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Scania makes pitch to light vehicle technicians

Truck-maker out to attract those keen to up-skill to heavy-duty vehicles

Scania Australia has intensified efforts to entice skilled workers into its technical ranks.

Scania is looking to attract diesel technicians to its nine company-owned workshops in capital cities, by offering to fund upskilling for light-vehicle technicians who want to transition to heavy-duty vehicles.

The move comes as the company expands services and parts domestically and in the midst of a pandemic-exacerbated national skills shortage.

“Recently we have been approached by light-vehicle technicians looking to work for Scania, but they are not qualified or certified to work on hydraulic systems or heavy-duty air-pressure braking systems,” Scania NSW and Victoria regional executive manager Sean Corby said.

“As a result, we have begun a programme to invest in these technicians’ futures by funding their skills gap training through TAFE.”

Scania offers upskilling for light duty diesel technicians DSC_2850.jpg

Scania notes that Corby began his career on the tools in the UK, and has graduated through the ranks to a senior executive role within Scania over two decades.

“One of the benefits of an original equipment manufacturers’ owned sales and service network is that you can come in as a technician and progress along a career path,” Corby said.

“This might take you as far as workshop manager or you might move into other areas of the business.

“How far you go and what skills you pick up are dependent only on your degree of motivation.

“At present, we’re keen to attract technicians who may have light-vehicle experience but who want to work on heavy trucks and buses. It is a different environment, but it can be very rewarding, and skills acquisition can broaden career opportunities for technicians across many industries.”


Read how Scania spruiked the regulatory advantages of its workshops, here


The company is keen to emphasise the variety of the work on offer

“At Scania, we don’t just work on trucks and buses in our branches, but also trailers and trailer equipment, so the work can be varied and rewarding,” Corby said.

“Lately we have been approached by qualified light-vehicle technicians who have been keen to graduate to heavy-vehicle work within their existing employers’ businesses, but have found little interest from their employers to invest in them.

“We’re saying ‘come to Scania’. We want to talk to you, and we have processes in place to upskill you, and plenty of opportunities for you to carve out a more successful career path.”

For the most adventurous, the company is holding out the prospect of overseas experience, once some sort of Covid-normality sets in.

“Scania provides continuous professional development throughout a technician’s career, and in normal times, offers the possibility of international transfer between Scania operations around the world,” Corby said.

“In Australia, we have many technicians who have worked for Scania in the UK, South Africa, The Philippines, Sweden and South America. We’re the very embodiment of a global company.

“And every two years we hold a global after sales skills competition called Top Team, where workshop teams from 1,600 Scania locations compete to be crowned the best in the world.

“This is a competition that Scania Australia has won three times and placed very well in on several further occasions. Not only does Top Team hone skills and knowledge but it also builds teamwork and forges relationships that last for decades.

“For a technician joining Scania from a light-vehicle environment, the skills gap can be bridged in 12-24 months depending on the degree of motivation a technician has, as well as the level of experience and qualification they have achieved so far.

“It would be possible that a light-vehicle technician who has been working in a heavy-duty environment without formal qualification could pass through our system very quickly if they can demonstrate the competencies required by the certification program.

“Scania is keen to offer a career path and guaranteed employment to technicians who join us under this scheme and leverage their experience, qualifications and enthusiasm to achieve a higher level of qualification to be able to work on heavy-duty vehicles.

“We’d like to hear from diesel technicians who are ready for a career move and who are eager to expand their skillsets and knowledge base.”

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