At 19 years old, Chantelle Rogers joined her family’s transport business without knowing where it would take her.
Eighteen years later, she is helping lead the company alongside her brother.
But becoming a business leader was never part of a carefully planned career path. In fact, transport wasn’t even her first choice.
Chantelle had a passion for scuba and was close to completing her training as a diving instructor when her asthma brought that dream to an unexpected end.
With scuba diving no longer an option, Chantelle tried a few different jobs, before making the decision to join her family’s business.
That decision would shape the course of her career.
Starting from the ground up
Rogers Transport was founded by Chantelle’s parents, Gary and Val Rogers, with just one truck before growing into a company with 60 trucks; providing transport, logistics and warehousing services across Australia.
But Chantelle didn’t walk into a leadership role. She started in administration and worked her way into accounts and the warehouse before moving into operations. With every new role, she learned more about the business and the people who kept it moving.
Over the course of 18 years, Chantelle built her skills, gained experience and developed a deep understanding of the business her father had created.
In 2022 Gary stepped back from the day-to-day running of the business and handed the reins of leadership to Chantelle and her brother, Brad.
After years of working at Rogers Transport, she was now trusted to help lead and grow the business.
The biggest challenge? Building the right team
One lesson Chantelle has learned as a leader is that you can’t grow a business by trying to do everything yourself.
Delegation is an important part of leadership, but finding the right people is about more than simply finding someone who can do the job.
In the transport industry, there are many moving parts that need to work together. Having the right people in the right roles helps keep the business running smoothly, while finding people who align with the company culture and work well with the wider team creates a stronger foundation for growth.
Over the past years, Chantelle has built a strong and supportive team around her and she’s excited to continue growing it with people she can trust to help keep the business moving forward.
Then there’s motherhood
Just as Chantelle was finding her feet in her new leadership position, she took on another life-changing role: Mum.
Today, she is a mother to a busy two-year-old while also growing a transport business.
And if there is one thing she wants other women to know: Balancing motherhood with running a business is hard. Really hard.
There isn’t always a clear line between being a mum and being a business owner. Some days, Chantelle is focused on the business. Other days, motherhood comes first. And on many days, she is doing both at once.
Her schedule can change quickly. Plans need to move. And there isn’t always much time to stop and catch her breath.
But Chantelle wouldn’t have it any other way.
She genuinely cares about both her family and the business. She is passionate about what she does and wants to see the company continue to grow.
It’s a lot to juggle, but it’s a challenge she is willing to take on.
Making it work takes a village
For Chantelle, having a strong support network isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.
Her advice to other women, particularly mums considering leadership, is simple: be prepared and surround yourself with people who support and understand you.
At work, Chantelle has her father, Gary, and their COO, Josh to turn to for guidance, advice and a fresh perspective when she needs to talk through an idea or decision.
At home, she has a supportive husband who understands that work sometimes extends into evenings and weekends, with both sharing the demands of family life.
For Chantelle, success isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about having the right people around you to help keep you moving forward.
And with so much of her life centred around work and family, she’s also learned the importance of making time for herself.
For Chantelle, that’s baking, a creative outlet that helps her switch off, reset and recharge. Whether it’s decorating a cake for a family celebration or baking late at night after work, it’s a small but meaningful part of her life.
Building what comes next
Rogers Transport has already faced its share of challenges, including losing 11 trucks in the 2011 floods and 30 trucks in the 2022 floods.
Despite these setbacks, the business has continued to grow.
Now, Chantelle is looking ahead to the future. She is excited to carry on her father’s legacy and grow the company that all started from a single truck…
Connect with Rogers Transport
P: 07 3275 3664
E: he***@****************om.au