Serco enhances driver training at Coca-Cola

One of the vehicles built by Serco for Coca Cola

Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) invests heavily in the safety of their drivers as well as road users in general and conducts training at a variety of sites around South Africa. Their idea was to create mobile training centres prompting the order being awarded to Serco for the custom-built trailers.

Serco built the two high-tech Protec steel trailers at its Johannesburg factory to house the mobile training centres and simulator equipment as well as provide the capacity to add additional features or accessories as required by the customer.

The trailer interiors were configured to provide space for the simulators, computer rooms, air conditioning units, aluminium access steps with handrails, and tail lifts.

Although the mobile centres will be used specifically for the training of truck drivers there is potential - using different simulators - to train bakkie and forklift drivers in any area in South Africa.

Riaan Harmse, National Fleet Logistics Controller at CCBSA, said his company was impressed with the final Serco product.

Hands-on training

The driver simulators are a valuable addition to the hands-on training by experienced, in-cab instructors. Benefits include that there is no real safety concerns for drivers and equipment while undergoing training also there is no wear and tear or fuel used on the actual trucks during training activities.

Harmse said once fully operational, drivers would be trained in the units and after successfully completing the course, they would receive a certificate of competence to drive CCBSA vehicles.

Clinton Holcroft, managing director of Serco stated, “road safety is a critical component for any logistics Company, particularly when lives are at stake and the significant impact accidents can have on the bottom line”.

“Serco is proud to have been chosen to build the vehicle bodies for CCBSA’s new training simulators”, said Holcroft.