UD Trucks Southern Africa Expands Groundbreaking Women’s Program with Bus Driver Training Initiative
Pretoria, South Africa – On June 7, 2024, UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) proudly announced the expansion of its transformative “Ultimate Women Program” in collaboration with the Commercial Transport Academy (CTA).
Building on the program’s success over the past two years, the CTA has launched its inaugural Bus Driver Development Program. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the CTA, Southern African Bus Operators Association (SABOA), Clarendon Transport Underwriting Managers (CTU), and UDTSA, aims to train and empower approximately 30 female trainees. To support this endeavor, UDTSA has generously donated a new Croner Bus PKE 280 65-Seater to CTA, underscoring its commitment to intensifying the training process.
The “Ultimate Women Program,” initiated by UDTSA in 2022, was designed to foster gender transformation within the transport industry. UDTSA initially sponsored two Kuzer light-medium duty trucks, enabling the CTA to provide comprehensive training and secure employment for female truck drivers. This program’s success has paved the way for further initiatives, such as the new Bus Driver Development Program, highlighting UDTSA’s ongoing dedication to empowering women in the transport sector.
The bus handover ceremony took place at UDTSA’s headquarters in Rosslyn, Pretoria, attended by key stakeholders, including local media representatives, the new trainee group, and notable figures such as Anesu Mawire from USAID, Jr Choeu from JR Choeu Express, Eric Motshwane from SABOA, Olivia Kumalo from Hollard Trucking, Quinton Roos from Trucklogix, Nicci Scott from the Commercial Transport Academy, Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director of UDTSA, and Janet Frost, Human Resources Director of UDTSA.
Nicci Scott, Founder of the Commercial Transport Academy, expressed her enthusiasm for the program: “Partnering with UDTSA to advance our shared vision of increasing female representation in the transport industry is a significant step toward creating a more equitable society. The program has grown immensely since its inception, thanks to UDTSA’s unwavering support and its profound impact on these young women’s lives. With a renewed focus on training bus drivers, we pledge to continue our collaboration with all key stakeholders to ensure the program’s success.”
Participants in the Bus Driver Development Program will undergo a comprehensive 12-month training regimen covering technical modules such as vehicle operation, defensive driving techniques, traffic laws, and route planning. Additionally, the program includes theoretical components focused on stress management, professionalism, and effective passenger communication.
“Our partnership with CTA has been transformative in our mission to empower women in our industry and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve,” said Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director of UDTSA. “Expanding the program to include bus driver training demonstrates the success of this initiative and our dedication to making a positive difference for people, the planet, and the logistics sector. We wish the new candidates a successful journey and are confident they will contribute to a brighter future.”
UDTSA’s efforts in driving socio-economic transformation and gender empowerment were recognized by naamsa (The Automotive Business Council) in October 2023, where UDTSA was awarded for Women and Youth Empowerment and as the Most Improved BBBEE OEM. These prestigious naamsa awards highlight the best-performing brands across the automotive industry.
As the journey continues, UDTSA looks forward to future collaborations and partnerships, which remain the cornerstone of a successful future in the transport industry.
