Volvo Group Southern Africa has set aside R1.9 million for the advanced development and training of 20 unemployed commercial vehicle drivers.

The Volvo Group Driver Learnership programme in South Africa forms part of a larger initiative by AB Volvo Group which seeks to donate funds, on behalf of employees, to various markets around the world to assist in resolving the different challenges faced in local markets and to drive prosperity in these communities.

Supported by Volvo Group brands Volvo Trucks and UD Trucks, the programme provides drivers with product-specific training from the brands’ highly-skilled driver trainers.

Developing the local transport industry

“We are very proud to be able to make a tangible contribution to the development of local transport industry.  With an acute need for qualified and skilled drivers, we believe this programme will start to address this industry-wide problem in a very practical yet impactful way,” said Marcus Hörberg, vice-president of Volvo Group Southern Africa.

“Transport is key to economic growth in this region, and if we are able to upskill and empower commercial vehicle drivers, it will help drive development, prosperity and growth.”

Driving prosperity and growth

The first intake of drivers started their learnership in July 2018, and after they have completed the 12-month learnership in June 2019, will graduate with a National Certificate in Professional Driving from the Commercial Transport Academy (CTA) in Bredell.

The qualification, which is approved by the Transport Education Training Authority is based on both theoretical and practical modules.

Hörberg said that the aim of the programme is to enhance the capacity of professional drivers, and to ultimately enable them to contribute to their future employers’ fleet productivity, safety, profitability and efficiency.