Tranzqual celebrates an industry training landmark as 30,000 trainees are reached
December 15, 2008Wellington Combined Taxis and Tranzqual, the standards setting body for the road transport, passenger service and logistics sector, is celebrating an industry training landmark as taxi driver Chris Anastasiadis has been announced as Tranzqual’s 30,000th trainee.
The 61-year-old driver has recently passed a Limited Credit Program (LCP) course as part of an initiative by Wellington Combined Taxis to upskill their driving force.
Chris says the on-the-job training was a positive experience and helped him with everyday aspects of the job.
“I already have a lot of licences so for me it was a bit of a refresher on what I had learned in the past but it was good training.”
Tranzqual CEO Wayne Smith says it is a great achievement for Tranzqual to reach 30,000 trainees and highlights the organisation’s importance for New Zealand’s business community.
“Enrolment numbers are increasing and Tranzqual is well positioned to keep delivering high quality standards to crucial elements of New Zealand’s business sectors.”
Wayne says there are real positives in driver training for the passenger service and transport industries as increased levels of customer service would be passed onto the customer.
“We know that companies that invest in quality training for their workforce reap 5 -20 percent bottom line productivity gains over those that don’t.
“Research tells us that productivity success in turn feeds on itself in many positive ways. Skilled people are innovative workers, they have lower turnover rates and better safety records.
“Acquiring valuable skills is a win-win for both employees like Chris and also the companies like Wellington Combined that invest in their future.”
Chris decided to start a career driving taxis as he wanted to be his own boss and have more time to spend trout fishing.
After four years behind the wheel the Cretan-born Kiwi doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.
“I couldn’t sit in the house and do nothing. Driving a taxi is good for me - I get to meet people.”
Wellington Combined Taxis is committed to training their driving force with about 15 drivers a week engaged in education each week.
Of the more than 500 company drivers more than 200 have completed the LCP programme.
Wellington Combined general manager Kevin Braid says the company’s training initiative has been driven by customers who demand high quality service.
“We rely on the quality of our drivers and the service we provide. The better the service we can provide the better it is for our customers and our company.
“We congratulate Chris and all the drivers at Wellington Combined on their driver training achievements,” he said.