While the dire skills deficit
continues to dominate the
headlines, the reality on
the ground appears to tell a
different story.
According to Rob
Peacock, co-founder
of a transportation
entrepreneurship and
management
development
programme,
finding
entry-level
management
positions
for graduate
commercial
drivers who
have taken
their skills
training to
the next level,
is proving
a lot more
challenging
than he ever
imagined.
The
training programme, which
was launched two years
ago, offers experienced
local drivers a sponsored
opportunity to travel to the
United States where they
enrol to study transport
entrepreneurship at an
accredited community
college. This includes
qualifying to drive heavy
commercial vehicles
interstate. Once qualified,
students embark on a
period of paid
internship
with
Schneider
National,
a major
transport
company in
the US, with
operations
in Mexico,
Canada,
Europe
and China.
“The idea is
that, when
they return
to South
Africa, the
combination
of their new-found
knowledge and in-depth
world-class operating
experience will equip
graduates for a supervisory/
junior management
position in an existing
company. Alternatively,
graduates could consider
running their own
businesses,” Peacock told
FTW.
“But none of the
transport companies I’ve
approached have shown any
interest in retaining our
first group of graduates,”
he said.
Candidate selection
complied with the very
stringent US Department
of Transport regulations.
The screening process
included employment
verification reports for up
to the previous ten years,
criminal record checks,
advanced medical exams,
drug testing and the like.
“Most of the programme
is paid for by Schneider
National, with the
participants contributing
to their board, lodging
and college education.
Ironically, the initial apathy
towards the programme
was the result of the drivers
themselves not believing
what was being offered to
them. Not only were their
airfares, visas and most of
their training being paid,
but they could expect to
earn around $40 000 a
year, possibly more.”
According to Peacock,
for Schneider National
the motivation was twofold
– supporting its
global clients, such as
Wal-Mart, by helping to
train nationals from the
countries in which the
clients operate; and as a
way of giving back to the
community by training
people in order to build
sustained employability.
“Schneider has offered
to train some 200
professional drivers per
year. Regrettably, rather
than being lauded for
the initiative, it has been
accused of poaching local
drivers, which is patently
not valid as Schneider
recruits around 300 US
drivers per week.”
The first two groups,
comprising 15 drivers, have
graduated and are expected
back in South Africa shortly.
However, they are not
finding the opportunities
they expected.
“They’re now ready to
move into supervisory and
management positions
because they have extensive
knowledge and experience
to share. Very often they’re
people who may not even
have completed their
schooling and have now
gained a college qualification.
But the opportunities just
aren’t there.”
INSERT & CAPTION
The training
programme offers
experienced local
drivers a sponsored
opportunity to travel
to the United States
where they enrol
to study transport
entrepreneurship.
– Rob Peacock
