Cadet graduates celebrate success

The cadets, who completed their training through the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) in New Plymouth, were honoured at a presentation celebrating their graduation success in June.

The 12-week programme, produced in partnership with Tranzqual ITO, focuses on critical skills and knowledge for entry into the industry.

Students complete the training necessary to be able to safely operate heavy vehicles that require a Class 2 licence.

The new cadets were enthusiastic about the programme, in particular the practical aspect of the learning, which saw them gaining experience in the workplace.

Cadet graduate, Peter Tohu, was placed with transport operator G J Sole where he is now employed.

“I did enjoy the work in the classroom but it was the practical skills that you can only get on the job that were most important for me. Things like working with a Road Ranger transmission, different ways to tie down loads and safety,” Peter says.

Six of the eight graduates have jobs from the programme which addresses a shortage of newcomers to the industry in Taranaki.

Another graduate, Coehn Smith, says he really enjoyed the course and is thrilled he now has a job with transport operator J D Hickman.

“My driving instructor at J D Hickman’s took care of what I needed to learn and he was interested in seeing how I was getting along.

“Now I’ve got lots of friends asking me when the next course is on. I told them I had lots of fun doing it and really hope they get into it too.”

The cadetship programme has been keenly supported by Taranaki road transport industry leaders, and driven by the RTA group within the region.

JD Hickman Transport Manager, Blair Duffy, says the cadetship was something that had been sorely needed and to finally get it in place was a huge relief.

“It’s not a glamorous career but transport and logistics are important. If we weren’t here then everything would grind to a halt.

“The cadetship is fundamental for the industry and it’s great to be involved,” he says.

RTA Region 3 Group Chairman, Dave Rodgers, says the group had tried since the late 1990s to create a scheme for new drivers and the group was pleased with how it had come together.

Tranzqual CEO ,Wayne Smith, says it has been critically important that Tranzqual, as the industry standards setting body, and training providers have been working from day one on the cadet programme that has been devised for industry.

Wayne congratulates the innovative managers for their cooperation and adds that in the long term, margins and productivity of the road transport sector will be lifted by the scheme.

“It is critical that we have quality people and this comes down to managers and how they shape and work with their teams.”