Solutions to insufficient mechanical training sought KEVIN MAYHEW AFFECTED PARTIES in heavy road freight have begun discussions with the Transport Sector Training Authority (Teta) to introduce expanded training for mechanical and electrical technicians to produce more highly qualified practitioners to improve and speed up fault diagnostics, repairs, maintenance and servicing of trucks, tractors and trainers. According to the Road Freight Association’s (RFA) technical support consultant, Michael Alistoun, the pool of highly experienced technicians has been eroded by emigration as South African mechanics and auto electricians are highly regarded for both their training and work ethic. Key companies in the heavy transport sector have complained that the level of competency for the present qualifications from the Mechanical and Engineering Seta (Merseta) – which is based on in-company training – is not producing the level of skills and knowledge that the heavy road transport industry requires to operate optimally. Prolonged mentoring “The knowledge base is not the same as that gained by qualified practitioners that went through the former apprenticeship system and then maintained the heavy fleets, which admittedly consisted of less electronically sensitive vehicles. The apprenticeship included dedicated and prolonged journeyman mentoring before a final exam could be taken to achieve what was then classified as diesel or petrol mechanic or auto electrician status,” he explained. Chairman of the technical committee of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, Jim Campbell, says that it supports the moves as the modern transport vehicle has a greater level of sophistication and there are pressures to keep them running as much as possible. “There are too many trucks being sold for the present servicing infrastructure to handle as there are not enough qualified people. Bookings for vehicle servicing at a franchised dealer can take up to two weeks, during which time the vehicle could have travelled beyond the required servicing date, possibly resulting in damage to major components. “What is more, there are not sufficient people that have enough knowledge to effect roadside breakdown repairs resulting in the need for the vehicle to be towed to a workshop, which then sees it placed in a queue, and the vehicle immobilized again for what might have been a simple problem that a more experienced mechanic could have temporarily repaired at the roadside to get the vehicle to its destination to then be looked at,” he said. Following a meeting between the RFA and Teta, a spokesperson for the training authority said it had made the concerns a top priority and would be working closely with affected parties to try to introduce qualifications that met the needs of the industry. It was establishing the requirements that would enable a valid certification in terms of the existing process of accreditation of training courses.
