Hino highlights truck driver shortage

Hino highlights truck driver shortage

Hino Distributors (NZ) Ltd’s nationwide driver’s licence competition has placed Caroline Haack one step closer to driving her partner’s new 700 series 8x4. Caroline entered the competition at Hino’s National Fieldays’ site in June, winning her a truck licence package which will be presented to her on Tuesday, 1 July, 1pm in Kiwitea.

Hino’s licence competition asks entrants why they want to get their truck licence, offering them the chance to upgrade their licence. The prize, valued at $1000, includes logbooks (unit standard), theory, practical training and assessment with AMS Group. Caroline’s entry declared, “my partner, Vaughn, has just bought a new Hino and I want to drive it too!”.

Glenara Partnership, run by Vaughn Shannon and his brother Bruce, operate sheep and beef farms in the Kiwitea/Kimbolton area, just out of Feilding. Their FY2945 Hino purchase replaces a 1976 T Line International, bought from its original owner with only a few kilometres on the clock. The new heavy-duty Hino includes a deck tipper, which will be used for carting stock between the two farms.

“I’m really looking forward to upgrading from the farm motorbike”, says Caroline. To date her limited truck driving experience includes negotiating the column stick on a light-duty 1976 Volvo when she worked for Cummins in the top of the North Island a number of years ago.

Launched at the Central Districts Field Days in March, the first winner, Louis Nynman, has since successfully completed his Class 2 Licence with AMS Group. “Louis did great, and is well on his way to starting a portable rehabilitation business for horses,” says John Marcus, AMS Group’s Lower North Island Area Manager. “Initiatives like Hino’s competition are a great way to raise the profile of truck driving as a real long term career option for people.”

In New Zealand the trucking industry is significant, with predictions of domestic freight growing by 75% over the next 20 years, the industry is a competitive one – yet the Road Transport Forum has predicted the national truck driver shortage will worsen in 2015.

“At Hino, we’re all about the transport industry and encouraging the next generation of truck drivers,” says Hino NZ’s General Manager, Ray Roberts. “We’re really excited that Caroline was drawn as the winner, you can tell she’s eager to be involved in the industry and with only four per cent of truck drivers being female, we’re even more excited that we’re helping break down stereotypes.”

ENDS

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