From Paper to Proof: Helping New Drivers Build Skills That Last

For rural contractors, bringing in a young, fresh-faced driver is always a mix of excitement and challenge. They arrive with energy and enthusiasm, keen to get behind the wheel and into the work. But proving their progress and keeping accurate training records can be a job in itself.

Paper logbooks and loose notes often get misplaced, filled in late or miss the detail needed to show exactly how far someone has come.

The Hanzon Logbook app has been designed to change that. It gives employers and rookies alike a simple, practical way to record and verify the skills gained on the job season after season. Instead of relying on scraps of paper, crews can log their training and tasks directly from the tractor cab or the paddock. Employers confirm the entries, building a detailed reliable record of growing capability. It cuts the chasing and paperwork, replacing it with clear trusted proof when it’s needed. As one ITO pilot employer put it, the level of detail in the logbook “exceeded what we normally get on paper.”

Hanzon makes it clear that the logbook isn’t a recruitment tool for Kiwi drivers. Good operators don’t need outside help finding work locally. The recruitment arm of the business is strictly for sourcing overseas drivers to fill seasonal shortages. The logbook exists purely for employers to capture the progress of their own people - proof of growth that’s backed by employer validation.

One example of the logbook in action comes from Alex, who began using it in October 2021. Over four seasons he has recorded 1,046 days of work and more than 3,000 individual jobs, from baling, mowing and spraying to cultivation, fencing and workshop fabrication. His record shows a steady progression from entry-level tasks to more advanced responsibilities such as hazard identification, machinery adjustments and day-to-day management. Because the records are validated by his employer, they carry weight - not just as proof of competence for meeting training obligations, but as a way to give clients and auditors confidence that young drivers are both safe and improving.

Feedback from those involved in the pilot has been positive. One tutor noted it had helped them see exactly where trainees were improving and where more time was still needed. From a learner’s perspective, it has provided a sense of achievement and momentum. As one put it, “I liked ticking off jobs and seeing my skills grow.”

Another added that it made them think about what they’d done and how they’d done it - a simple statement, but one that shows the value of reflection in learning.

For ambitious young operators, the logbook becomes more than a record - it’s a career ladder. It lays out a clear path from the basics to advanced skills, with evidence at every step. For employers, it’s a low-effort way to recognise and retain talent while showing others they’re committed to developing skilled, competent operators. With free sign-up for 2025 now open it’s an opportunity to give new drivers the best possible start, backed by proof that will stand the test of time.