Last night we had the pleasure of welcoming our valued new apprentices and celebrating the hard work of our graduates, with their partners and families at our annual Apprentice Welcome & Graduation Evening. It is also recognition of the mentors within our business who help to guide and teach our apprentices through to the completion of their trade and beyond.

Congratulations to Greg Jolly who graduated as our newest Heavy Vehicle Diesel Technician in the workshop! Following in his path are a carefully selected group of individuals who have joined the 2019 Apprenticeship Training Program at CMV Truck Centre; we are extremely pleased to welcome Shaydon Witmitz, Mitchell Phillips, Bradley Flaherty, Che Yeadon to our workshop, and Jesse Maynard as Apprentice parts Interpreter. Thomas Whittaker, our dual-trade technician, was recently appointed to Automotive Electrical Technician and will be an excellent mentor to our new technicians and staff!

About the Apprenticeship Training Program

Each year, we employ 4-8 of the 160+ applicants to join our apprenticeship training program at CMV Truck Centre. Before being considered for a second interview, applicants must firstly get through a robust program of theory and practical testing at the dealership. They must demonstrate competency in reading comprehension, mechanical reasoning and trade level mathematics. Their workshop techniques and dexterity is also put under the microscope before the final shortlisting of prospects for final interviews and selection takes place.

Whilst this process is arduous and at times harrowing, if successful, the apprentice technician can expect quality training and opportunities across a wide range of transport equipment and components. For instance, each new apprentice receives a shiny brand new 400-piece SP Tools tool kit and trolley.

The first 3 to 4 weeks of their apprenticeship is spent with Training Manager, Troy Seyfang where they are given a thorough induction which includes:
- Site and job specific task training
- Hand and power tool skills and safety training
- WHS policy and safety training
- Safe Operating Procedure and workshop equipment training
- Electrical Hydraulics and Pneumatics Fundamentals training
- Measuring equipment training
- Fasteners and threads training
- Engine components identification maintenance and top tune training
- Safe use of common workshop equipment such as air tooling, power tooling, vehicle hoists, hand and pressure parts washers, jacks and safety stands, overhead cranes, hydraulic presses, clutch and transmission lifting jacks
- Learning how to use drill presses and bench grinders, cut and repair threads, and how to make gaskets
- Access to OEM websites where they are able to source technical, service and diagnostic information along with unlimited access to online product training such as Cummins Quick Serve Online, Kenworth Dealer Training and DAF E-Portal and E-Campus.

Upon conclusion of this extensive induction and training, apprentices are work ready, having gained much of the basic skills and knowledge needed for the tasks that they will assist with during their on the job training.

All the first, second and third-year apprentices are rostered to a mentor during their training program. Apprentices rotate between the four work areas in the CMV Truck Centre workshop, with a roster change occurring every two months to allow for continuous rotation in various trade areas.

This means that the CMV Truck Centre apprentices will become highly trained technicians with a broad range of job and trade skills across three trade streams:  Mechanical, Electrical and Engineering. With a mentor at their side along with unlimited access to OEM product technical information and training, the CMV Truck Centre apprentice is never left to work it out themselves and always have access to the knowledge and trade experience of our skilled technicians.

By the time they reach the start of their fourth year of their apprenticeship they are more than capable of working as a competent and reliable technician who can work in a safe productive and efficient manner.

About Troy Seyfang, Training Manager at CMV Truck Centre

Troy began his career in automotive as an Apprentice Diesel Mechanic back in 1986 for the State Transport Authority and has now been working in the heavy diesel mechanics industry for over 33 years.

Previously a Lecturer at TAFE SA’s O’Halloran Hill Heavy Vehicle campus, Troy was recruited to CMV Truck Centre in 2012 to head up the dealership’s Apprentice Training Program which included running the Certificate III in Road Transport Mechanical Technology curriculum, in conjunction with TAFE SA.

In 2017 Troy was approached by PACCAR Australia to help present technical training to Kenworth and DAF dealerships across Australian capital cities, and continues to work closely with Kenworth, DAF, Cummins, Eaton and other OEM’s to facilitate the technical training of our workforce of mechanical, electrical and engineering staff.