PACCAR Australia, the manufacturer of Kenworth trucks, was named Employer of the Year at the Victorian Government’s 2007 Training Awards. These annual awards, now in their 53^rd year, are provided by the Victorian Government in recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of vocational education and training. 

The major award of Employer of the Year specifically recognises excellence in providing training and development programmes for all employees. Other awards presented by the Minister for Skills & Workforce Participation Jacinta Allan, included Apprentice of the year and TAFE provider of the year.

PACCAR Australia will now represent Victoria in the National Training Awards to be held in Tasmania in November this year.

Joe Rizzo, Managing Director of PACCAR Australia, was pleased to accept the award as recognition of an ongoing broader investment in Australian manufacturing;

“As an Australian truck manufacturer competing against products from around the world, it is critical that we continue to invest in the skills and competency of our workforce. We have gained a strategic advantage through our training and development programmes; through a highly skilled and flexible workforce we are better prepared to meet and exceed the needs of our customers now and into the future.”

“Our training and development programmes are a critical element of our long term plans” said Joe.

PACCAR Australia became a Registered Training Organisation in 2002 and has since invested over $4.5 million in traineeships and development initiatives across the board. As a result, at the end of 2006 all Kenworth factory employees participated in a nationally recognised qualification with competency level attainment of 90 per cent.

With the award, Joe took the opportunity to promote Australian manufacturing as an attractive and rewarding career opportunity.

“There are also many exciting career opportunities for the service and support of our products through our dealer network around Australia and New Zealand, all of whom participate in, and benefit from, our investment in training and development”

Kenworth is market leader in heavy duty trucks in Australia with trucks designed and manufactured here to meet some of the world’s toughest applications. Kenworth trucks are also exported to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. PACCAR Australia, the manufacturer of Kenworth trucks, also distributes the DAF range of medium and heavy duty trucks imported from Europe.

PACCAR Inc, a Six Sigma company, is a worldwide manufacturer of heavy and medium duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF nameplates. It also provides financial services and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.

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For further information:

Neil Willox

Marketing Manager

PACCAR Australia

Tel: (03) 9721 1500