Joanna has been working at Heisterkamp for eleven years and has become an essential part of the planning team. What began as driver support has evolved into a wide-ranging role in which she is responsible for staff planning, supporting vehicle scheduling and administrative preparations. With her dedication, commitment and love of variety, she ensures that everything runs smoothly, even at the hectic times.
Could you introduce yourself and tell us how you started at Heisterkamp?
‘’My name is Joanna, I’m 43 years old and I live with my partner Nick in Gronau. Nick also works at Heisterkamp, which is where I met him, so we’re both very understanding of each other’s work and irregular hours. I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2004, so that’s now more than half my life. In February 2015, I started at Heisterkamp as a driver coordinator for Polish drivers. Before that, I was in the tourism industry and had absolutely no experience in the transport sector, so it was completely new to me.”
How has your career developed at Heisterkamp?
''After a year of supervising drivers, I moved into vehicle scheduling. I then went on to handle commercial planning for the branch offices. I then worked at the Hamm branch for nearly three years. It was intense, but it also helped me improve my German. These days, I mainly work on staff planning for drivers and support vehicle scheduling where necessary. I’m what they call the “flying wing.”
"When it comes to the planning department, it’s all about responsibility, flexibility and helping one another, especially when things get busy."- Driver staff planning / planning support
What exactly does your current job involve?
“I manage our drivers’ availability. That means I handle all the drivers’ holiday requests. I also ensure there are enough part-time drivers available for the requested journeys. Furthermore, I assist with vehicle scheduling during the holiday period or when my colleagues are absent. These days, I also carry out administrative preparations for container scheduling. No day is ever the same for me.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I enjoy cooking and often experiment with different recipes. I’m also very passionate about languages; I speak Polish, Dutch, English and German, and am currently learning Spanish. I’m fascinated by how languages connect people and cultures. Travelling also plays an important role in my life. I love discovering new countries, getting to know other cultures and sampling traditional dishes. For me, travelling isn’t just an adventure, but also a time for relaxation and freedom, a chance to get away from the daily routine. And we have a very sweet dog, who means absolutely everything to us and with whom we spend a lot of time.”
Joanna's workday soundtrack
🎧 El Mismo Sol – Alvaro Soler
🎧 Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac
🎧 The Look - Roxette
What do you enjoy about your work in planning, and what does it require of you?
“It’s the variety, mainly. I don’t just sit at a computer; I also have a lot of contact with the drivers. At the same time, I need to be able to switch quickly between different tasks. It’s precisely that dynamic nature that suits me well. At the same time, the job demands a lot from you because it can be hectic and unpredictable. Sometimes a working day goes on longer than planned. What’s more, you’re working in a predominantly male environment, so it’s important to be confident and assertive. I think my caring nature, my dedication and my commitment help with that. We work as one team on the schedule, and that’s exactly what makes it so great.”
If you could swap places with someone in Heisterkamp for a day, who would it be?
“Actually, no one. I presume that everyone at Heisterkamp is in the right place, just like me!”
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