Mineral Resources (MinRes) in Western Australia launched its specialised MC upskill driver training program with the aim of helping to fill over 100 driving positions across its operations – and it’s recently welcomed its 100th participant.
A diversified resources company, with extensive operations in lithium, iron ore, energy and mining services, MinRes launched the program in October 2023.
As MinRes general manager port and logistics Jason Holmes explained, the innovative program upskills people with an existing multi combination (MC) truck licence with the skills and knowledge to drive the company’s 330-tonne quad road trains.
“The program was introduced to meet MinRes’ huge demand for heavy haulage truck drivers across Western Australia and northern Queensland,” Jason added.
“The program is tailored to the individual’s experience, with training including vehicle pre-start inspections, daily safety checks, driving on the haul road, operating the side tipper trailers, radio communications and much more.”
Kelly Mottau from the Barossa Valley in South Australia is the 100th applicant to successfully secure a place in the program. She is part of the current cohort of students undertaking their training.
“I’ve previously worked in the mining and logistics industry and, after driving dump trucks, I knew the next thing I wanted to do is drive quad road trains,” she said.
“I saw the job advertised and I knew it was a company I wanted to work for with their innovative approach and investment in resort-style accommodation.”
The program sees participants progress to take on MC driver positions at the company within six months, at MinRes and client sites across the Pilbara and Goldfields regions.
With a 93 per cent retention rate, most of those who have completed the program are now behind the wheel of the company’s Kenworth C509s, which are the largest single-engine road trains in the world, with the capacity to haul up to 330 tonnes.
As MinRes explained, the robust, purpose-built prime movers, which are equipped with a Cummins X15 engine and Eaton transmission, have consistently demonstrated they stand up to the harsh environments in which the company operates in.
For Kelly, the upskill training program has served as the perfect way to get into a dream role, and she encourages others to follow suit. “It’s great to see women out there breaking down the barriers. For anyone considering it, I would say go for it – you have everything in front of you,” she said.
MinRes is currently taking applications for its MC upskill driver training program.