Isuzu PH conducts Truck Training program to fleet customers

According to the World Health Organization, a total of 1.25 million people die per year from road traffic accidents. Out of this number, 48-percent are between the ages of 15 and 44 years old.

In the Philippines, a total of 95,615 road accidents were tallied on the MMDA Road Crash Statistics from January to December of 2015. Of this number, 519 resulted in fatal deaths, while 17,103 resulted in non-fatal injuries. The number of victims by Commercial vehicles (which includes trucks and buses) have been on the rise, with a total of 17,268 road accidents.

With these alarming numbers, it is important for every motorist to be more attentive on the road and become a more responsible driver. Road safety awareness and education plays a big factor, but engaging drivers about their actual driving habits on the road is perhaps the next huge game-changing step needed to slowly reduce road fatalities.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), the country's sales leader in the commercial vehicle segment, recently conducted the fifth leg of its heavy-duty truck training series for fleet customers at the Honda Safety Driving Center in Parañaque City.

The training program, which started in July,  is a monthly advocacy of Isuzu PH that aims to teach its customers on proper usage and maintenance of trucks, and test the safety aptitude and driving skills of every driver. There are two parts to the training—the classroom lecture, wherein Isuzu technical drivers and facilitators (all based in Japan), explain the different features of trucks, proper operations, and daily check-up; and the actual driving course, which is designed to equip fleet drivers with the essential techniques and proper risk management knowledge necessary to stay safe on the road.

Prior to this event, Isuzu mentioned that they are conducting on-site training for their customers. As part of Isuzu sales program, once the customers buy a truck they are automatically guaranteed to avail the FREE trainings for drivers.

"As part of our ongoing efforts to serve our fleet of customers better, we designed these trainings to equip fleet drivers with essential yet practical techniques on efficiency driving and proper risk management while on the road. These will help our customers address the impact of high fleet management cost to business," said Hajime Koso, President of IPC.

Koso explained, "IPC have been implementing training's for the drivers of fleet customers at their sites in the past; however, we have some limitations like the availability of test vehicles, traffic, and safety issues. Thus, we have decided to conduct the heavy-duty truck training within the safety of this world-class training facility that simulates actual traffic and road conditions."

In his speech, Koso shared how Isuzu is serious on how to eliminate road accidents. "Aside from safety driving, each drivers will learn the proper approach on the operation, daily inspection, and clutch adjustment of Isuzu C & E Series MJX16 transmission. We will also provide information on defensive driving, vehicle maintenance, actual driving and vehicle trouble shooting."

To date, Isuzu already teaches 100 truck drivers in its truck training program.