THE START OF IT ALL

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31782, 12 September 1968, Page 18

THE START OF IT ALL

In 1964, the New Zealand Road Carriers’ Association asked the training within industry service of the Department of Labour to launch a driver-trainer scheme.

As a result, a pilot course was conducted in Wellington, using a manual drawn up for the carriers’ association and the organisation and teaching skills provided by T.W.I. Following this, a number of courses were conducted throughout New Zealand during 1965. The first course in the Canterbury district was held in April of that year in Christchurch, and subsequently the Canterbury Driver-Trainer Association was set up in July, 1965, with the aim of promoting interest in the transport industry in Canterbury. The objectives of the Dri-ver-Trainer Scheme are (a): To reduce accidents on New Zaland roads; (b); To reduce damage to loads and vehicles; (c): To reduce risk of personal injury on the job: (d): To Improve customer and public good will. Seven Christchurch firms nominated representatives for the first course. The drivers 1 had all been selected by their ] firms for promotion to the position of “driver-trainer.”

The courses are planned to help driver-trainers acquire the skills necessary so that they can assist fleet managers train new drivers, and also help the “in-service” drivers where new equipment is being introduced, or in proper safety precautions and specific operational procedures.

The driver-trainer is also the obvious choice for responsible matters such as the establishment of a new run, or the familiarisation of drivers of ordinary heavy trucks with the running of articulated vehicles. These duties can be either part time or full time, depending on the needs of the individual firm. The driver-trainer instruction itself Is organised by the T.W.I. service and each course is limited to 10 men. During the 40 hours of talks and demonstrations and using the road carriers’ manual, the driver-trainers are taught various methods of driver Instruction, personnel management, and many technical aspects of cartage. Talks are given on traffic regulations by officers of the Christchurch City Council Traffic Department and the Transport Department Senior executives or public relations officers are also invited to give talks on public relations. In addition to this, there is also the opportunity for each of them to gain experience in checking and assessing the performance of drivers during a “test” drive, run under nor-

mal existing traffic conditions.

Courses are being planned and held each year, and, since the inception of the scheme, some 130 driver-trainers have attended throughout the country. As the advantage of having truck drivers trained as fleet Instructors becomes better known, the demand for courses continues to rise, and so far 29 driver-trainers have attended courses in Canterbury. Some Arms have sent men to attend later courses because of the results achieved. Most of the large Christchurch firms have been represented, together with firms from Ashburton, Darfield, Lincoln, Amberley and Oxford.