Transport ministry offers free driving lessons to port drivers
THE Ministry of Public Works and Transport is launching free training for 180 Sihanoukville Autonomous Port lorry drivers to obtain licences.
General Department of Land Transport director and ministry spokesman Chhoun Von told The Post that the training started on Monday at the port’s request.
“The ministry is training and teaching drivers on how to operate lorries. Most of the drivers lack proper licences for lorries,” he said.
Chhoun said most have licences for cars but took jobs at t he port. Driv ing lorries requires a dif ferent licence and training to drive them properly. The training consists of t hree courses, each lasting a week.
“Students are taught based on t heir sk i l l level. If they have yet to have a licence at a ll we teach them to get a Ty pe B licence. If t hey a lready have Ty pe C or D l icences we teach them to get a Ty pe E licence, which is t he t y pe for lorries,” he said.
Alliance for Road Safety senior adviser Lim Sokchea said he supported the initiative. “I encourage the ministry to continue training drivers for companies and other institutions.
“I encourage drivers receiving this training to take the relevant tests, according to the type of vehicles they drive.”
Von said the ministry would train lorry drivers free of charge at other institutions and companies upon request until later this year. He said the training goes beyond the basics.
“We incorporate ethics into the courses on top of just teaching driving rules because they must understand road etiquette and good manners,” he stressed.