The Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP) plans to set up a driving school to fill the 20% to 30% shortage in the supply of truck drivers, according to CTAP director Pepito Dino.
In an interview with PortCalls following the blessing of CTAP’s new main office in Ermita, Manila, Dino said the gap is partly due to some drivers being pirated by non-truck operators, and partly to some answering the lure of work overseas, where demand for drivers is high and the salary is higher.
This situation was not helped by Manila’s daytime truck ban, implemented from February to September last year, which pushed drivers to shift to taxi cabs to avoid being stuck for long hours inside their trucks during the ban hours.
Mario Yap, CTAP vice president for internal affairs, said the group has established a committee to undertake the plan and targets to put up the facility within the year.
Yap explained the project is an offshoot of government’s existing as well as planned policies, such as the proposed phase-out of 15-year-old trucks which has pushed some truckers to re-fleet, giving rise to the need for more drivers.
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The project is also CTAP’s take on dealing with unsafe practices among some operators and drivers, association director Nilo Manikan said.
Drivers of articulated vehicles come under professional driver’s license code 8, which means they may drive vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 4,501 kilograms and above.
Dino said they are eyeing a partnership with government, specifically the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in running the school.
However, he admitted that since the project requires substantial funding, the group will have to look for sponsors. Dino said CTAP alone cannot shoulder all costs, such as those related to producing at least five hectares of space that will house a building; employment of trained educators, and purchase of equipment such as tractor heads.
CTAP said the proposed school’s training module will cover new systems being implemented at the ports, such as the web-based Terminal Appointment Booking System (TABS) that will allow clients of Manila’s international ports to book withdrawal and delivery of cargoes. Set up by the two Manila international port operators, TABS will go live on September 1.
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CTAP said they expect birth pains during the initial phase of TABS and suggested that truck holding areas be provided if truck bans in different Metro Manila cities remain in effect. The holding areas will help assure availability of units within the port area.
Without holding areas and if the various unsynchronized truck bans are still in place, CTAP feared truckers may just opt to accept bookings only after the ban hours, creating peaks in traffic and making TABS not as effective in helping manage road congestion.
CTAP celebrated its 30th anniversary on August 5. The group was organized in 1985 by truckers to form a strong voice for the trucking industry. Today, the group’s affiliate members nationwide include Cagayan Aggregates and River Gravel Haulers Association, Inc.; Cebu Truckers Association, Inc.; Leyte Truckers Association; Negros Consolidated Truckers Association; Subic Bay Haulers Association; and Truckers Association of Davao to Accelerate Development. – Roumina Pablo
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