Little encouragement or opportunities have been given to women to infiltrate South Africa’s male-dominated trucking industry. Isuzu Trucks South Africa aims to shift misconceptions, negative connotations and stigmas over women being inadequate to take on various roles in the business of trucking.
“Embarking on a mission to introduce and enroll women into the business of trucking, Isuzu Trucks South Africa joined forces with the Training Transport Academy to facilitate learnership and provide in-classroom training through qualified assessors,” says Kas Govender, Human Resources Manager, Isuzu Trucks South Africa. After receiving 58 awe-inspiring applications for the learnership only five women made the cut to the sought-after course that would see the women gain a holistic knowledge of all aspects in the business of trucking whilst earning the recognised National Certificate: Professional Driving qualification accredited by the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA).
The Training Transport Academy opened its doors to the first female-only intake in February 2016. Six months into the course the programme has begun to yield a new breed of truck drivers armed with extensive knowledge of not just the art of driving, but in-depth expertise on the logistics of the industry.
The Training Transport Academy is led by female CEO Nicola Scott, whose vision has always been to up-skill women in the industry. Though established in 2012, this is the first time the academy has seen a female-only enrolment. The course funded by Isuzu Trucks has also seen the women master the skill of writing business plans. “This project has been a resounding success and we look forward to the women graduating in February 2017 with a National Certificate: Professional Driving qualification. The course will benefit these women and change perceptions positively in their communities and break barriers that stop women in believing that they are worthy of contributing to society in a way men can,” says Govender. She concludes by mentioning that Isuzu Trucks will continue to invest in empowering women to take on various roles in the industry, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the economy of trucking.
