Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (HMSM), and Yamato Transport (M) Sdn. Bhd. (YTM), have joined forces and together, they have launched a new safe driving training program that leverages both companies’ safety-related experience and capabilities. The new driver's program is based on Yamato's driver aptitude test (DAT) which is currently being used in Japan but now it is being offered to Yamato's Malaysian drivers at Hino's training facility, Hino Total Support Customer Center (HTSCC) in Sendayan.
L to R - Dato' Johnny Chan, Executive Director, HINO Motors Sales Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.; Ichiro Hisada, Senior Managing Officer, Hino Motors Ltd.; Atsushi Uchiyama, Managing Director, HINO Motors Sales Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.; Takeshi Kitaoka, Managing Director, YAMATO Transport (M) Sdn. Bhd.; Takeo Kosugi, Managing Executive Officer, Yamato Holdings Co., LTD; Ngiam Chong Lee, Director, YAMATO Transport (M) Sdn. Bhd. during the press conference at the launch of the Aptitude Test and Safety Driver Training.
Yamato Transport employes around 70 truck drivers here in Malaysia. This is a small number compared to what they have over in Japan (where the transporter employs about 50,000 people who use bicycles, motorcycles as well as the usual trucks to deliver their cargo throughout Japan). Hino, with its superb HTSCC training facility in Sendayan actually trains customer drivers so that they have the skill and knowledge to driver safely on Malaysian roads. So today, both companies have decided to contribute to the development of a safe and secure vehicle operating society in Malaysia and are taking advantage of their joint experience in both Japan and Malaysia to launch an initiative for safe vehicle operation in the logistics and transport businesses.
The reason for this is that Malaysia has a population of about 30 million and a steady economic growth rate of around 5% annually. However, the number of road deaths in 2018 are as high as 6284, and traffic safety is recognised as a social issue requiring a cooperative response from both the public and private sectors. So as part of their social responsibility, YTM has decided to work together and train their drivers based on their strict Japanese standards and utilise HMSM's facility to assist them in developing better drivers among their employees.
*Source: Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department announcement
Those that aren't aware of YTM, they are a Japanese company that first began Malaysian operations in 1988. They have a focus on freight forwarding and overseas moving business and in 2011 YTM launched their door to door parcel delivery services called 'TA-Q-BIN' which some of you may have seen on a number of trucks plying Malaysian roads.
As for HMSM, the Malaysian arm of the Japanese truck and bus brand was established in 1977with the goal of providing best-fit trucks and buses for Malaysian customers. The company also practices ‘Total Support’ to ensure that each vehicle purchased makes a strong contribution to the customer's business and helps their businesses grow. A part of this led to the establishment of the HTSCC in 2015 where the training center, is aimed to providing training programs that emphasized on safe and fuel-efficient driving which eventually works to maximise the uptime and minimise the life-cycle costs of the customers’ vehicle. To date, over 10,000 of Hino's customers have benefited from HTSCC which proves that customer interest in the safe driving programs are popular.
So what actually is the APTITUDE TEST AND SAFETY DRIVER TRAINING that is offered by YTM at the HTSCC?
The HRDF claimable driver training program provided by HTSCC based on YTM's criteria and Japanese training syllabus includes safety-related content using a combination of driving aptitude diagnosis, training lectures, and vehicle training. The training is based on each driver's driving characteristics, with the aim of further improving their knowledge, awareness, and driving skills for safer driving.
Specifically, instructors use the results of qualitative driving aptitude tests, and give awareness through quantitative on-the-job training, as well as facilitate improvement in their knowledge and consciousness of safe driving. In addition, training results are shared with the drivers and business operators as an aid to their daily safe driving guidance.
Training program Details
Pre Theory Test
Aptitude Test
Analysis of Aptitude Test and Consultation
Lecture for Safety Driving [Human Characteristic]
Lecture for Safety Driving [Characteristic of Vehicles]
Safety Driving Session - This will be provided on site at the HTSCC Test Track which includes a fully equipped banked circuit and a test course complete with tight corners and a simulated slope/incline to test the driver's skill.
Post Theory Test
* The aptitude test and consultation to be provided by Yamato Transport Malaysia. - The computer based system is designed and operated by YTM personnel and it is placed at the HTSCC for the use of YTM's drivers when they come for training.
We managed to try out the Aptitude Test and also had a few rounds in a Hino 300 & 500 truck. The Aptitude Test isn't easy as it included tests which required good hand to eye coordination, somewhat quick reflexes and skill in answering certain questions which actually show one's character (flaws and also the good stuff).
The on-road test around HTSCC was fun, but the course is challenging enough especially for the larger 500 series trucks (above) . One nice truck was the Hino 300 Series light-duty truck with the automatic transmission. It will actually make life so easy for truck drivers in urban, traffic jam packed situations.
The automatic transmission fitted to the Hino 300 Series (pictured above) will also help lessen driver fatigue in the stop-start driving situations of the urban jungle. With one less item for the driver to operate, the level of concentration could actually be higher throughout the day due to being a little bit more relaxed due to this. Driving this was easy, with good visibility due to the large side mirrors and the nicely weighted steering wheel which has ample weighting for it to feel planted...even on the mid-speed banked circuit of the HTSCC.
The automatic transmission fitted to the Hino 300 Series (pictured above) will also help lessen driver fatigue in the stop-start driving situations of the urban jungle. With one less item for the driver to operate, the level of concentration could actually be higher throughout the day due to being a little bit more relaxed due to this. Driving this was easy, with good visibility due to the large side mirrors and the nicely weighted steering wheel which has ample weighting for it to feel planted...even on the mid-speed banked circuit of the HTSCC.
In the future, both HMSM and YTM have announced at the launch event that they will continue to work together to further enhance their programs and content in order to achieve a safe and secure vehicle operating society in Malaysia. It is hoped that once YTM's drivers have been certified after taking the training program, they will be future role models and be good example to other truck drivers.
It is hoped by both HMSM and YTM that with the advent of such a training program, both companies feel that they actually contribute in some way to the safety of all road users in Malaysia.
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