Stepping into the interstate freight sector felt like “learning a new language” for First Choice Haulage Managing Director Amandeep Dhanju, who left a corporate career to acquire the business with her husband in July last year .
According to the National Women in Transport Initiative, transport is the third most male-dominated sector in Australia, with women making up around 27.4 per cent of the workforce across rail, road, sea and air . Women hold just 4.5 per cent of CEO roles in transport, well below the national average of 20 per cent .
For Dhanju, the move into heavy vehicle operations was immediate and practical.
“It was a totally new industry for me. I didn’t even know how to start a truck, and the terminology the guys use in this industry was completely new,” she said .
Rather than waiting to build expertise before taking on leadership, Dhanju said she focused on transparency and learning quickly.
“From my experience so far, the major thing that has worked in my favour is always being honest. If I don’t know about something, I’ll say I don’t know,” she said .
She described the transition as a rapid education in operations and compliance, asking what she called “a lot of questions” to build her understanding of the sector .
“The key was not only to ask a lot of questions, but to know the right questions to ask. You don’t need to know the answer to everything, but by asking a question, people tend to assist you more because they can see you’re genuinely trying to learn,” she said .
Like many operators in the sector, First Choice Haulage has also had to navigate the gap between customer payment terms and the ongoing cost of running trucks.
“The invoices are paid on your client’s terms, on their 30-day terms, but your ongoing expenses, such as fuel and employee wages, do not wait for 30 days,” Dhanju said .
“You pay your drivers either weekly or fortnightly, you pay the fuel costs, so your costs come before your client invoices are paid. Managing cash flow is a massive challenge for the transport industry,” she said .
To manage that timing gap, the business uses invoice financing to access funds against raised invoices .
Earlypay Chief Executive Officer James Beeson said transport operators are facing a combination of financial and regulatory pressures.
“Right across the sector, cash flow challenges, alongside upcoming Payday Super changes, regulatory hurdles, and a driver shortage, are threatening the long-term viability of many operators,” Beeson said .
“What we’re seeing, though, is that well-run businesses with access to flexible working capital solutions are finding ways to stay resilient, plan ahead, and remain competitive in a tough market,” he said .
For Dhanju, certainty around working capital has provided greater confidence as the company competes in the interstate freight market.
“They are very professional and are doing a brilliant job. I really like them,” she said .
