More than 32,000 people are employed as truck drivers in New Zealand – but with 93% of all freight in New Zealand carried by road, more are needed.

MITO – a division of Te Pūkenga – the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, supports career pathways for the commercial road transport industry. MITO offers a range of micro-credentials and qualifications that align to Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand’s Road to Success programme. And to capture the attention of those still at secondary school and join the workforce, ShiftUp – Road Transport Micro- credential is the connector to industry.

ShiftUp offers secondary school students in Years 11, 12 and 13 the opportunity to try the commercial road transport industry. It involves a mix of eLearning theory and practical experience in the workplace, covering the topics of industry knowledge, health and safety, documentation, systems and components, driving hazards and risk reduction strategies.

This micro-credential can lead to a number of career opportunities – including driving, warehousing, distribution, logistics and administration services; and subsequently further on-job qualifications.

ShiftUp is a great way for secondary students to try the industry, step into employment and continue their learning journey.

Transport companies involved with ShiftUp in the past include Williams and Wilshier. “We have said for a long time that it is a shame that we can’t have young people out in trucks,” says Warwick Wilshier, managing director.

“However, we now have means to expose young people to the industry, enhancing an enthusiasm for trucking.”

Chris Murphy, supervising managing director at Steve Murphy Limited, says they take all new students and potential employees on the ShiftUp journey because of the essential learning they receive from the programme.

“ShiftUp is super beneficial to students, it is a great way for students to navigate through these processes and give them a first look and understanding of the industry,” he says.

“It is a great first step and something we get all new students to complete.”

Jake Terrell completed MITO’s ShiftUp micro- credential while still at school, with the aim of becoming a truck driver.

“I was working part-time at Steve Murphy Limited, while still at school. I always wanted to get work experience and was waiting till I was old enough to be able to do it,” he says.

“This programme definitely gave me a head start in the industry,” says Jake. “You can start with ShiftUp while at school to see if the industry is for you, and then you have some skills behind you to move onto the next thing,” he says. “It gives you an extra foot in the door.”

As well as ShiftUp, MITO offers an Introduction to Commercial Road Transport micro-credential; The New Zealand Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (for Heavy Vehicle Operators); the New Zealand Certificate in Commercial Road Transport for Specialist Drivers for Heavy Haulage Transportation and Transportation of Logs, a Driver Safety in Commercial Road Transport micro-credential; Mass and Dimensions micro-credential, and a Heavy Combination Vehicle Loading Fundamentals micro-credential.

MITO works in consultation with key partners in the transport sector, including NZ Heavy Haulage Association, NZ Log Transport Safety Council, Road Transport Association New Zealand, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, National Road Carriers, and New Zealand Trucking Association.

For more information about ShiftUp and how MITO’s training programmes could benefit you, visit mito.nz.