The Volvo Trucks Advanced Driver Development Programme recently certified its first group of 20 graduates, all from the Bakri Royal Malaysian Police Technical College. The programme, focused on enhancing driving skills, efficiency and safety, is a joint initiative by Volvo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Volvo Trucks Malaysia), and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS). 

"At Volvo Trucks, safety is at the heart of everything we do. We strive for excellence in every facet of our operations, from the design and manufacturing of our vehicles, to the training and development of our drivers,” said Volvo Trucks Malaysia Managing Director, Anthony O’Connell, at the inaugural graduation ceremony of The Volvo Trucks Advanced Driver Development Programme. 

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Trainers from the Bakri Royal Malaysian Police Technical College who have successfully completed this rigorous and comprehensive programme.  Partnership is the new leadership. Through this successful collaboration with MIROS, we have created a platform that not only imparts essential skills, but also reinforces our shared commitment to the highest standards of safety, sustainability, and quality – the core values of Volvo,” O’Connell explained. 

The Advanced Driver Development Programme imparts advanced safety training content and materials with the goal of elevating the capabilities of existing drivers. For the inaugural group of 20 trainees comprising instructors from the Bakri Royal Malaysian Police Technical College in Muar, Johor, the Volvo Trucks Advanced Driver Development Programme was curated to serve as a Train-the-Trainer course . Well-regarded as a leading brand in safety innovation, Volvo Trucks meticulously designed the programme for to encompass two vital modules, namely the Driving and Truck Handling Skill Course, and the Advanced and Tactical Truck Handling Skill Course. 

The modules were crafted to enhance the technical expertise of trainees and deepen their understanding of advanced driving techniques, vehicle dynamics, and tactical manoeuvres essential for specific job roles. Trainees were coached throughout the practical and theory modules by a highly qualified HRD Corp-certified Volvo Trucks trainer who has two decades of experience. The hands-on training was conducted at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). 

"The Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2022-2030 aims to achieve a 50% reduction in road traffic crash fatalities by the end of 2030 compared to 2019. MIROS believes the participation of international organisations such as Volvo Trucks and the Sepang International Circuit in organising such training programmes is a significant starting point for capacity building to help us improve road safety. Continuous training and professional development are essential, and by enhancing knowledge and skills through relevant courses, we can ensure that road safety in Malaysia remains at the highest level." said Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) Director General, Associate Professor Ts Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak. 

“Logistical support is an important part of our duty in crime fighting. This programme is a critical collaborative effort to ensure our officers are equipped with the capabilities to excel in carrying out their professional duties. We look forward to more collaborations like this in the future,” said Bakri Royal Malaysian Police Technical College Commandant, Senior Assistant Commissioner, Zam Halim Jamaluddin, in his address at the graduation ceremony. 

The Volvo Trucks Advanced Driver Development Programme is one of several initiatives developed under a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) between Volvo Trucks and MIROS which was signed in August 2023. Its goal is to drive road safety initiatives to reduce the number of road accidents, injuries, and fatalities in Malaysia. 

The programme comprises two modules, namely, Truck Familiarisation and Advanced Driver Development. The latter offers four programme options: an elementary driver programme, an intermediate driver programme, Train-The-Trainer (TTT) and customised programmes. MIROS’ role in this synergy will be to contribute guidelines for the delivery of effective road safety training and provide suggestions and materials to enhance this training programme. 

The Volvo Trucks Advanced Driver Development Programme is open to all commercial vehicle operators seeking to enhance driving skills, efficiency and safety. Organisations with fleet operations are encouraged to register as the certification from this programme is claimable under HRD Corp.