With the company’s core service being safely delivering customers’ goods, specialist transport company Unitrans’ drivers are one of the most critical links in the chain, CEO Terry Bantock highlights.

The UniDrive training programme was first established with this fact foremost in the company’s thinking.

“When various Unitrans entities amalgamated in 2015, it was determined that an internal training curriculum had to be developed, that not only met the training and legislative requirements of our different business units, but those of our customers too,” says Bantock.

He adds that it was imperative that the new training curriculum reflected Unitrans’ own health and safety culture and its commitment to being culturally diverse and inclusive.

“As a Transport and Education Training Authority- (Teta-) accredited learning provider, Unitrans is bound by Teta’s training framework and high curriculum standards,” he stresses.

“The award-winning UniDrive driver training programme has been central to the positive personal development of these indispensable employees.

“The programme gives our drivers a real sense of purpose and belonging,” says Bantock.

UniDrive provides drivers with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their duties to the best of their abilities, while operating their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner.

The UniDrive programme consists of eight core modules covered over five days, as well as four hours of practical training.

The certification is valid for two years under the “Operate a Vehicle Combination/Rigid” unit standard (123254), in accordance with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) operating a vehicle combination standard.

There is also a ninth elective module on transporting dangerous cargo, which is run over two days, inclusive of practical elements.

This module certifies participants for one year under the “Convey Dangerous Goods by Road” SAQA standard (123259).

Bantock says that people development is a central element, adding that the company’s approach considers the strategic imperative of unlocking its employees’ full potential to meet operational needs.

“In keeping with this, our organisational effectiveness team drives the implementation of key human capital and business changes, updates, and new initiatives,” he says.

The drivers mandate comes directly from the Unitrans board members, who are responsible for leading the company’s purpose and strategy, as well as deciding on key company initiatives.

“We also invest in the creation of future talent pools through employee bursaries, as well as learnerships, apprenticeships and internships for unemployed youths,” says Bantock.

Additionally, these skills development programmes prioritise scarce and critical skills through Unitrans’ Training Needs Analysis and Workplace Skills Plan.

Good Employers Breed Good Employees

It was recently announced that Unitrans had been selected as a South African “Top Employer” by the Top Employers Institute, owing to Unitrans’ commitment to developing highly-skilled, well-rounded drivers through the UniDrive programme.

Unitrans is the market-leading supplier of integrated operational services and solutions across multiple sectors, including mining, petrochemicals, and food and consumer logistics.

“The company has a wide-ranging footprint that stretches across sub-Saharan Africa and one of its central missions is to leave a positive impact on the economic and social development of the region,” concludes Bantock.