“Historically, qualifications in our industry have been driven by customer demand for trained drivers,” says Jonathan Stewart, Endorsed Driver Trainer for Rotorua Forest Haulage.  “To get a full qualification, you have to gain a certain total value of units.  This is an industry where some of the existing units could be below your existing skill level, making them a poor use of valuable time.  That’s what makes me so excited about the idea of micro-credentials.”

Jonathan recently brought his breadth of industry experience as a driver, trainer, licensor and assessor to a comprehensive review of Commercial Road Transport (CRT) qualifications and unit standards, completed in April 2024.  Led by Hanga-Aro-Rau, this complex review spanned multiple specialist areas – log transportation, waste transportation, heavy haulage and ground spreading – and covered six existing CRT qualifications and 74 unit standards, resulting in nine new micro-credentials and four new skill standards being proposed for evaluation and approval.  “I can’t speak highly enough of the review process,” Jonathan says.  “Hanga-Aro-Rau did an excellent job of putting the whole thing together, keeping us focused and taking on board a wide range of points of view that may have been different from what was expected.  They listened to what industry had to say and communication throughout the review process was excellent.”

The review has been welcomed by an industry where some of the existing qualifications were not fit for purpose, Jonathan says.  “Upskilling has been poorly managed in our industry for many years.  It’s not necessarily the unit content, but the assessment that can let things down.  As an assessor, I’ve had to apologise to learners in the past for the way an assessment is written because it doesn’t always work for us.  With the formation of the Workforce Development Councils and Hanga-Aro-Rau’s ability to act as an overarching entity with the right focus and an independent view, there’s a big opportunity for positive change.  Through this review process, I was able to show how the assessor or learner will see it in the end and how the qualifications might be translated into practice.”

Jonathan is eager to remain involved as the new and updated qualifications are rolled out.  “I was initially sceptical of the review process because of a long history of challenges around training in our industry, but I have been really impressed with how the process has gone.  The thinking behind the review has been sound, and I look forward to seeing that carry right through.  The development is done.  Now, I hope that industry can continue to shape how these assessments are delivered.  If they’re well-written and they flow well, our people will get a lot out of it and it will be worthwhile for our industry.  They’ve got a place, now we’ve just got to get them right.”

The new micro-credentials, in particular, are likely to have a significant impact on the CRT industry, Jonathan says.  “I feel that the full qualification has never really taken off because the transport industry is very big with some quite unique challenges.  Our workers are alone, away and working hours that are heavily legally restricted, so they often can’t come in for training.  Their time is extremely valuable.  Micro-credentials will target what they need and allow them to pick and choose.  For instance, a driver who wants to become a dispatcher can earn a micro-credential and quickly get up to speed.  If a dispatcher wants to transition into management or a manager wants to increase their health and safety knowledge, we’ll now be able to support that.  Now, I hope that industry can continue to shape how these assessments are written and delivered.”