Bridgestone is Upskilling Drivers

Bridgestone – Did you know that more than 6 out of 10 trucking community respondents felt unsafe while driving on the roads due to a lack of skills and proper training, and that 9 out of 10 trucking community respondents admitted that they did not undergo any formal training before getting a driving license?

There are currently 20 lakh truck drivers in India, with a driver-to-truck ratio of less than 750 per 1000. According to transportation association members, there is a 20-25% driver shortage in the market. As a result, fleet owners face a constraint on this front. As a result, the drivers end up working longer hours to fill the gap, resulting in a lack of rest or proper sleep.

Furthermore, drivers do not have access to proper road navigation training. They usually learn from their co-drivers, who may or may not be qualified to train others. As is obvious, there is a significant shortage of trained personnel in the commercial driving sector. This is one of the reasons India has the highest number of road accidents in the world.

Bridgestone

Bridgestone India, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in safe and sustainable mobility solutions, has made it a priority to promote safer, more accessible, and smart mobility for all. Among their many efforts to make travel safer is Project Sarthi, a one-of-a-kind skill development programme that allows India’s youth to receive continuous formal learning and training while also having access to employment opportunities in the transportation sector.

“As one of the leading organizations in the automobile sector, we aim to continuously try to advance this ecosystem by bringing better products, advancing infrastructure, and engaging communities through various training and skill development initiatives,” says Apurv Choubey, Chief Human Resource Officer, Bridgestone India.

The project is now spread across 14 states and 35 districts in India. It has created a pool of trained drivers with driving skills and certifications who can take advantage of better job opportunities in the transportation sector.

Bridgestone India received an award in the Skill Development category at the 8th CSR Impact Awards, India CSR Summit for their impactful work. CSRBOX and the Dalmia Bharat Foundation are hosting Asia’s largest CSR Forum.