THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

April 2008

As much as the trucking industry in South Africa struggles to source skilled drivers, it is battling to fill its workshops and sales rooms with skilled, young and enthusiastic technicians and sales people. Despite SETA setbacks, some OEMs are making great strides in ensuring a steady flow of diesel-hued blood into the industry. Paul Collings reports.

Ask any industry stalwart why school leavers shy away from working in the trucking industry and they’ll say: “cos it’s not sexy.” Ask them why this perception persists and they’ll answer: “cos trucks cause accidents, traffic jams and they’re generally dirty.” 

Changing perceptions

While these perceptions may hold a degree of truth, we, as insiders, know that truck transport has much more to it than meets the eye out there in traffic jam city. The technology truck of today, coupled with the sophisticated software driving the latest Fleet Management systems are about as sexy as you can get, from an engineering point of view that is. 

The problem lies in the fact that the kids don’t know this. All they see is the belching superlink holding up traffic on the N1. And this problem is compounded by the fact that the industry, en-mass, does very little to promote itself as a career option, as a fine place to work. 

The clean room where open heart surgery goes down.

Injection drive

Bruce Farquhar, manager: training & technical services at Parts Incorporated Africa (PIA), a division of the Midas Group, says: “I was giving presentations to school kids in my capacity as chairman of the South African Diesel Fuel Infection Association (SADFIA) way back in 1982. I can’t do that anymore. The introduction of the Skills Development Act has effectively killed the old apprenticeship system to the point where in the last eight years, we’ve seen apprentice numbers dwindle from 10 000 to 3 000.” 

Farquhar also laments the fact that technical training colleges like Smit Street Tech have been closed down. “There’s been a total loss of good training around the country and this facility here at PIA is the only one of its kind in the country, where both experienced diesel technicians and learners can acquire the skills necessary to service the latest diesel injection units and pumps.” 

The facility in question is based in Germiston and is equipped with the world’s best testing equipment for brands like Denso, Stanadyne, Delphi, Zexel, Bosch and Siemens. 

“We train around 12 students per month, all of whom come from our service dealer network around the country. The requirements of our suppliers, like Hartridge Limited of the UK who supply the test benches, are such that they won’t supply equipment unless the necessary skills are in place.” 

What this means is, that between truck owners, truck dealers and PIA and its service dealers, there’s a chain of ‘command’ that is ensuring the necessary skills are injected into the industry. 

“We may be plugging the gaps right now but new blood is needed urgently,” says Farquhar. “We need to market this industry more effectively to youngsters. Look at these facilities. They’re cleaner than a (private) hospital surgery. The days of the grease-monkey are long gone. It’s time to build a new base of young autotronic technicians.” 

Academy rules 

With ‘vehicle uptime’ and ‘aftersales support’ the watchwords in commercial transport, truck OEMs have no option but to train personnel on how to service, repair and sell the products they produce. 

“In order to meet the rising need for qualified technicians and sales staff in the country, the Nissan Diesel Training Academy provides comprehensive training to the company’s network of dealerships and fleet owners across the country,” says Johan van der Merwe, Nissan Diesel’s general manager of dealer development. 

“During 2008, NDSA will increase its training capacity and will continue offering full Merseta-accredited training in technical skills and with the introduction of Quon in mind, Nissan Diesel is also intensively training dealership staff in order to provide customers with the highest level of service,” adds Van der Merwe. 

“During 2007, almost 1 000 delegates attended various training courses, focusing on sales, management, technical, parts, driver training and warranties of both Nissan Diesel trucks and Nissan Forklifts. There are currently a number of technical apprentices being trained by the Academy, focusing on key elements such as the engine, transmission, brake and suspension systems, as well as several diagnostic procedures. Almost 200 Nissan Diesel dealer staff have already successfully completed the required training, with ongoing instruction continuing throughout the year,” he says. 

Testing single injectors takes more than a machine.

The Hartridge test bench with accessories.

Get with the programme

“Toyota Trucks has a three-pronged approach to upskilling technical personnel,” explains John Hawkins, senior manager, technical and service. “Our technical training centre services our dealers, our fleet customers and young apprentices from our schools programme called the Toyota Technical Education Programme (T-TEP) and we successfully trained some 250 technicians last year. Our ‘Truck 21’ programme is designed to train our dealers’ technicians from entry level to master diesel technician.” 

When asked how easy it is to find draw truck technician recruits, Hawkins admits that the T-TEP initiative battles to lure school goers to the trucking industry. “They’re very choosy,” he says, “and think they can do better.” 

“Merseta has launched a ‘fast-track programme’ to recruit new learner technicians,” Hawkins adds, “But as far as I know, not much is being done to make the industry more attractive to youngsters.” 

It’s high time the entire trucking industry got with the programme and started selling itself effectively to school leavers. Once again, it’s all about presentation, about marketing.