Career journey
Tama Rewi
- Started as
- Yard hand
- Now
- Dangerous goods driver trainer
“I learned this trade one load at a time. Now I get to hand it on.”
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Started as
Tama joined as a yard hand, washing trailers and shunting units around the depot. He had no truck licence and no dangerous goods experience, but he watched how the drivers prepared a load and asked a lot of questions.
Within a few months he was riding along on local runs and working towards his heavy vehicle licence.
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Now
Tama now trains new drivers. He takes them through their first weeks, from pre-trip checks and load restraint to paperwork and emergency response, then rides alongside until they are ready to go solo.
He still drives dangerous goods runs himself. A trainer, he says, should be doing the job, not just describing it.
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What helped
A structured start, drivers who were happy to share what they knew and a roster he could plan his life around. Dangerous goods endorsement training, where needed, meant the paperwork was never the barrier.
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Advice for someone starting out
Ask questions early and keep asking. Nobody expects you to know it all on day one, but they do expect you to own your safety and look out for the person next to you. Learn the freight, not just the route.
In their words
Hear it from Tama.
Tama on learning the trade one load at a time, and handing it on.
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