Apollo Tyres Ltd. has announced today that it will inaugurate its first formal training centre for Heavy and Light Commercial Vehicles (CV) drivers in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

In collaboration with B-ABLE, a non-profit organisation, the focus will be on imparting complete education to equip young aspirants with all the aspects of road and vehicle safety and maintenance, and promoting a holistic approach to health and well being.

Apollo has made this initiative because it claims that there is a rising need to address employability and skill development of young people, along with a gap in the number of on-road CVs and capable drivers required to pilot them. This claim stems from the fact that India has the second highest CV accident rate in the world, owing to drivers pushing themselves to spend long hours on the road and neglecting basic health and rest needs.

Inaugurating the centre, Rajesh Dahiya, group head, sales and marketing, Apollo Tyres Ltd. said, “Our aim in setting up these centres is two-pronged; firstly to generate employment and increase road safety. And secondly, to create a new crop of CV drivers who are aware and know how to take care of their own health and that of their vehicles. Initiatives like this will go a long way in promoting profitability in the CV sector, given that there is a dearth of trained drivers, and fuel and tyres are the two biggest costs the sector is faced with.” 

According to Apollo, 200 drivers will be trained each year. In order to qualify for a certificate, each individual will have to undergo a 45-day training module, which will include completing driving and road management, safe driving, fuel conservation,  repairs and maintenance, tyre care and tyre life, trouble shooting and first-aid. Applicants will also have to complete a minimum 20 hours of practical on-road driving under varying conditions with an instructor.