Dalena Wolmarans’ journey is as intriguing as the legendary Knysna forest where her story began. Here, she runs two businesses that were started by her father back in 1950, namely Adam Stander Houtverkope (timber sales), a sawmill, and AJJ Stander Vervoer (transport).
Dalena’s story is certainly one of a kind and you only have to speak to her for a few minutes to realise that tenacity and passion run through her veins. Not only has she been running two successful businesses since 1993, but Dalena also a truck driver, sawmill operator, wife, and proud mother of two girls.
In industries traditionally dominated by men, she has certainly 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 business owner 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’,” says Dalena. “We need to constantly adapt to new government policies and changing 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.”
The Knysna forest was historically significant as a natural timber resource used for fuel, construction, shipbuilding, furniture, and more. It was proclaimed a protected area in 1974 and now forms part of the Garden Route National Park.
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 their fleet.
AJJ Stander Vervoer 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 dates to 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.”
The company doesn’t have a workshop and is fully reliant on Volvo Trucks dealerships.
“As the service and maintenance of our trucks are 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,” states Dalena.
A legacy built on tenacity
Both her father and grandfather grew up deep in the Knysna forest, carving out a meagre living as woodcutters. It was a hard and dangerous life, with woodcutters often working in hazardous conditions to harvest trees and bring them out of the forest for transport to sawmills in Knysna.
Adam Stander had his own oxen but was paid for his timber with a ‘Goodfor’, a list of items he could trade his load for, including sweet potatoes, flour and coffee. This meant that no real money was exchanged which it made it near impossible to break free from this kind of life.
However, Adam clearly had an entrepreneurial spirit and was determined to work his way out of the forest. The owner of a local garage, Tommy Mather, was so impressed by the young man’s resolve that he did an unheard-of thing in those days and loaned him the capital to buy a Thames truck in 1950. For the best part of 30 years, Adam Stander transported pine for the famous Thesens company.
And that was the start of a legacy in the timber business.
In 1993, 16 months after Dalena finished a Diploma in Tourism, her father had a stroke, and she went home. She acquired her heavy vehicle driving licence at the age of 21 and started driving one of the company’s trucks.
However, their purchased indigenous timber needed to be cut, and it was up to Dalena to take a crash course in the operation of LT 30 Woodmizer saw. Today, she remains very hands-on and can sharpen two blades in ten minutes, cut four cubic metres of wood in a day, and of course, drive the trucks to deliver 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
The right tools for the job at hand
“Today, my team forms the backbone of my business. At our small sawmill, 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.”
The company’s drivers, Wollie Wolmarans and Johathan Carolus, take ownership of their responsibilities, and they work together to deliver a service that meets their customers’ expectations.
“I have tremendous respect for their skills and how they are able to get the best possible performance and efficiencies from their Volvo trucks,” says 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 760,000 km on the clock but still had 60% of its original brake pads left.”
Her approach to customer service is centred around understanding the unique needs of each customer. For one of their clients, JC Pine Mills, it is about reliability and consistency, ensuring the mill is always stocked with timber regardless of the weather.
With another, 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 areas in the Western and Eastern Cape, often too difficult-to-reach sites and over challenging terrain,” comments 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.
“We are proud to form part of the business story of AJJ Stander Vervoer, Dalena and her team. It is businesses like these - those who 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,” said Waldemar Christensen, MD of Volvo Trucks South Africa.
“This is why we love the transport business and will continue to invest in its sustainable future here in South Africa.”
About Volvo Trucks
Volvo Trucks supplies complete transport solutions for discerning professional customers with its full range of heavy and extra heavy trucks. Customer support is provided via a global dnetwork of dealers with 2 200 service points in about 130 countries. Volvo trucks are assembled in 12 countries across the globe, including South Africa. Volvo Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. Volvo Trucks’ work is based on the core values of quality, safety and environmental care.
