THE Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) will stop operations of any long-distance bus operators who will not have sent their bus crew for customer care training before the end of this year.

Salum Pazzy, the LATRA head of public relations and communications, said operators of upcountry buses and plying routes to neighbouring countries have a grace period of up to December to take the staff for training, for them to be identified and registered by the regulator.

He told journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday that from January 1, 2025, LATRA will enforce strict regulations prohibiting the use of unregistered staff for long-distance transportation services.

The measure is taken under Regulation 17 of its 2020 guidelines on driver certification and the registration of commercial vehicle staff, anyone intending to work in a commercial transport vehicle must be registered.

“Before being registered, the staff need to undergo training to have a wider understanding of the rules and regulations, hence facilitating safe and comfortable journeys,” he stated.

 “We announced this regulation last year and instructed bus owners to ensure that they send their staff to the selected colleges for training,” he said, noting that some have already done so but many others are yet to do so.

“This is very serious and after the grace period, we will ensure that no bus operates without having trained and certified staff including service givers of all sorts,” he said.

Advantages of staff registration include formalising the profession and actual employment of transport staff, improving accountability in service delivery “and fostering a sense of unity among the staff,” he said.

 “These people are very important in the transportation sector, they are the ones who work to ensure that the vehicles are clean and well arranged for the passengers to enjoy smooth travel while supporting passengers in various important services,” he elaborated, insisting that “it is important to equip them with the required skills to facilitate the provision of quality services.”

Long-distance bus operators need to direct their staff to receive training at the National Institute of Transport (NIT) and the College of Business Education (CBE), where upon completion of the training, staff should apply to LATRA for a special registration card, he specified.

LATRA has also introduced special awards to recognise excellent and safe service providers in long-distance and cross-border bus services. This initiative aims to motivate service providers to deliver high-quality and safe services, he suggested.

Dr Nasibu Mramba, the CBE acting deputy rector, said the short courses under the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) programme cover laws, regulations and ethics related to passenger transport, safety and emergency response.

They also address health and safety issues, particularly in cases where passengers fall ill or face other problems during travel, he said, with a note of relief that the training lasts seven days and includes practical sessions.  Successful participants receiving certificates for LATRA registration, he said.

Honesta Msaki, the NIT training coordinator, said that they have trained over 500 service providers across various regions. The goal is to ensure that all transport service providers nationwide receive the necessary training to improve service provision and facilitate comfortable journeys, she added.