Seeking students for truck driver training course
The Road Transport, Warehousing and Logistics Training centre is now open in Anchor Place in Tokoroa and is recruiting candidates to enrol in its road transport (truck driving) and distribution training course starting in June.
"This course is being delivered right here in Tokoroa to reach our local people and provide opportunities for both training advancement and ultimately, possible local employment," said Council's Acting Community Group Manager Alison Flett. "Anyone interested can contact Council to register for the information evening where interested candidates can meet the tutors, ask questions, see the facilities and formalise their applications."
The course is fully supported by local logistics and transport companies and works on the same model as the already highly successful Trade Training Centre and its steering group led by local engineering, automotive, welding and fabrication business leaders.
"As an industry we want to pathway potential truck drivers with great work ethic into local employment," said Graham Sheldrake, of Sheldrake Transport - just one of the local logistics and transport companies supporting the programme. "It's an exciting time for our growing industry and we want to ensure employment opportunities are taken up by our local youth."
The full time driver training course is held over sixteen weeks, covering practical and theory for both Class four and Class five driver training and assessments. There are eighteen places available for the course.
"It is real hands-on training," continued Mrs Flett. "The training centre is fully equipped with forklifts and trucks; all the course needs now are the students." Words: 251
Background - about the Logistics, Warehousing and Driver Training hub
Information from previous joint media statement by South Waikato and Bay of Plenty Polytech
The initiative is thanks to a drive by South Waikato District Council and partner Bay of Plenty Polytechnic to answer the shortage of both truck drivers and distribution warehousing personnel.
In 2015, the South Waikato District Council identified that the shortage of drivers and distribution staff was a significant issue impacting on local logistics and distribution companies. Working through existing partnerships with logistics and road transport industry leaders, Council kicked off an investigation into the possibility of expanding the training centre into logistics and commercial road transport.
"After some investigation to find a suitable education provider that could locally train in the areas of distribution, logistics and commercial road transport, a relationship was formed with Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (BOPP) and its already successful logistics training centre," said Alison Flett, Council's Acting Community Group Manager.
Last year, information sessions were held with industry leaders, visits to the existing BOPP facility were conducted, course provision began and talks with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development started.
Council committed $85,000 to a commercial road transport, distribution and logistics training course in the South Waikato. The course is a further extension of the already successful Trade Training Centre which was initiated by Council in 2008 to address engineering skills gap affecting local industries.
"It is encouraging to see that a number of businesses and individuals have put their hands up to be part of the steering group for the project - Sheldrake Transport, Alan Forbes Transport, RJ Lincoln, Downer, Log Transport Safety Council and Road Masters," continued Mrs Flett. "Having an industry led steering group is a proven successful driver for the other courses - engineering, automotive, welding and fabrication - already running at the Tokoroa Trade Training Centre."
The project progressed rapidly early this year with a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) being signed between Council and BOPP, a lease secured on a site in Anchor Lane, Tokoroa and a dedicated tutor appointed to begin in February 2016 presenting a pre-cursor warehousing course.
"The Road Transport Warehousing and Logistics Training Centre is an industry based and supported training centre initiated by the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic," said Malcolm Hardy, Head of School - School of Applied Technology.
This latest venture in the South Waikato further builds on this with courses including Distribution Level 2 for Secondary School students one-day-a-week, a full time Distribution Level 2 course for the community and the Certificate in Commercial Road Transport Level 3 with a focus on truck driving and specialised driving licences.
"The MoU between the South Waikato District Council, the South Waikato Road Transport and Logistics Industry Group and BOPP is the perfect example of industry, council and provider meeting both the logistics and driver shortage needs both in the region while also helping address the national shortage at the same time," said Mr Hardy. Ends: words: 669
