In Vitrolles, Main Forte associates work inclusion, transport and logistics

To launch their activity in the South of France, they have set up in a 1,000m2 warehouse

Originally from the Pas-de-Calais, the work integration company Main Forte set up in September 2021 in Vitrolles. Thanks to their activities in the logistics and transport sectors, the company helps people who are far from employment to find work. A model that has proven itself over the past 25 years, born of the reconversion of the mining basin in the 1990s.

Today, Main Forte responds to the recruitment problems of the sector, which is struggling to find qualified drivers on the market. With a high quality requirement, the company has set itself the objective of perpetuating a regional delivery activity from light to heavy duty vehicles, enriched by logistics services to offer complete integration programs.

Assisted in its search for premises by Provence Promotion and the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area, Main Forte has just inaugurated its warehouse in Vitrolles, in the Estroublans area, in November 2021. These 1,000m2 already allow Main Forte to support certain clients with their storage needs and to host a number of social economy initiatives, such as the Unbreakable (glass deposits).

As a key partner in this project, the DREETS PACA (regional directorate for the economy, employment, labor and solidarity) has granted Main Forte financial support for its development in Provence. With Pole Emploi, and encouraged by the La Varappe Group in Aubagne, Main Forte started its activity with a site manager, an experienced trainer and 4 drivers in integration.

At the end of the integration program, the drivers will be qualified and experienced to apply for jobs with other transport companies in need of manpower.

"Our development in the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area corresponds to the needs of this territory, to its strong logistical activity and to our change of scale, which began in 2015," explains Elisabeth Dargent, who runs the company Main Forte.

Training for a profession based on values

Since its creation in 1995, the economic integration structure (SIAE) has helped over 2,000 people return to work. Currently, 110 are on fixed-term contracts for a maximum of 2 years. On average, an employee at Main Forte finds a stable and sustainable job after one and a half years.

A trainer (a certified driver) constantly accompanies the new recruits on their rounds, not only for driving the vehicles but also for their practical training, loading, scheduling, administrative procedures and also customer relations in a dynamic of know-how and interpersonal skills.

"Our customers can demand "tailor-made" services from us. Our quality of service is complemented by the search for a high level of responsiveness, especially during this launch period," explains Frederic Rajustel, manager of the Vitrolles site. "The pillar of our success is based on the partnership dimension that we establish. Big names such as La Poste, Decathlon and Carrefour have placed their trust in us and we hope to convince some of the region's major accounts to follow us in this human and professional adventure," he concludes.

On its 4 sites in France, Harnes, Lille, Le Plessis-Pâté and now Vitrolles, Main Forte relies on fleets of vehicles that meet the latest environmental standards and are moving towards the use of new energies, green gas or bio-fuel.

At the beginning of this year, the Vitrolles site has high ambitions for its new project: development of the activity in light vehicles, super-heavy vehicles and logistics services, in order to increase its team to about ten people and to offer more opportunities for integration. Have a good trip!