THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

April 2008

Brian Kerr believes in customizing his training courses to meet specific learner and application profiles.

One of the biggest problems with the current method of training truck drivers in South Africa is that the course material is too generic, too paper-based and not really compiled with our country’s cultural diversity in mind. This is the belief of Brian Kerr, training specialist at Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles. Paul Collings pins down the man’s unique approach. 

Training drivers effectively involves a whole lot more than getting them acquainted with cab controls and turning circles,” says Kerr. “All trainers have to be prepared to train learners from the basics upwards. Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) is a requirement not only for TETA accreditation but should be embraced by fleet owners because, without it, no effective learning can take place.” 

In this instance, Kerr is not simply referring to numeracy and literacy skills but also to knowledge of how the human body works. “I’m not talking advanced biophysics here but, for example, a simple understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet for a truck driver, about what to eat, how much and when to eat it. Whether they’re behind desks in a classroom or behind the wheel, a driver’s ability to function optimally will be determined by his or her diet.” 

Driver Trainer Varsity

From these fundamental facts of life to the technical intricacies of the latest Actros, Kerr has built the Mercedes- Benz Commercial Vehicles (MBSA) Driver Training curriculum over almost eight years, promoting the ethos that a quality machine needs a quality driver. 

“The backbone of the academy is the train-the-trainer component. While the academy does train inservice drivers, MBSA realised the need for a comprehensive course to help develop skills from within our clients’ companies by training one of their existing drivers to become a highly skilled driver trainer who then upskills existing and new driver colleagues,” says Kerr. 

This eight-month course is accredited by Mercedes-Benz in Germany and all the relevant SETAs, he adds. “We have a specific profile for driver trainer selection to ensure we train individuals who are ideally suited for the job. The trainer is an integral link in the success chain between Mercedes-Benz and its clients and there’s a general understanding that sales without skills transfer to support the product makes for unsustainable business.” 

Being able to integrate the skills requirements of Merc customers with TETA’s convoluted accreditation process has not been an easy task. “Over the years, we have had to find new and innovative ways of presenting learning material to suit our respective audiences. Being a culturally diverse country means we have to find effective ways of communicating across language barriers, of integrating learners into the learning process,” Kerr explains. “At the heart of this process is the paradigm shift from the old-style ‘pass-or-fail’ mentality to a more outcomes-based approach of ‘competent or not-yet-competent’ where learning and assessment is based on ‘bite-size’ modules using an array of teaching media, from the truck itself to print and audio-visual teaching aids.” 

A timber story

With a firm belief that training builds quality and that simplicity is the key to successful skills transfer, Kerr travels the country to offer tailormade skills development solutions to driver trainers in all trucking applications. 

“I start by examining the teacher’s existing training regime and methodology and fine tune critical areas such as communication skills,” he says. “It is extremely important that training is provided in a clear and coherent manner so the drivers are not just able to operate the vehicle in the correct manner but understand why certain driving practices are put in place and what the consequences are, should these not be carried out.” 

Timber24 runs a dedicated fleet of over 50 specialised Mercedes-Benz timber trucks, transporting over 2.5 million tons of timber per year between Richards Bay and Langeni in KwaZulu-Natal. Kerr recently returned from KZN where he undertook a training exercise within the operation, working closely with its driver trainer, Bert Koning. 

 “Timber24 has been working with MBSA’s driver training programme for the past two years,” says Koning. “The programme is invaluable in that it teaches the drivers in the environment in which they work with roughly a 30/70 theory/practical split. It would not be the same thing if the drivers were sent up to Pretoria to learn how to drive timber trucks. The emphasis on practical training makes a huge difference.” 

Concentrating on Timber24’s specific needs, Kerr has equipped Koning with customised learning material, including video tutorials, in Zulu (a language Koning speaks fluently).

“Our new drivers appreciate the care and attention they get while they acclimatise at Timber24. They also appreciate the merit awards, driver incentives and competency certificates they receive once they have reached a certain level of training,” says Koning. “While I deliver the lessons, MBSA monitors my training methods and interacts with me and my trainees to ensure the aims and objectives of the training programmes are fully understood and successfully carried out.” 

Bert Koning behind the wheel of an Actros, practicing what he preaches – the safe and economical transportation of timber. (Pic courtesy of Brian Kerr)

Succession success

With demand for timber transport on the rise, Timber24 is laying a solid foundation to ensure its driver pool meets the challenge of additional business contracts. 

“The immediate benefits of MBSA’s customised approach to driver training are a noticeable reduction in overall fuel consumption and vehicle abuse that leads to unnecessary breakdowns and road accidents,” adds Koning. “Also, the regular assessment of my training methodology by MBSA gives me, the trainer, the opportunity to assess my own teaching methods and communications skills with the drivers as well as to determine how well they are learning. This also enables me to pinpoint any problems in a particular area of study or learning module.” 

For Kerr, there’s a ‘skills development circle of success’ which starts with top company management understanding fully what truck transport is really about, that skills development leads to cost savings, improved efficiency and ultimately to business growth. 

“Skills development is the key driver of this process and successful skills transfer implies a skilled teacher with a comprehensive understanding of how people learn, equipped with all the right teaching aids,” he concludes.