Heavy Vehicle Safe Driver Project

What is the Project?

The HV Safe Driver Project is designed to support employers by offering a subsidised training program to safely train heavy vehicle drivers and address the driver shortage. New employees will undertake a training program involving practical supervised on-road driver training (up to 160hrs) with a driving mentor (from the company they are employed with) to learn situational awareness, hazard perception, risk avoidance, resilience and problem solving and compliance with the HVNL. The participant will also undertake essential  theory to increase knowledge and awareness of vehicle safety and law requirements.

The program includes support from an experienced Driver Trainer funded by the Project who provides pre and post program on-road driving and theory knowledge assessments. Following the successful completion of the program, the employer is paid a wage subsidy to offset the cost of driver mentor who is supervising the participant. A training manual is provided at commencement of the program. 

Who can apply?

• Employers who are putting on newly licenced drivers, drivers who do not have the requried experience, and/or have drivers upgrading license classes.

How was the Project Developed?

QTA developed the project based on extensive industry intelligence gathered from road freight operators and fleet owners. It was evident that there is a lack of opportunity for newly licenced heavy vehicle drivers to gain the required hours of on-road experience and this is a significant contributor to the driver shortage in Australia for commercial fleet operators.

 

What does the Program offer?

The program offers Employers the opportunity to train newly licenced drivers and drivers that have upgraded to a higher licence class with a structured training program along with a financial subsidy to offset the cost of the training. As the training is undertaken on-the-job, the participant is learning the specifics of the daily freight task and being instructed by an experienced driver from the company. Knowledge of essential theory is assessed in the pre and post program assessment by an independant driving assessor.

Individuals that are deemed suitable for the program will be connected with employers to obtain employment then undertake the HV Safe Driver Program that will involve up to 160 supervised on-road driving hours. This provides the necessary time to gain practical skills and knowledge associated with situational awareness, hazard perception, risk avoidance, resilience and problem solving and compliance with the HVNL. Two practical driving assessments are also included as part of the program (commencement of the program and at the end of the program).

EMPLOYERS - Contact Lisa Fraser, 0405 152 952 or email lisa@qta.com.au for more information.

This project is funded by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Australian Government.