UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) has announced the expansion of its ‘Ultimate Women Programme’ in collaboration with the Commercial Transport Academy (CTA).
Following the programme's success over the past two years, the CTA has launched its inaugural Bus Driver Development Programme. This initiative is a joint effort involving the CTA, Southern African Bus Operators Association (SABOA), Clarendon Transport Underwriting Managers (CTU) and UDTSA. Around 30 women trainees will benefit from this transformative programme, and to bolster the training process, UDTSA has provided CTA with a new Croner Bus PKE 280 65-Seater.
The ‘Ultimate Women Programme’ by UDTSA was initiated in 2022 with the goal of promoting gender transformation within the transport industry. At its launch, UDTSA donated two new Kuzer light-medium duty trucks.
Nicci Scott, the founder of the Commercial Transport Academy, says: “We are delighted to partner with UDTSA in our shared vision of increasing female representation in the transport industry and fostering an equitable society. The programme has made significant strides since its inception and we are immensely grateful to UDTSA for their unwavering support and the profound impact this has had on the lives of these young women.
“With the new focus on training bus drivers, we are committed to working closely with all our partners to ensure the successful completion of the programme.”
Participants in the Bus Driver Development Programme will undergo a comprehensive 12-month training course that will include technical modules on vehicle operation and control, defensive driving techniques, traffic laws and regulations and route navigation or planning.
Additionally, the programme will feature a strong theoretical component, covering essential topics such as stress management, professionalism and effective passenger communication.
Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa, remarked: “Our partnership with CTA has been transformative in our ongoing mission to empower women in our industry and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Expanding the programme to include bus driver training underscores the success of this important initiative and our commitment to creating a better life for people, the planet, and the logistics sector.
“We wish the new candidates a fruitful journey in the coming months and are confident they will contribute to a brighter future.”
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