The industrial and logistics sector has been complaining about a lack of drivers for years. According to experts, this occupational field should also be made more attractive and the quality of training should be increased. This is where the professional driver academy of the ÖAMTC-Fahrtechnik comes into play: in cooperation with the logistics companies and with the help of the Public Employment Service (AMS), prospective professional drivers are already employed in the training phase in the companies. What is special about this educational path and what skills do the prospective truck professionals need to bring with them? Hermann Wirrer, ÖAMTC’s driving technique expert, answered questions in the “Salzburger Nachrichten”.

What is the status of professional drivers in society? Herman Wirrer: Truck driver is currently a shortage occupation. This job is an extremely meaningful activity and also a secure job at times. Professional drivers are systemically relevant and essential for supplying society. Not only the food industry is dependent on employees and employees with a C driver’s license and ideally with practical experience. This applies in particular to all emergency services and blue light organizations: fire brigades, rescue services or other voluntary services would not work for experienced truck drivers.

For whom is the professional driver academy suitable? This training is aimed at all interested parties – regardless of the profession they have already learned. The great advantage for the participants is that they are already employed by the company during the training phase. The training process prepares them for everyday work and they are integrated into the team at an early stage.

How can one imagine this educational path in concrete terms? The professional driver academy of ÖAMTC-Fahrtechnik offers well-founded and practical complete training for professional drivers. The training program is designed as a modular system that can be specially tailored to the company.

That means: The training began in one of our partner driving schools or a driving school of your choice with the acquisition of the C or CE driving license. Even in this training phase, emphasis is placed on the greatest possible practical experience. For example, more theory and practice hours than the legally prescribed minimum number are scheduled. In this way, the participants are optimally prepared for the driver’s license test. After passing the exam, the practical training begins at ÖAMTC-Fahrtechnik, which includes, among other things, the basic qualification and further training C95 for five years.

Which modules are part of this practical training and what is it about? Our training takes into account all of the company’s needs and requirement profiles for its drivers in order to ensure the best possible preparation for everyday working life. Depending on the requirement profile, training is also provided in four to seven weeks in additional areas such as load securing, digital control devices or modules such as cranes or forklifts. One of the core elements is of course the practical driving training. All participants are coached by a professional on their rides. It WILL be practiced with different loads and different vehicles on different roads.

Everyone is talking about environmentally friendly driving: What part does this play in ÖAMTC training? In every company with its own vehicle fleet, the economy and the environment when using vehicles are major issues. Minor damage and vehicle consumption generally play a major role here. During the entire training period, adherence to an economical driving style and the use of the existing assistance systems are trained in almost all practical drives and training sessions, or individual modules in this training are also dedicated exclusively to the topic of the environment.

What requirements do you have to bring with you – which driving licenses do you need in advance, for example? The most important requirements are the motivation to make a significant contribution to society, as well as a thirst for knowledge and a desire for a new, interesting professional life. Apart from the B driving licence, no further requirements have to be met. This program can also be completed by career changers who already have a C or CE driver’s license but have not been actively involved in this profession.

How can you get more people motivated to become a truck driver? The job description has changed over the years and has become more complex: Modern truck drivers are qualified specialists for goods transport, have digital knowledge, have organizational skills and take responsibility for people and goods.

Appreciation, regulated working hours, different working time models and appropriate remuneration are some of the motivating factors. Solid training and ongoing further training are also part of it – you don’t want to be thrown in at the deep end. Due to the practical training, it should be a pleasant, voluntary jump into warmer water.