Call to relax education norm for drivers

In a bid to tackle the shortage of drivers in the commercial vehicle industry, the government should relax the minimum education qualification – eighth standard – for drivers. The minimum qualification norm is a big hurdle in attracting quality drivers, said Prasanna Patwardhan, President, Bus Operators Confederation of India.

He was speaking at a panel discussion – The Road Ahead – as part of ‘Transporters Meet’ held at Pune on Wednesday, organised by The Hindu BusinessLine with Indian Oil Corporation as Presenting Partner, and Powered by YES Bank. MapMyIndia was the event’s GPS Partner.

Driving skills

Patwardhan said driving licence requirements are such that it keeps out less educated out of the system, who could have better driving skills. There is a need to re-examine the minimum educational qualifications required for drivers so that the would-be drivers are tested more on their driving skills rather than their educational qualifications.

Some of the best drivers in the market would not have been to school. While not many are willing to be a driver, the industry should tap the technically qualified but educationally unqualified drivers for the industry, said Patwardhan, also Chairman and Managing Director of Pune-based Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions, which has a fleet of over 1,200 buses and cars in 85 cities.

Concurring with Patwardhan’s views, Baba Shindde, Member, All India Motor Transport Congress & Toll Committee, and State President, Maharashtra State Goods and Passenger Transport Mahasangh, said nearly 30 per cent of commercial vehicles are idle because of shortage of skilled drivers. Job application for clerks brings in a huge number of applications but not many want to be drivers because service conditions and treatment they get from the transport owners is not good, he said. Shindde also suggested inclusion of toll charges in fuel price to make tolls free across the country to help truck industry. Toll charges is hurting the truck industry badly.

Fuel quality

On fuel quality, Subrat Rath, DGM (Retail Sales), Pune Divisional Office, Indian Oil Corporation, said there is no compromise on the quality of fuel. IOC had taken a number of measures to ensure there is no adulteration in fuel. “We are now planning to automate 100 per cent of the retail outlets by December end. At present, it is 70 per cent. This is one of measures to make the retail outlets customer friendly,” he added.

Anil Menon, National Business Head, Commercial Vehicle Loans, YES Bank, said technology like mapping solution is being implemented in transport sector aggressively to track vehicles. Such technology also helps financial companies track vehicles in case of default. Top truck manufacturers are in discussion with the bank to even fund such solutions, he said.

Hemang Chowdhary, Head, Enterprise Relations, MapMyIndia, pointed out that waiting time of trucks in the city adds to the already high cost of operations. A proper navigation route is required to optimise truck operations, and using mapping solution is a good option. Technology also helps in curbing pilferage and unnecessary stoppage of vehicles on the road, he said at the panel discussion, moderated by Rahul Wadke, Special Correspondent, BusinessLine.

Fifth edition

The Transporters Meet at Pune to highlight various issues related to transporters was the fifth edition. The first was held in June at Namakkal, followed by the second in Kochi in July. The third was held in Vijayawada last month and the fourth in Hyderabad on September 7.

Over 100 representatives, including truck owners, drivers and industry associations participated in each event. In these meets, the participants also discussed local issues affecting the motor transport industry.

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