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Accelerating women in transport
Lafarge SA and Volvo Trucks SA have joined forces with other stakeholders to launch the “AccelerateHer” initiative, aimed at supporting and increasing women-owned truck operations in the country.
Ten women from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will be selected for the pilot phase of the project, with the objective of growing it in other areas of operation throughout the country in phases. This ground-breaking initiative is intended to increase the number of female owner-drivers rendering a service to Lafarge operations in the area.
The successful applicants will receive intensive three-year training through the Commercial Transport Academy as part of Volvo Trucks’ Iron Women heavy commercial driver training programme. The programme, which has been running since 2019, will teach the participants to operate trucks safely, profitably and efficiently, enabling them to receive their commercial driver qualification.
The participants will also undergo intensive business training to empower them as owner-drivers, with a focus on aspects such as technology, finance, entrepreneurship, business and road transport management, as well as labour legislation and HR practices. In addition, they will be professionally mentored throughout the programme to ensure they have every chance of success once they complete it.
After they have qualified, the new female owner-drivers will be incorporated into the Lafarge KZN operations as active operators.
“We believe that, given the correct resources and support, these women-owned transport businesses have the potential to flourish and make a real change in the lives of the participants, their families and their communities,” says Noriko Solomon, aggregates and readymix director at Lafarge. “This project is another step towards economic inclusion; building accessible and sustainable communities for the future,” adds Kervin Ali, the company’s procurement director.
The Volvo trucks will be financed by Volvo Financial Services.
“We’re excited about the new doors that will open for women in transport because of this joint initiative with Lafarge SA,” says Marcus Hörberg, vice-president of Volvo Group SA. “As a big supporter of the difference women can make in the industry, we’re very proud and humbled that the Volvo Trucks Iron Women project has been able to develop and make such a lasting impact on many people’s lives.”
Both companies are seeking to involve more stakeholders, including provincial and national government, in order to expand the reach and impact of the programme.
