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Past Issues

March 2005

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After many months of research into establishing some of the more pressing training needs of the industry, FleetWatch is proud to announce the launch of the FleetWatch Training and Development Academy. This academy has been established to provide focussed and relevant training courses for personnel already involved in trucking - both on the operational and supplier sides - as well as newcomers to the industry.

Background
Over the years FleetWatch has watched - indeed even cooperated with (in our early days) - many "outsiders", more formally known as "conference organisers", who have come in and out of the industry with ill-structured 'conferences' that normally go under the banner of 'Fleet Management'. These courses offer very little sustainable value to the business of trucking as such. They normally include a line-up of speakers drawn from various sectors of the industry who are tasked with consolidating years of their experience and knowledge into 40 minute talks that - at the end of the three day conference - leave delegates suffering from a bout of information overload rather than stimulated by practical hands-on knowledge that can be implemented in the workplace.

With this as background, the FleetWatch Training and Development Academy was conceptualised to focus on relevant, short/sharp courses that allow delegates to take back information that can be implemented for immediate improvement, rather than be kept filed away in some conference file as nice-to-have theory. That there is a need for this is evidenced via the many requests we receive asking for information on focussed training.

First workshops
To kick off the activities of the Academy, we have designed a suite of four one-day workshops under the banner "A FleetWatch Road Map to Cost Effective Trucking." Because of the nature not only of the contents of the workshops but also of the time constraints of potential delegates - yes we have even taken into account that you can't spend days out of the office away from the action - we are running this suite of workshops in chunks of two - one per day over two days. The first two are titled:

Apart from being the start-up point of knowledge for anyone wanting to go into transport, these two topics are also very relevant for those already in transport. In fact, the success of any operation depends on selecting the right vehicle for the job. Unlike with cars, a truck is not an off-the-shelf purchase. It must be specced to suit the job to be done in order for you to make a profit. Linked to this is knowing how to get to grips with the operating costs of that truck. Get that wrong and it all goes wrong. Case studies will be presented and tackled by delegates during each of the workshops.

That these courses are relevant to the 'old-timers' as well as newcomers to the industry is evident via the many skewered transport contracts that seem to fall in full favour of the customer with little left for the transporter. To give delegates a chance to go back into their workplaces and implement the hands-on, workable knowledge gained, we have left some time between the first and second suite of two one-day courses that will complete the Road Map to Cost Effective Trucking suite. The titles of the last two workshops are: 

You've got the right trucks and you've got a grip on your operating costs. Now you need to maintain and manage the equipment and people behind those trucks. These two workshops will show you how.

Test run hailed
In line with FleetWatch's stated aim to add value to the industry via all our activities, we tested the relevance of these courses by presenting them to the management from various oil companies in Cape Town. This 'dummy run' was given a huge thumbs-up by our "guinea-pig" delegates who voted it a truly value-added exercise. This is not a thumb-suck exercise. We have done our homework and are confident that we have in place a suite of courses that will add enormous value to your business - whether you are an operator in this industry or a supplier to this industry. Putting salespeople onto this course will also serve to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the business and in that way, enhance their customer relationships.

Launching in Johannesburg
The launch of the first workshops will take place in Johannesburg running on July 27th and 28th, 2005. We have checked for public holidays and other events around these dates and by all accounts, it seems we are in the clear. Dates for the second two Johannesburg workshops will be set and announced, as will dates for the workshops to be held in Durban and Cape Town. Yes, we are talking them around the country so as to minimise travel expenses and hassles for our delegates. Transport is a busy business so we're bringing the knowledge to you.

Course convenor
The suite of the four workshops under the "A FleetWatch Road Map to Cost Effective Trucking" banner is being run by Max Braun, the long established and well-known transport management, distribution and logistics consultant. His vast and varied experience of road transport operations in South and Southern Africa, the United States, UK and France identifies him as an excellent choice to run these workshops. Max also compiles the FleetWatch Quarterly Truck Operating Cost Tables which, we are told, have become the benchmark for many operators in the country. Max's extensive practical experience as a hands-on consultant to a large variety of fleet owners, as well as lecturer and writer on road transport and related topics, assures participants of an innovative, hands-on experience that provides ample opportunities for robust discussion on the issues. This is not intended as a lecturer/listener exercise. It is participative dealing with live and real issues 

Future Activities
FleetWatch will be adding other courses to the Academy's activities as and when we see the need. We are already working on a one-day course titled "Transport Legislation I need to know" to meet a need expressed for us to sift through the reams of legislation and give the basics of what operators need to know to be legal in trucking. Not an easy request but we're working on it. Other courses are currently being researched but important to note is these will always be designed to meet the needs of the industry rather than just nice-to-haves. There's enough of those around - ter be sure!

More information?
Space prohibits giving full details of the contents of each workshop and other have-to-know details such as venues, cost, etc so, to make things easy for you, we have developed a special link on our website which will lead you to all the information you require. Please visit our website on www.fleetwatch.co.za and click on the link displayed on the Homepage to the FleetWatch Training and Development Academy. We will also be announcing courses, dates and venues in each edition of FleetWatch under the Academy logo. And for those of you who hate using computers - no sweat. Just give us a ring on (011) 794-2490 or fax us on (011) 794-1474 and we'll post or fax everything you need. We don't care what method of communication is used. What matters is that we're communicating with you and meeting your needs.

This is a new venture in the history of FleetWatch. Please will you give us some feedback on what you think of it all. And if there are any courses/workshops you feel will add value to the industry as a whole - please forward your suggestions to me at fleetwatch@pixie.co.za. As always, we value your feedback and input for that is what we act on.

Patrick O'Leary
Publisher