Five new training programmes released late last year offer drivers the opportunity to upskill while they are on the job and earning.
RTF has been working across the industry and with industry training organisation MITO to develop a new suite of training courses relevant to the professional driver of the 21st Century.
Five new Level 3 and 4 qualifications are now available to those employed in the industry and can be undertaken through MITO. They are:
The New Zealand Certificate in Commercial Road Transport Skills (Level 3)
The NZ Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Heavy Vehicle Operator - Level 3)
The NZ Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Specialist Driver) (Level 4) – Transportation of Logs
The NZ Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Specialist Driver) (Level 4) – Heavy Haulage Transportation
The NZ Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Heavy Haulage Class 1 Pilot) (Level 4)
These courses incorporate both theoretical and practical training that takes place in the student's workplace and take between seven and 15 months to complete.
Says RTF chief executive Nick Leggett: "The opportunity to upskill while at work will, we hope, encourage good employers to support their staff to take up professional development opportunities.
"I also hope that drivers and other staff will see greater opportunities to move around within the industry, rather than leaving it for perceived greener pastures in other sectors."
The new courses help meet one of the key goals of the Commercial Road Transport Workforce Development Strategy – developing skills and professional training.
The strategy is the framework through which the road transport industry is planning its workforce development priorities over the next five to 10 years. The aim is to create a sustainable workforce that has the requisite skills and capabilities to meet the future challenges of the industry.
"The industry associations worked with MITO to put the strategy together and we hope that it will help focus not only on training and skill development, but also in assisting with the development of career pathways to attract new talent and retain those excellent drivers and staff we already have," says Leggett.
"In my mind one of the most important goals is to elevate the image of the industry. One way of doing this is to incorporate better access to professional development opportunities and qualifications, as well as increasing the participation of young people and women in the sector.
"Trucking is an industry where on-the-job training and assessment is particularly relevant.
"Getting a heavy vehicle licence is the prerequisite to drive a truck but it doesn't prepare you for much more than that. To be a productive and safe employee who can be entrusted with freight loads possibly worth millions of dollars takes much more than just a driver's licence.
"It is great that the work industry has been doing alongside MITO on the targeted review of qualifications is beginning to bear fruit. We now just hope as many people as possible are given the opportunity to participate in these courses."
Recognised qualifications for road transport now span the natural career progression of an employee within the industry – from new entrants to managerial and senior qualifications.
Says Leggett: "RTF is also working on a cadetship programme, to be launched later this year, to incorporate and build on the existing qualification framework and to provide employers with another tool to attract and retain good staff."
If you are interested in enrolling in any of these courses or finding out about what other qualifications are available to you, go to www.mito.org.nz.