Elements and Performance Criteria
- Apply relevant legislation applicable to safe heavy vehicle driving
- Current road rules and regulations are identified, interpreted and applied
- Road signs, signals and markings are identified and complied with in safe heavy vehicle driving activities
- Purpose of road rules and traffic safety laws in ensuring safe and efficient regulation of traffic flow, is interpreted and applied when driving a heavy vehicle
- Inspect vehicle and secure load for safe transportation of goods/cargo
- Visual safety check of internal and external condition of vehicle/trailer is undertaken, in accordance with manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures
- Internal controls and gauges relating to safe vehicle operation are inspected
- Pre-operational inspections and checks of vehicle/trailer brake systems, suspension, axles, electrical systems, wheels and tyres, and couplings are undertaken in accordance with national road safety standards as required
- Associated equipment is tested to ensure it functions correctly in accordance with manufacturer specifications
- Distribution of vehicle load is checked to ensure it is even, legal, and within safe working capacity and mass management requirements
- Load is checked to ensure dangerous goods and hazardous substances are appropriately segregated in accordance with the current Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code, as required
- Load is secured in accordance with load restraint guidelines and protection equipment for different loads, carrying and storage conditions
- Load is protected in accordance with legal and workplace safety requirements
- All required goods documentation is completed in accordance with workplace requirements and the current ADG Code, as required
- Apply safe heavy vehicle driving behaviours
- Requirements for safe heavy vehicle driving are applied
- Importance of attitude in complying with road rules in relation to level of risk faced by a driver, is applied when driving a heavy vehicle
- Importance of road sharing principles is applied when driving a heavy vehicle
- Importance of motivation to drive safely is interpreted and explained
- Principles of proactive driving methods, that maintain one’s driving at a low-level risk, are identified and applied
- Contributing risk factors to potential crash risks, are identified and are taken into consideration
- Apply low-risk heavy vehicle driving strategies
- Explain risk factors that contribute to accidents when driving a heavy vehicle
- Contributing risk factors to accidents are recognised
- External factors that could lead to accidents are outlined
- Internal factors that could lead to accidents are outlined
- Consequences of accidents in relation to relevant traffic laws and physical, financial and psychological costs to the individual and society, are explained
- Functions of vehicle operations and control, and how to recover control of a vehicle are explained
- Apply heavy vehicle operation and control skills
- Appropriate action is taken to respond to hazardous situations
- Principles of braking are applied to a high level of technical competence
- Principles of steering are applied to a high level of technical competence
- Slow speed manoeuvres are carried out to a high level of technical competence
- Vehicle is operated and controlled at a high level of technical competence