Northern Lights College recently hosted seven inspectors of the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) branch for their annual skills challenge.
During the three-day event, participants received instruction and hands-on training, and took part in competitive inspections, which included a dangerous goods tank trailer and a motor coach. Relying on experience, training, and knowledge of legislation, competitors had to identify all safety infractions within a set time limit.
“It is a competition that we set up here in British Columbia to find our top inspector,” said Darren Kennedy, inspector from the South Coast region and last year’s challenge winner. “The person who wins this competition represents BC in the international competition.”
Doug Haycock, instructor in the heavy mechanical trades program, participated as one of the judges during the event. “As a commercial vehicle inspector, it was a huge honor for me as a professional mechanic, as well as for the college, to be involved in a provincial event like this,” he said. “It was surprising to me the level of knowledge and performance that the competitors were required to have.”
The organizing team felt Doug would be a fitting guest judge. “Doug was chosen as a CVSE Challenge judge based on his knowledge, relevant experience, and great attitude.” said Grant Herman, CVSE manager for the North Peace. Robert McAleney, Associate Dean of Trades and Apprenticeships, agreed, saying: “It shows the respect that the CVSE has for him.”
This was the second time NLC has hosted the challenge. “Certainly, they [NLC] have been a great partner with this and they’ve been bending over backwards assisting us with different things,” Darren Kennedy added.
Doug Haycock also had nothing but praise of the event and those from the CVSE branch. “They were very impressed with our facilities and the job of hosting that we did … on the ‘provincial stage,’ no less.” He added that he had a renewed respect for all CVSE officers whose job it is to ensure that the public is kept safe on all roads in the province.
For competitor Trevor Todd, the experience of the competition can be difficult and stressful but an educational experience. “You learn something new every year,” he said. Trevor scored best overall for 2018 and will be representing BC at the Northern American Inspectors Championship in Columbus, Ohio, this August.
