The Victorian Transport Association truck driver cadetship program allows younger drivers to emerge with their Heavy Rigid license after extensive on-road training.
The Victorian Transport Association driver cadetship program allows younger drivers aged between 21 and 24 – to emerge with their Heavy Rigid license after extensive on-road training, including driving at night.
Completing the various units count towards a Certificate III in Driving Operations, and is an important opportunity to gain extensive on-the-job experience with company mentors.
Supported by leading insurance firm Zurich Insurance, the scheme will reduce insurance premiums and restrictions for drivers undergoing the cadetship.
The cadetship will be a platform for cadet drivers to be brought into businesses and trained on location by a company mentor, costing employers $5,800.
Changing with the times
Neil Chambers, CEO of the Victorian Transport Association, backs the VTA Cadetship and believes it is the benchmark for future formal hands-on training in the Transport Industry.
The graduated licensing system, where drivers progress through the different grades after serving set amounts of time, usually 12 months.
Focus points
- Consistent approach to driver training
- Hands on experience and guidance
- Building employees that have a wider skill set
Reducing the risk factor
The high cost of insurance when hiring younger workers is a common stumbling block for young people breaking into the industry.
Intensive training, proves to work and has for young drivers, in areas such as the army, where 20- and 21-year-olds can successfully drive road trains with tanks on the backs. And the Air Force has 21-year-olds flying fighter planes.
Proven to work
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and their “Enhanced Licensing Standard” system operate in a similar way to the new VTA Cadetship initiative, combining mentoring and a lot of actual driving in a multitude of terrains and conditions.
All allowing for training drivers to accelerate through the ranks after proving beyond doubt they are up to the job.
In turn, a HR candidate can get their license in five months instead of 12; and then secure their HC license in another seven months – saving themselves and their employer a whole year of marking time.
Another six months and by the age of 21 or 22 it’s claimed they could be driving a B-double much more competently than a lot of today’s older drivers; providing the much required boost of youth to the industry.
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