Hino NZ’s licence competition winners announced.

Hino Distributors (NZ) Ltd’s nationwide driver’s licence competition came to a close at the end of October, with Liam Rees and Aaron Lawrie winning the last two AMS licence upgrade packages.

Liam, a volunteer firefighter at Trentham Fire Station, says that becoming a qualified truck driver will allow him to share the workload of driving the appliances. In his competition entry, Liam also mentioned regularly seeing McCarthy Transport’s Hinos carting logs on the road – something he’d like to do himself one day. He’s excited that he is now a step closer to achieving both.

Aaron is an apprentice mechanic in Auckland. In his entry he said he wanted to get his full complement of truck licences, including his B train, so that he could be fully qualified as both a mechanic and truck driver.

Liam and Aaron’s winners’ prize packages includes logbook theory and assessment, practical driving training and driving assessment, provided by AMS Group.

Hino NZ’s General Manager said the competition’s purpose was to publically highlight the nationwide driver shortage, while raising the profile of truck driving as a real long term career option.

“We received hundreds of entries,” says Mr Roberts. “Everyone had great reason for entering, it was also interesting to note some of the barriers potential drivers face getting into the industry”. One big factor is the lengthy, but necessary process required to move through the different licencing levels.

“The demand for good skilled drivers across all classes has never been higher”, says AMS Group’s Lower North Island Area Manager, John Marcus. “Initiatives like Hino’s competition is a great way to set young people up to join the trucking industry correctly.”

In addition to Liam and Aaron’s successful online entries, Louis Nynman has completed his Class 2 licence with AMS Group since winning the Central Districts Field Days’ draw. The National Field Days’ winner, Caroline Haack, entered because her partner had purchased a Hino and she want to learn to drive it too.

“At Hino, we’re all about encouraging the next generation,” says Mr Roberts. We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to help four more drivers join such a rewarding industry”.