26 — February 2014 OWNER//DRIVER www.ownerdriver.com.au

be a big change. I look forward to instilling in the new generation coming through the industry how to do it and do it properly.”

Jason is not impressed with the current system, believing the Federal Government taking the responsibility out of the states’ hands has “stuffed it all up”.

“The old CBA [Competency Based Assessment] system that each state had was taken by the Federal Government and given to some bloke in Victoria who dumbed it down and handed it back to the government.

“Now New South Wales is the only state that has signed up to the new system,” Jason explains. “Not only that, to become an instructor you must have a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing.

“But a Certificate IV is written by academics who have never worked a real day in their lives,” he says.

“I started doing it online but was gobsmacked by the questions. It is written by academics in ivory towers; I call them professional academics.”

Jason believes the whole system needs to be thrown out the window. He says the government needs to talk to grassroots people in the industry to see

how the system can be improved, what legislation and enforcement measures need to be introduced. A scholarship system, traineeship or apprenticeship for truck drivers would be a great idea in Jason’s opinion.

“For example, if you hold a heavy rigid for two years after obtaining a probationary license you could go straight to a multi-combination.

“Now that is wrong in itself,” he claims.“It should be that you hold a medium rigid for 12 months, hold a heavy rigid for

12 months, hold a heavy combination for 12 months and then transition to a multi-combination. That should mean doing a year of local work and then country work before you get onto interstate.”

EURO TRIPJason spent time driving in both Europe and the United States, working for more than four years in Europe, driving mainly Volvos, and around 30 months in the US.

He says the first couple of months driving in Europe was an eye-opener.

“The roads are a hell of a lot better but they have a lot more people to provide taxes that in turn fund better roads and infrastructure,” Jason states.

“With the European system, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you are, all heavy vehicles are off the road from midnight to 7am, and no one is permitted on the road between midnight Saturday and midnight Sunday.

JASON KEMP has completed a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies, an Associate Diploma of Photography and a Diploma of Education. However, when Owner//Driver caught up with him in Brisbane he was behind the wheel of a George MacDonald & Sons B-double.

Despite all of his tertiary achievements in the arts, Jason has carved out a career in transport.

Initially, it was an interest in vehicles that led Jason to casual work at a transport company, so he could earn enough money to pay for his education.

“I was aiming to work in the media but I went truck driving and it ended up being in my blood,” Jason explains.

He previously found work doing wedding photography as well as motor sport events “but it’s pretty much just a hobby now”, he says.

With 26 years of driving — and still enjoying it — Jason is about to make a change within the industry and become

a qualified driving instructor.“I have just achieved my accreditation,” he smiles. “Now I have to pay the money to the road traffic

authority [now Roads and Maritime Services] andbecome a licensed instructor.”

It’s a timely move as one of his mates, Peter Meadows, an instructor in the Hunter Valley area for 35 years, has decided to hang up his truck keys for good.

Being a driving instructor will mean a lifestyle change for Jason. Mainly, he will be home and not in the truck

six nights a week. “I’ll have to get used to living with the missus again,” he laughs. “It’s going to

After more than a quarter of a century behind the wheel in Australia, Europe and the United States, Jason Kemp is giving something back to the industry. Peter and Di Schlenk write

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In BriefName: Jason Kemp

Company: George MacDonald & SonsTruck: Kenworth K200Freight carried: GeneralRegular run: NSW Central Coast

to Melbourne and Brisbane

a qualified driving instructor.“I have just achieved my accre“Now I have to pay the m

authority [now Roads andbecome a licensed instructor.”

It’s a timely move as one ofan instructor in the Hunter Vadecided to hang up his truck ke

Being a driving instructor wilJason. Mainly, he will b

six nights a week. “I’ll have to missus again

Jason Kemp will be using his industry knowledge to educate new drivers