Forrestfield based transport company, WA Freight Group, has been named as the winner of the trucking industry’s 2008 Training Excellence Award.

WA Freight Group was nominated for their willingness to take an industry wide perspective of training and skills development, which was demonstrated through formal participation in various industry advisory bodies which promote and assist in the implementation of training.

Training has played a significant part in the success of the company and they have effectively managed over 170 trainees and apprentices. The company employs a national training manager and fulltime onsite trainer to develop and coordinate a training program that reflects the needs of the group. The company trainer becomes a mentor to the employees, allowing constant performance monitoring and opportunity for continual improvement.

As well as having a commitment to the development of their own staff, the WA Freight Group actively promote the benefits of training to the wider transport and logistics industry.

In his acceptance speech, company representative Stewart Beard said it was a challenge working in an industry where its members often felt they had no training paths.

“It is great to give them the skills and training they need to carry out the work (…) If you put money into training I can guarantee it will be returned to you one hundred fold,” he said.

The Training Excellence Award is part of the National Trucking Industry Awards, which are announced each year at the end of the Australian Trucking Convention. This year’s Convention wrapped up in Canberra today.

ATA Chairman, Mr Trevor Martyn, said the awards are a crucial part of the industry’s calendar because they identify and reward the people who have contributed to taking the Australian trucking industry to a higher level of professionalism.

“The National Trucking Industry Awards form an important part of the trucking industry’s effort to promote the commitment and achievement of individuals and organisations within the industry,” Trevor said.

“Listening to the winners speak on the night provides a strong indication of why they won – they all have tremendous passion for our industry, and an uncompromising commitment to its improvement,” he said.

Other awards presented on the night included the National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year Award, which was awarded to Helen Savage from Stockmaster, the National Professional Driver of the Year Award, won by Kevin Cartwright from Whiteline Transport, and the Outstanding Contribution to the Trucking Industry Award, which was won by John Kelly (deceased).

Also awarded on the night was the Don Watson – ATA in Appreciation Memorial Award, which was presented to long-standing supporter of the ATA, Peter Rocke.

A picture of the award can be found Here.