Promised heavy vehicle training school still missing

Despite the influx of trucks, trawlers, and tankers, commonly referred to as heavy vehicles, in Sindh, the province lacks a driving school for drivers wishing to learn how to operate the vehicles, which results in amateurs getting behind the wheel and endangering the lives of others on the road. Recently, even the Sindh Transport and Mass Transit Department acknowledged the dearth of a dedicated facility for those who wish to learn how to drive heavy vehicles to earn a living, in the Sindh Assembly, and assured the provincial assembly that work was being done to establish training schools in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur.

However, despite the assurances, nothing has been done practically, yet. The lack of a training school for heavy vehicle drivers means that anyone above the age of 21 can apply for a driving licence and end up behind the wheel, without any formal training on how to handle heavy vehicles, which is a safety hazard. Waqas Ahmed, who is involved in the transport business in Karachi, acknowledging the threat to other road users from amateur truckers, said, “there is a desperate need for an institute to teach individuals on how to operate heavy vehicles.”

“Currently, truckers start off as cleaners or helpers and gradually learn driving under the guidance of senior truckers. This on the job learning is a serious safety hazard,” added Ahmed. Muhammad Hussain, a trucker who works at Karachi Port, concurring with Ahmed’s observations, said that training of heavy vehicle drivers is important because most road accidents in Karachi or on the highways are caused by large vehicles. “Training is also necessary because driving is only part of the job, truckers need to be aware of traffic rules and regulations as well, so they can drive responsibly,” opined Hussain.

The Express Tribune also spoke to Deputy Inspector General Licensing, Sindh, Tanveer Alam Odho, about the disregard for truckers being trained properly, who said that as far as licensing goes, truckers have to go through a strict test to obtain a licence. “Apart from the road test, they have to take a theoretical computerised test and have to get 18 out of 25 questions right, to pass,” Odho said matter-of-factly.

When pointed out that most truckers are not educated enough to attempt the computerised test, a defensive Odho said that the licensing staff helps out individuals who may not be familiar with computerised testing. Moreover, when asked if the test was any different than that given to those trying to obtain a general licence, Odho conceded that the testing procedure for heavy vehicles’ licence was the same.

The Express Tribune also contacted the Secretary for Provincial Transport Authority Amit Narwani and Sindh Transport Department Secretary Muhammad Saleem Rajput, multiple times, to find out if there was any update on the promised training schools for heavy vehicle drivers but did not hear back from them.