A national heavy license qualification is getting closer to reality, but “it is a very long process”, VTA Deputy CEO Neil Chambers says
A national heavy license qualification is getting closer to reality, but “it is a very long process”, Victorian Transport Association (VTA) Deputy CEO Neil Chambers says.
The Federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese made a decision in November 2008 to look at creating a license system that could be aligned with the education system.
Since that time, the Heavy License Working Group has been developing a proposal to put forth to transport ministers at both a state and federal level by mid-year.
If successful, the new model could include not only a written and practical assessment, but more in-depth education into multi-combination skills, and possibly an apprenticeship or trainee-type model attached to the qualification.
“The skill shortage manifests itself in [regards to] combination and multi-combination [skills],” Chambers says.
“So we want to get people through the system more quickly, but still, in a safer and more [comprehensive] way.
“That is what we are trying to achieve and then you can start to build a qualification as a professional driver; you can build up a series of units. You could also get an 18 year-old that would be placed in a type of apprenticeship.
“Encouraging young people into the industry is difficult.”
Enabling a younger demographic into the industry is one of the key objectives of the initiatives, including creating a more timely process from the beginning to completion of the certification, Chamber says.
“[Ideally] what you would have is a Certification III or IV, and embedded into that qualification would be a heavy vehicle license,” Chambers says.
A discussion of the process will be held on the Gold Coast in April.