At Hiroshima port, newly manufactured Mazda cars line up for global export. A specialized team ensures quality during this final stage.
Motoaki Kageyama, Mazda's logistics team leader, described them as a highly professional and disciplined group of car loaders. On a day in 8/2025, when a video was filmed, their workplace was an automobile carrier bound for Europe. The vessel, approximately 200 m long and 12 stories high, resembled a colossal multi-story parking garage. Around 5,000 cars would be loaded onto the ship.
Kentaro Umeda, 22, led the team that day, bringing four years of experience. "I enjoy driving. I get to drive the newest models, so I'm very happy I chose this job," Umeda said.
Each team consists of 19 members. This includes "line drivers" who bring cars onto the ship, "arranger drivers" who perform precise parking, and "lashers" who secure the cars. Four teams work simultaneously. Their speed and precision are striking, with only 10 cm separating vehicles.
Horn signals guide the drivers. A designated instructor sends these signals. Takeshi Tanaka, a team member, explained: "The guidance is quite difficult. I've been doing this for over 20 years. When I blow the horn, you turn the steering wheel, and when I blow it again, you straighten it, then back up. When you're aligned with the car next to you, I'll blow the horn again. Drivers often sense when I'm about to blow the horn."
Just two turns of the steering wheel are enough to park a car. With minimal movement, the vehicle is perfectly parked in a single maneuver.
According to Umeda, the secret lies in visual inspection followed by intuition. When asked how long it takes to develop this intuition, he replied: "It takes over one year."
To load as many cars as possible, the side mirrors are folded. In fact, these side mirrors remain folded from the factory until the vehicle reaches the dealership.
"We strive to work safely and quickly to avoid compromising quality. Even a small scratch can occur, so we are very careful with the interior. The rule is to use clean gloves, so we change them every day," Umeda stated.
The final step involves the loaders rushing in as soon as a car stops. They attach special straps to the tow hooks and quickly secure the vehicle to the deck. This crucial step protects cars from violent swaying during the sea journey, which can last over one month. These straps alone can withstand the weight of a 1-2 ton car. Each person performs their role perfectly, and this coordination ensures safe and rapid loading.
However, they cannot control the weather. Kenji Saihara, another team member, noted: "When ships are delayed entering port due to rain or other factors, departure times are also pushed back. The internal decks get wet, and depending on the ship type, it can be slippery, so we must be extremely careful."
That day, the team loaded approximately 1,500 cars onto the vessel. They transport around 30,000 cars globally each month. Even with advancements in automotive technology and the development of autonomous driving, this team will remain indispensable.
"I don't think machines can communicate, so I believe human hands will continue to play a crucial role," Saihara said.
My Anh (via TBS)
