The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) through its CEO Peter Anderson recently told a conference in Melbourne that current heavy vehicle driver licence and training requirements were not of a high enough standard.
Mr Anderson was speaking at the 2017 Technical and Maintenance Conference (TMC). He explained how heavy vehicle driver licence training requirements are inadequate and out of step with requirements for drivers of other modes of transport.
He said the industry’s record in training drivers was not good and funding support was also lacking. He said drivers had to rely on, on-the-job experience.
He said for car licences, it takes 120 hours of instruction before sitting for the test and for motorcycle licences, 20 hours. To fly a plane solo, you need 20 hours of instruction before being tested but for heavy vehicle licences there aren’t any pre-set hours of on-road instruction required before sitting for the test.
Mr Anderson explained,
“What it does take, is just five hours of on-site training, the ability to reverse the vehicle 50 meters in a straight line and $1,000 dollars.
“And you do not even have to be able to read English.”
Anderson reinforces the importance of driver training to help operators improve safety standards and boost productivity by keeping downtime to an absolute minimum.
“Heavy vehicle drivers must be trained and capable of controlling the vehicle in all conditions, at all times, and to make the right decisions that will not increase the chance of risk or accident,” Anderson says.
He suggested a licencing model be introduced based on the VTA’s training and instruction program. He went on to explain,
“With the support of the Andrews Government, the VTA has been bringing new drivers into the industry that have spent eight days on the road under instruction,” Anderson says.
“These drivers have developed skills in vehicle dynamics, road craft and attitude before they step out onto the road in a driver’s job.
“They are provided with 66 hours behind the wheel, under instruction before being able to take the licence test.”
He said its unacceptable that a driver’s qualification to operate a heavy vehicle be based on years of experience. He highlighted the importance of having competent drivers, having received adequate training.
The VTA is working with VicRoads and the industry to review existing heavy vehicle licence assessment processes including that for licence assessors.
“We hope to see the introduction of a competency-based heavy vehicle licencing regime that will enable drivers of a younger age trained, skilled and equipped with the right attitude coming into our industry in the future,” Anderson says.
Find out more https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1710/tmc-2017-vta-outlines-driver-training-licensing-shortfalls
