April 2007

S K I L L S    S H O R T A G E

	Knowledge is power is money - hopefully.
	The life of Brian - about to hit the road again with another trainee.
	While red tape, ignorance and a lack of accredited driver training institutions hamper the flow of new drivers into the heavy truck driving profession, there are institutions out there offering transporters training services that not only upskill Code 14 drivers as far as knowledge of new truck technology is concerned, but also equip them with the skills to drive safer and more cost effectively, reports Paul Collings.

Effective training is all about resources, believes Brian Kerr, Training Specialist, Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles. "In order to teach someone how to perform at their best, you need to train them using the best equipment available. While there are hundreds of driver training schools around the country, very few of them use trucks that are representative of what they will be expected to pilot once they hit the job market. In particular, there's a lack of training on interlinks and modern truck technologies like autoshift gearboxes and retarders."

Theory and practice
Driver training by truck OEMs may be construed as another tool in the marketing mix but there can be no arguing the fact that you can never know too much. "We all learn something new every day," says Kerr, "and the training we provide goes beyond the mere mechanics of the vehicle. Drivers are taught how new technologies like turbo chargers and Lane Assist work, how these technologies enable you to drive more economically and safely. The course also covers the principles of defensive driving, giving learners a comprehensive approach to professional driving disciplines."

The two-day TETA-accredited course held at DaimlerChrysler SA's Zwartkops head office couples classroom training with on-road, behind the wheel coaching. "It's pretty intensive and the drivers we train here are experienced but generally are unfamiliar with new model technology. The theoretical information helps them to understand the bigger picture, that new trucks, if driven properly, can make their job easier and safer while helping them improve efficiencies, which hopefully translates into extra money for them from their employers."
 

Pre-trip inspections are a standard course procedure.	Fully loaded - drivers get the real feel of payload in an Actros inter-link, an Atego rigid and an Axor semi.	Diesel consumption meters assist the driver in moderating throttle use to save fuel.

Enhancing the domain
The poor public image truck drivers have to endure is one of the major stumbling blocks facing the industry, and it is all too evident when one sits inside the cab of a fully-laden interlink negotiating its way through peak-hour traffic riddled with impatient motorists casting heavy scowls and zap signs cabwards. 

Kerr sits on the bunk alongside his trainee, talking him through each gear change, retarder engagement and throttle footing, also pointing out how to predict tricky situations like tight corners and traffic light changes. "The objective of the training is to teach the driver how to integrate his anticipation skills with the technology of the truck, how to keep the truck moving with as little fuelling, revving and braking as possible."

It is all about building confidence and capacity. Kerr encourages trainees to be confident of their presence on the road. In the frenetic rush hour traffic, he tells a cadet: "show the motorists your intentions, that you're going to enter the right hand lane. Put your wheels over the line. And when you turn a corner, take it wide. Don't worry if the motorist's eyes go wide!"
 

DCSA Driver  graduates, ready to take their new skills to the workplace.

Wholly holistic 
And wide they do go, but the public will learn to appreciate trucks and their drivers, eventually, believes Kerr. "We need more quality driver training schools and we need to teach school kids about the trucking industry, not just from a safety perspective, but from a career prospect point of view as well. The more we educate, the more we will uplift not only the industry but society as a whole."