Dalena Wolmarans’ entrepreneurial journey in Knysna is remarkable. Not only has she been running three successful companies since 1993, but she is also a truck driver, sawmill operator, wife, and proud mother of two daughters.

She runs the businesses established by her father, Adam Stander, back in 1950, namely Adam Stander Houtverkope (timber sales), a sawmill and AJJ Stander Vervoer (transport).

In 1993, 16 months after Dalena finished a Diploma in Tourism, Adam had a stroke, and she returned home to take over running the company with her brother. She acquired her heavy vehicle driving licence at the age of 21 and started driving the company’s trucks.

Evolve like the butterfly

In industries traditionally dominated by men, she has made her mark through determination, skill, and ingenuity. From the sawmill floor to driving thousands of kilometres on the road, she knows and manages every aspect of the businesses and believes in delivering on every promise.

A question Dalena often gets asked is what it takes to be a successful woman in the business world, particularly in the transport and timber industries.

“I think the challenges are generally the same for women and men. We work in very demanding industries, and there is very little room for error”, says Dalena. “I do believe there is an added layer of scrutiny for women, and I often feel like I am being held to a higher standard, where mistakes aren’t tolerated”.

She believes in being proactive, in meticulous planning, and anticipating problems before they arise.

“In our business, it comes down to continuously delivering exceptional results. I am also a mother, so I know all about multitasking and always being ‘on it. We must continually adapt to new government policies and shifting market conditions. That is why our company logo features a butterfly, as I believe one must always be ready to evolve to remain relevant and competitive”.

Currently, 75% of AJJ Stander Vervoer’s business involves transporting agricultural poles, while the balance is dedicated to transporting sawlogs from plantations. One of the biggest challenges the company faces is managing the volume of loads for the two trucks in its fleet.

New Volvo FH 480

The company recently took delivery of a new Volvo FH 480 6x4 with a rigid chassis at Volvo Trucks’ assembly plant in Durban.

“One of the advantages of working with Volvo Trucks is the ability to order and customise a truck according to our own unique requirements. And to see it come off the line here is just the best experience, and we can’t wait to see it in action on the hills and valleys where we operate”, says Dalena.

The company’s journey with Volvo Trucks began in 1998, when Dalena and her husband, Wollie, used a Volvo FH 12 420 as their wedding vehicle.

“My experience with Volvo Trucks has shown me that investing in the right equipment, even if it comes with higher upfront costs, ultimately proves to be more cost-effective in the long run”, says Dalena.

“The reliability, performance and reduced maintenance requirements of our Volvo trucks have more than justified the initial investment, allowing us to operate more efficiently and minimise downtime”.

“What sealed the deal for me is the Volvo Trucks team’s willingness to listen to my specific needs and tailor their support accordingly. Despite being just one of many customers, I always feel valued and understood”.

Maintenance plan

The company doesn’t have a vehicle workshop and relies on Volvo Trucks dealerships. “As the service and maintenance of our trucks is not our speciality, we decided to go with a Volvo Trucks Gold maintenance plan. We have found that it offers us the perfect combination of optimised vehicle uptime without us having to worry about the maintenance side of things”, comments Dalena.

Until May 2010, the company bought indigenous hardwood timber and blackwood at government wood auctions run by SANParks. She realised it would be more beneficial to the company to cut the wood rather than sell it. The company bought a small log breakdown machine from Gearing Moss, and Dalena took a crash course in operating it.

Today, she remains very hands-on and can rapidly sharpen blades and cut four cubic metres of timber in a day. Of course, she sometimes drives the trucks to deliver the kiln-dried timber to customers.

“Back then, I just took it all on because that was the next challenge in front of me, and it had to get done. I was, and still am, determined to succeed”, explains Dalena

“Today, my team forms the backbone of the business. At our small sawmill and value-adding plant, Jaydrian Carolus and Thandai Plaatjies are invaluable. I believe in investing in their development, and they’ve learned intricate woodworking skills from a master craftsman to create beautiful cutting boards and novelties”, says Dalena.

“In the same manner, our transport company is also blessed with two highly skilled, professional, and dedicated driver-operators, Wollie Wolmarans and Jonathan Carolus. I have tremendous respect for their skills and how they get the best possible performance and efficiency from their Volvo trucks”, comments Dalena.

“With a challenging load like timber, we have found that the FH 480’s downhill cruise control system helps maintain a set speed when travelling downhill by automatically using the auxiliary brake and optimising gear selection, only engaging the wheel brakes when necessary. That is why our previous FH 480 had 760,000km on the clock, and still had 60% of its original brake pads left”.

Safety and efficiency

Her approach to customer service is centred around understanding the unique needs of each customer. For example, for clients like JC Pine Mills, it is about reliability and consistency, ensuring the mill is always stocked with timber regardless of the weather. For Vuka Timbers, it is about being an extension of their business, providing seamless logistics and timely delivery to their customers.

“We distribute poles to various customers in the Western and Eastern Cape, often in difficult-to-reach sites and over challenging terrain”, says Dalena. “That is why it is important to give our drivers the most efficient, best quality, and safest trucks that enable them to deliver the best possible service to our customers”.

The company also uses Volvo Trucks’ Dynafleet app, which provides them with real-time data and insights, enabling them to optimise their operations and reduce costs.

Waldemar Christensen, MD of Volvo Trucks South Africa, comments, “We are proud to form part of the business story of AJJ Stander Vervoer, Dalena and her team. It is businesses that challenge the status quo and demonstrate what’s truly possible that inspire us to deliver the highest quality trucks and unwavering support for our customers. This is why we love the transport business and will continue to invest in its sustainable future here in South Africa”.