The Tasmanian Liberal Government will provide $80,000 to the Tasmanian Transport Association (TTA) to support a pilot program to bring new job-ready heavy vehicle drivers into the transport industry.
The industry employs 12,500 Tasmanians but like many industries it has an ageing workforce – the oldest across all industries in Tasmania – and faces strong competition in attracting young people. With the industry booming, operators also need to recruit fresh new talent.
Many Tasmanians have a heavy vehicle licence but more training is needed to prepare a person to be a safe, productive and responsible driver. The TTA has developed a plan to bridge this gap.
The Heavy Vehicle Drivers Licence Plus program is an industry-led program to take people beyond the heavy vehicle driver licence and make them job ready.
The TTA has done a great deal of work in developing the program and the grant will allow the organisation to pilot it, with trials of up to 30 participants from across the state.
The applicants will go through a selection process run by the TTA, partnering with job network providers.
The program will include key industry competencies in fatigue management, load restraint, customer service skills, and an introduction to the heavy vehicle national law and chain of responsibility.
Importantly, as an industry-led program, this will create connections between the participants and potential employers.
The Government understands the crucial role the transport sector plays in supporting the growing Tasmanian economy and supporting our way of life, and the training program will help ensure it has the people it needs to continue to grow.
Providing infrastructure to support drivers is also a key part to the effective risk management programs for the Heavy Vehicle industry.
Tenders have recently been advertised for the construction of Heavy Vehicle Rest Area on the Bass Highway at Howth, which will provide facilities to create a safe and convenient working environment for the Heavy Vehicle Industry.
This project is one of several identified rest areas under the Tasmanian Government’s Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Driver Rest Area Strategy, which was released in late 2020.
A total of $5 million, including $4 million from the Australian Government and $1 million from the Tasmanian Government, has been allocated to start the design and construction of these facilities.
Three other facilities under the strategy will be completed next year: on the East Tamar Highway near the Bridport Road junction, the Midland Highway at Pontville and Glenstone Road at the Brighton Hub.
More Media Releases from Michael Ferguson
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