April 2009

MASSIVE BACKLOGS IN licensing departments across the country are the biggest single challenge facing truck driver training institutions in South Africa. 

This is according to Martin Bruning, director of Learning Exchange who tells FleetWatch it can take anything from six months to a year to put a trainee truck driver through the actual physical driving test. 

Bruning says the company has suggested to the Department of Transport - and even the Minister of Transport - that a special dispensation be put in place to allow accredited training institutions to make bookings for truck drivers. So far these appeals have come to nought. 

A frustrated Bruning says with the country facing a severe shortage of qualified and competent truck drivers, government should expedite the testing of truck drivers as a matter of urgency. 

Commenting on the quality of driver training available for would be truck drivers in South Africa, Bruning says while there are some excellent training institutions in existence, individuals or companies looking to train drivers should exercise caution before “getting into bed” with a training company. 

“I believe there is a lack of properly qualified truck driver instructors in the country and there is no real control over those that are out in the field,” he says. Adding to this, Bruning says top management in the transport industry is accountable to a large extent for the poor quality of truck drivers in this country, as training drivers properly and putting them through much-needed refresher courses plays second fiddle to keeping the drivers on the road. 

However, back on the subject of driver training schools, Bruning says TETA accreditation is a must. Without this, Bruning says driver trainees have no measure of what kind of training they are receiving. 

He says that, while there have been complaints about “red tape” and “bureaucracy” surrounding the various Setas, (including TETA), he personally feels they should be complimented on their efforts to provide a uniform standard of training in South Africa. 

Given the severe shortage of truck drivers, government should expedite the testing of truck drivers as a matter of urgency.  Martin Bruning Director, Learning Exchange

For its part, Learning Exchange has provided training for passenger bus and truck drivers and has received TETA accreditation to train Dangerous Good drivers. 

Describing the company’s driver training courses as “fairly comprehensive,” Bruning explains that the company utilises a variety of practical, theoretical and audio-visual training methods. 

In addition to standard vehicle handling exercises, drivers are trained in economical and defensive driving techniques, loading and unloading procedures, mass distribution, elements of road traffic law, accident prevention and anti-hijack techniques. 

Trainees are also taught what type of remedial action to take in the event of an accident, hijack or even a breakdown. Interestingly, they are also taught map reading and route planning. 

In addition to training novice drivers, Learning Exchange upgrades professional drivers for haulage companies and a number of vehicle manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz South Africa. 

Bruning says because driver health is critically important, all trainees are put through a medical check up and taught about the importance of proper diet and exercise. 

The aim of the driver training courses provided by Learning Exchange is not just to produce competent drivers but to train them to a level where they can move into a driver trainer or supervisory position. In other words, producing a competent and properly licensed truck driver is the beginning of a career in road transport for the successful trainees.