Meet the colleague: Joel Ordelmans

At Heisterkamp, it’s about more than just transport. Safety, quality, and job satisfaction are also high on our agenda. Our Quality, Health & Safety, and Environmental Advisor, Joël, plays a crucial role in this. With a broad view of the entire organization, he ensures that processes not only look good on paper but are also practical and feasible in daily operations. From drafting emergency response plans to brainstorming with drivers and planners, no two days are the same. In this interview, he shares what his work entails, where he finds his inspiration, and why a touch of humor now and then is just as important.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us what you do at Heisterkamp?
"My role is Quality, Health & Safety, and Environmental Advisor. It might sound a bit boring, but it’s actually very diverse! I’m involved in everything related to workplace safety and quality, from creating emergency response plans to guiding audits. I also regularly visit customers to optimize processes together and identify potential risks. So, it goes far beyond just ‘paperwork.’ The best part is that I work for the entire Heisterkamp Group, from transport to service and equipment."

What do you enjoy most about your job?
"It’s really the variety that makes my job so enjoyable. No two days are the same. One day I’m on the road with a driver, the next I’m attending an external audit or having a meeting with a planner. You get to see all parts of the company, from hands-on operations to policy-making. That makes the work both interesting and educational."

Where do you get your inspiration from?
"Mostly from the people. I meet so many different colleagues, each with their own expertise. One day I’m talking to someone from marketing, the next day to a driver or a sales colleague. That diversity in people and tasks keeps me sharp."

"No two days are the same: one day I’m on the road with a driver, the next I’m meeting with a planner or guiding an audit."

Joël Ordelmans - QHSE Advisor

How would you describe the company culture at Heisterkamp?
"Heisterkamp is really a flat organization. Everyone is approachable: from management to drivers and even the cleaning staff. The doors are literally open. You can walk in anywhere, ask questions, and you’ll always get an honest answer. That makes working here very pleasant."

Do you have a tip for someone who might take over your role?
"Make sure to gain plenty of hands-on experience. Join drivers on the road, shadow planners, and ask lots of questions. By seeing how things work in practice, you better understand why certain processes are set up the way they are. And above all: always try to make safety practical and achievable. Just having rigid rules won’t get you far; collaborating and thinking along works much better."

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve experienced here?
"In the beginning, I didn’t understand some of the industry jargon. For example, when I first heard the word ‘tractors,’ I thought of farm machinery. It turned out that at Heisterkamp, it simply means trucks. You pick up on that transport lingo along the way, but it did lead to some funny moments at first."

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
"Sports are important to me, partly to balance out my Burgundian lifestyle, haha! I’ve run several marathons, like the ones in Enschede and Amsterdam. I also play in an over-35 soccer team, play padel, and I’m a big fan of good food—barbecuing, dining out, and enjoying a nice drink. At home, there’s always music playing, especially when I’m dancing through the living room with my kids to ‘The Floor is Lava’."

Joel’s Workday Soundtrack
🎧 Snollebollekes – De vloer is lava
🎧 Foo Fighters
🎧 Red Hot Chili Peppers

If you could switch roles with someone in the company for a day, who would it be?
"I would choose Gerben. He really has the complete overview of the entire company. He knows exactly which strategic direction we’re heading in and how all the departments are connected. That broad helicopter view seems incredibly interesting to dive into for a day."

Whether he is guiding audits, riding along with drivers or dancing in the living room with his kids, Joël brings energy, humor and a hands-on mindset to everything he does. With a sharp eye for safety and a heart for people, he helps make complex processes practical and achievable across the entire Heisterkamp Group. Curious, approachable and always ready to learn, Joël is the kind of colleague who connects policy with practice and never forgets to enjoy the ride.