They say a change is as good as a holiday, right? Have you recently considered changing careers? Long hours on the road, often in isolation, has some truck and heavy vehicle drivers considering how a career change might have a positive impact on their wellbeing.
Two people who have made the move from a career in heavy vehicle driving to training drivers are Liz and Tom, who are both valued members of Armstrongs Driver Education’s team of trainers.
After 27 years driving buses, Liz decided to look for something a bit more fulfilling. After seeing an ad for Armstrongs, she made enquiries and after a series of interviews, successfully landed a role in training with the business.
“I had never driven a truck before, just buses. Armstrongs provided me with a lot of great training from a really good trainer,” Liz said, adding that the career move was a good one. “The support you get from management at Armstrongs is incredible. They’ve built my confidence up so much. They’re really supportive and there are no silly questions in their eyes – I just love it!”
Liz has been with Armstrongs for 10 months and loves the new challenges and people that each day brings. “I like meeting new people every day and also learning every day. Some learners have different personalities, and if there are signs a learner needs a bit more support, I like working out, how can I get this across for them?” she said.
Tom had been in the transport industry, driving trucks, for over 12 years. After starting to feel like the long hours on the road and time spent in traffic were wearing on him, he contemplated changing careers. “I was looking for a career change, but was a little scared to really deviate too much. I came across a training role at Armstrongs, and thought that would be a great opportunity to not only try something new, but also to use my current skills and knowledge,” he said.
Having been with Armstrongs for 12 months now, training mostly at the Truganina site, Tom said he finds the job really rewarding. “I really enjoy meeting new people every day and helping them. It can be quite daunting for anyone who’s new to truck driving but I enjoy making people feel comfortable and relaxed, and then they actually enjoy driving by the end of the day,” Tom said.
Tom also loves the crew of trainers and the entire team at Armstrongs and enjoys being able to have a laugh and a bit of banter with his co-workers, which makes being at work really fun.
Armstrongs Driver Training is currently recruiting truck driver trainers with a great attitude and the right personality. No previous experience in training is required, as Armstrongs puts its new trainer recruits through a thorough on-the-job training program.
They’re looking for drivers with at least 12 months heavy vehicle driving experience and a valid heavy vehicle license. The Armstrongs team is looking for driver trainers to join their Thomastown and Truganina sites, which are both located in Victoria.
If you think you have what it takes to become a valued member of the Armstrongs team and want to work with an organisation that prides itself on developing people, head to the careers page on armdrive.com.au.