What you put in is what you take out’

Name of Company: Shipping & General Transport Family members involved: Daya Moodley (founder of the business), his wife Babes Moodley, son Regan Moodley and his wife, Chantal Moodley. Established... My father, who worked as a supervisor at SACD in Johannesburg, established the business. He had gained much experience in the freight industry and having identified an opportunity, he opened the company working from a converted container in 1984 with only R1000 in his back pocket. He and my mother set about creating a future for themselves and their family – and although he never placed any pressure on me to join him, as a young boy it was hard not to fall in love with the trucks and the environment. I started spending a lot of time at the business during school holidays. My father is a firm believer that to earn the respect of those at the top end of the ladder, one has to start climbing from the first rung. My holidays were spent loading and unloading trucks, driving around with drivers, tallying cargo – it was possibly the best way of learning for me. I learnt not only everything about this industry, but also that one earns respect through gradual and timely growth. I officially joined the business 15 years ago and I have made it my life’s mission to continue the challenge of constantly taking my business to ‘the next level’. My father remains a great inspiration to me and our team. Working with family demands ... Each one of us has a role to play within the organisation. We respect each other’s roles and any issues or grievances are swiftly addressed. We do not allow problems to escalate out of control. Our biggest challenges … The industry we work in is not for the faint hearted and comes with many challenges. Currently we are finding that unaccountable rate slashing by entry-level entrants, who do not have a real concept of their costs, is a major challenge. Our recipe for success: We place our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at the forefront of our business, and with that comes integrity, efficiency and the ability to be able to dynamically respond to our market changes. Our motto is: Service is our priority. Issues on which we agree: We agree on most issues not just as a family, but also possibly as a company. For us this is about understanding that what you put in is inevitably what you will take out. To be successful you have to be willing to put in the time and the effort. All our employees, not just us as a family, have clearly defined roles where certain expectations are set and have to be achieved. We are here to work. Issues on which we disagree: It would be a lie to say we never disagree. What is more important though is the way we handle those disagreements and there is consensus that for any disagreement an amicable solution is found quickly. Our business icon: We’re working blood, sweat and tears to make icons of ourselves. Our future aspirations: To be the best at our game. To offer our clients an exceptional service range while making a difference in the industry we serve.