The Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) recently opened its Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) Driver Development Institute in Mombasa, Kenya to Total Kenya and Bamburi Cement (Lafarge), the largest oil company in East and Central Africa and the largest cement manufacturer in Africa, respectively – both major users of East African transport corridors, according to a report in Transport World Africa. The goal of opening the institute to private companies was to assess the competency of 48 drivers (24 drivers a day) using the HCV Driver Development Institute’s state-of-the-art driving simulators and to create a pilot program for future partnership.

The USAID East Africa Trade Hub and KTA hope that this is the beginning of a lasting partnership that will both enhance the competency of East African transporters and ensure the sustainability of the KTA HCV Driver Development Institute, according to the report.

Total Kenya’s program, Safe Way Right Way, has made a pledge to pull in additional East African businesses to take the Institute’s competency assessments and North Star Alliance, an African-wide safety and driver welfare program funded by the World Bank, has pledged to provide a medical officer to be stationed at the Institute, according to the report.

Through corporate partnerships and increased cooperation with government officials KTA hopes to increase safety and professionalism in the region.