to discover how our clients across Europe have been able to build stronger, more confident teams through our tailored English training.
Take the Next Step
If your logistics team is multilingual and you recognise the communication issues described here: hesitant staff, misunderstandings on calls, or avoidable errors, then generic language courses will not solve the problem. You need targeted logistics language training programmes that are role‑specific, scenario‑based, and trackable, designed to support onboarding for workers and ongoing performance.
In a market where talent shortages, safety expectations, and operational demands continue to rise, investing in targeted English for logistics is a strategic lever for HR and operations leaders.
Book a free call with us today to assess your team’s specific English language needs and start designing a tailored training plan that drives real business outcomes.
Source
Central Statistics Office. (2023). Key findings: Population and migration estimates, April 2023. https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-pme/populationandmigrationestimatesapril2023/keyfindings/
