Meet Jeanné Swanepoel-Edwards, THT’s incredible leader

Abnormal loads: the love of her life

Lots of little girls dream of “girly” things. Not Swanepoel-Edwards. “I was introduced to the transport industry from an early age – THT was, after all, the family business. I’ve loved being around trucks for as long as I can remember. Whenever I visited my dad or grandad at the company, I was always given things to do. I loved it and knew deep down that one day I would be as passionate about the industry as they were. The mere sight of an abnormal load coming over the horizon … strobe lights flashing, red flags waving and headlights staring you dead in the face, like some giant Transformer … gave me goosebumps!” she recalls.

But her job at THT didn’t come about immediately. “First came a series of jobs – from waitering, sales and gym instructor – then a BA degree in Corporate Communications, a Diploma in Road Transport Management from UJ and a position as Membership Officer at the Road Freight Association (RFA). I would have joined the commercial vehicle industry straight after my BA but sadly I was discouraged from going into the family business, or any transport company for that matter, as it was very male-dominated, and definitely not a place for girls!” she reveals.

Thankfully that all changed. “Today, in my current position at THT, I deal predominantly with the love of my life: abnormal loads!” she reveals.

Progression up the ranks

Swanepoel-Edwards didn’t start at the helm of the company though. Far from it. “I started at THT on 1 September 2012 as the Customer Relations Officer/Marketing Representative. After a year, I started doing some estimating. In 2016, our Operations Manager took some much-needed leave and there was no one to fill in for him. I was thrown in the deep end, with minimal training, and took over operations for two weeks. During this time, our General Manager (GM) fell seriously ill and was frequently off work. It was a sink or swim situation – I was temporarily running operations, performing my own duties, as well as taking on some of the GM’s responsibilities. This was a very memorable, yet stressful part of my journey. My efforts were rewarded though when I was promoted to Operations Executive in 2018,” she recalls.

Also in 2018, the company’s GM passed away. “This was an enormous blow to us all – she had been our Managing Director’s right hand and played a big role in the setup of our current operating systems. For me, this was the turning point – I had big shoes to fill, and knew I had to step up.”

Massive personal blow

But then came a huge personal blow for Swanepoel-Edwards. “In 2018, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This was a huge shock, and I was plagued with uncertainty about my future. With the help of my physician and family, I set about educating myself on MS, how it would affect my health, my day-to-day living and subsequently, my future. I found out that many successful, career-orientated men and women live with MS, but they had a unique attitude. I decided to follow their lead. It became clear that I would have to learn ‘balance’ between work and my health.”

Swanepoel-Edwards achieved this balance with aplomb and, later in 2018, she was promoted to General Manager. In 2020, she was appointed Executive Director.

Maze of legalities

It is clear that Swanepoel-Edwards adores her job – and she held no illusions about how challenging it would be. “I knew the work was demanding, stressful and I would be on call 24/7 – that I was prepared for. I was even ready for the male chauvinism that is prevalent in this sector. However, I never thought the maze of legalities would be so challenging to navigate. I think this is because regulations are constantly changing, and are often interpreted (or misinterpreted) by industry officials in different ways. This makes life really interesting when dealing with/sorting out situations ‘on the move’. I’ve learnt a lot about many things, but that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? With knowledge and experience comes wisdom and growth,” she points out.

She says that the industry has changed massively since 2012, when she made her debut in trucking. “How could it not? South Africa has changed – our economy is in dire straits which has resulted in costs going up 10-fold – fuel, truck maintenance and consumables, salaries and wages and the cost of documentation, certificates, permits etc.”

Cause for disappointment

According to Swanepoel-Edwards, there are also some less than satisfactory trends within the trucking industry today. “There are fewer, properly qualified transport operators, many of whom are unregulated, to the detriment of clients. Another disappointing aspect of the industry nowadays is that any expectation of customer loyalty seems to be a thing of the past.”

Things are completely different at THT. “We pride ourselves on delivering personalised service, providing the correct advice from knowledgeable personnel, and offering the best possible rates for the legally sound and safe delivery of loads. Nonetheless, in recent times, price appears to be the only thing that matters, until things go wrong. Then we often have to take over and fix the client’s problems. These circumstances can be very frustrating. The adage that ‘if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is’ has never rung truer than in the current landscape of the industry. It’s about educating clients all over again, honestly, sincerely, patiently and with respect.”

Changing attitude to women

Swanepoel-Edwards believes that the attitude towards women has also changed in recent times. “As I come face to face with more men of my generation, fewer eyebrows are raised, and more tolerance is shown. Furthermore, when they realise that I am just as knowledgeable, experienced and competent (sometimes more so), then my male counterparts mostly treat me as their equal.”

She encourages other women to enter the transport industry. “Any young woman thinking about a career in the commercial vehicle industry will know that’s what she wants to do. Nothing will stand in her way, she will be passionate about every aspect of the industry and not be daunted by the hard work, sexism, and studying necessary to achieve her goals. If this is you, then persevere, put in the work, and gain as much experience and knowledge as possible,” she encourages.

Challenging times ahead

Going forward, Swanepoel-Edwards believes that the truck industry is in for a challenging time. “The pandemic has turned our world upside-down. Nothing will ever be the same or predictable again. Realistically, I think it’s too soon to be optimistic. I believe that, by the end of 2022, we’ll have a better indication of where the industry is going. It will be important for us to adapt to our constantly changing circumstances, and I think this will also be the key to our survival.

“Many of our customers rely on steel and parts that come from other countries. They are facing challenges whereby steel is either extremely expensive, or not the correct grade, so they can’t manufacture. This has a ripple effect on us and our industry. Furthermore, many of the mines are also closing down due to poor management.

“There are many more examples of why it’s too soon to be optimistic, and definitely too soon to say how the truck landscape may change. Currently, supply outweighs demand, making the industry uncertain and stressful. I strongly believe that in the end, the unregulated and ‘fly-by-nights’ will disappear, we will go full circle, and only the proven, trustworthy and capable transporters will be left,” she predicts.

A career that’s on track

But, while the industry may be in turmoil, Swanepoel-Edwards certainly isn’t. “I am very satisfied with what I’ve achieved at 35 years old. However, I’m under no misconception about how much I still have to learn and experience. Having said that, I am where I have always wanted to be. I aim to run this company to the best of my ability, leaving a tyre print wherever our wheels tread. I want to always have a happy workforce that can’t wait to come to work. I also want to have customers that can’t stop talking about who we are and what we stand for. I aspire to deliver the best possible service to our clients whilst also serving the community around us by creating job opportunities and contributing to community projects.”

Those are noble sentiments indeed. We salute this incredible young woman! She is an inspiration to us all!