By Jonathan Thomson
CEO, NZ Heavy Haulage Association
Everybody in the heavy haulage industry groans when you mention upgrading the existing training for a key role in the industry, however, the new resources and processes that the NZ Heavy Haulage Association has pushed to put in place in recent times will only over time lift the overall standard within the industry.
In particular, I’m talking here about the new unit standard based training and assessment for Class 1 and 2 piloting associated with the transport of overdimension loads.
In conjunction with Tranzqual ITO (who look after the training standards for the transport and logistics industry) the association has been developing and getting recognition for new training and assessment for both grades of load pilot in the industry.
It feels like we’ve come full circle. A brief history (with apologies for those people in the industry who have far better knowledge than I).
1980s
The NZ Police provide the lead wide load piloting service, with assistance from industry. The first private licence was issued to a private individual in 1988 (for loads up to five metres in width).
1990s
In the early 1990s the first training courses were held to allow full width loads by private pilots.
In 1997 the Heavy Haulage Association took over the running of the certified pilot scheme for A and B grade pilots. Training was carried out at the Police Training College under contract to the association.
2000s
With the advent of the Dimension and Mass Rule, the Land Transport Safety Authority wished to take over the running of the pilot licensing scheme.
Training became mandatory for class 2 pilots, with private training and assessment of class 1 pilots. The number of pilots steadily increases over the decade.
Following initiation by the Heavy Haulage Association, Tranzqual registers the first unit standards for class 1 and 2 piloting.
2010s
More than 10,000 load pilots are registered nationwide.
Tranzqual releases training and assessment material for class 1 and 2 pilots and starts registering assessors for these unit standards.
The NZ Transport Agency approves the unit standard based material, as approved under the Dimension and Mass Rule, for pilot training and issuing of licences.
So training standards as led and promoted by the industry are now available once again – this time with the independent and professional support of Tranzqual ITO.
But what does all this mean for pilots currently holding licenses and upcoming load pilots?
Existing arrangements still in place
The existing ways of getting a class 2 licence (with the $19.90 book from NZTA) and class 1 (the private provider to NZTA) still remain available to industry members wishing to gain these licenses.
Existing holders retain license
All current holders of class 1 and 2 licences will retain them and do not need to undertake the new unit standard based training process.
New applicants for classes 1 and 2 have options. Any new applicant for a load pilot licence has the two options to gain the licence. As an association we would promote the new unit standards based process for any new person wishing to enter into the piloting system. A good case could be made, particularly for class 2 pilots, that the employer needs to provide suitable training for their employees, and the simple class 2 book with the multi-choice questionnaire could be regarded as barely suitable under health and safety requirements.
The bigger picture
In the current working and regulatory environment there is a drive towards providing assurance that people working in the industry have the knowledge and skills to be able to do this competently.
This enhanced load pilot training and assessment process is certainly a step up from what is currently being provided – particularly for the many class 2 pilots that the association has concerns about regarding their on-going competence.
Clearly, industry members that are currently undertaking load pilot roles everyday, with a wide variety of different loads and roading situations, are actively maintaining their professionalism and knowledge. However, load pilots that have less frequent jobs piloting wide or heavy loads may need to ensure that they do not get rusty, and also are keeping up to date with current industry knowledge and practice.
Another great aspect to the process out in place with this industry training and assessment, is that actual load pilots that are currently active within the sector are the ones that are assessing new holders of pilot licences. This is actively instilling in new load pilots industry practices that are current and relevant to the roles that they will be carrying out.
Contractor Vol.34 No.7 August 2010
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