Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to carry out basic servicing and routine maintenance of a commercial vehicle designed to carry a special load, including action to implement manufacturers specifications for routine checks and maintenance of the vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment, and to ensure that all specified safety requirements are met and that the vehicle and its ancillary equipment are operational to the requirements of both the workplace and the relevant state/territory roads and traffic authority. Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

Application of the Unit 

Work must be carried out in compliance with the regulations of the relevant roads and traffic authority and workplace procedures and policy concerning vehicle maintenance.

Work is performed with limited or minimum supervision, with limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes. It involves the application of routine vehicle checking and maintenance principles and procedures to maintain the safety and operation of a commercial vehicle designed to carry special loads across a variety of operational contexts.

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1 Diagnose vehicle faults and undertake repairs for the safe operation of a vehicle 

1.1 Faults in the vehicle and/or ancillary equipment electrical system are identified, diagnosed and repaired following manufacturers specifications and workplace procedures

1.2 Faults in the fuel system are identified, diagnosed and repaired following manufacturers specifications and workplace procedures

2 Maintain the vehicle systems 

2.1 Fluid levels in the vehicle and/or ancillary equipment are checked and adjusted following manufacturers specifications and workplace procedures

2.2 Air/hydraulic fluid levels in the vehicle and/or ancillary equipment are checked and adjusted following manufacturers specifications and workplace procedures

2.3 Safety equipment is inspected in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

3 Carry out minor repairs to a vehicle 

3.1 Vehicle components are removed, repaired or replaced and refitted to the vehicle using the correct tools and following manufacturers instructions and workplace procedures

3.2 Tyres are repaired or replaced on vehicle following workplace procedures and manufacturers instructions

3.3 The need for more complex maintenance procedures is identified and the problem correctly referred following workplace procedures

3.4 OH&S procedures are followed throughout maintenance activities

4 Complete documentation 

4.1 Records of routine maintenance and repairs are kept in accordance with workplace procedures

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

This describes the essential knowledge and skills and their level required for this unit.

Required knowledge :

• Relevant duty of care requirements for the routine servicing and maintenance of vehicles designed to carry special loads

• Relevant OH&S and pollution control procedures

• Procedures for the checking and routine servicing and maintenance of a commercial vehicle designed to carry special loads in accordance with workplace and manufacturers requirements and established safety rules and regulations

• Problems that may occur during the routine servicing and maintenance of a vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment, and appropriate action and solutions

• Recognition and diagnosis of faults and vehicle/ancillary system irregularities

• Basic principles of operation of systems on commercial vehicles, including electrical systems, fuel systems, cooling systems, steering systems, exhaust system, tyres, brakes, and relevant ancillary systems

• Basic fault finding procedures required during routine servicing and maintenance of vehicles designed to carry special loads

• Procedures required to minimise waste during routine servicing and maintenance

• Housekeeping standards required for routine servicing and maintenance

• Procedures for the use and maintenance of the materials, tools and parts required for routine servicing and maintenance

• Reporting and documentation requirements

Required skills :

• Communicate effectively with others when carrying out the routine servicing and maintenance of a commercial vehicle designed to carry special loads

• Read and interpret instructions, procedures, information and signs relevant to work activities

• Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work

• Complete documentation related to work activities

• Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol

• Work collaboratively with others when carrying out the routine servicing and maintenance of a commercial vehicle designed to carry special loads

• Adapt appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions with others

• Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions when carrying out the routine servicing of a vehicle designed to carry special loads in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

• Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities

• Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

• Modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

• Work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

• Operate and adapt to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures

• Select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OH&S standards

• Service equipment in terms of maintenance schedule and standard operating procedures

• Check and replenish fluids and carry out lubrication processes in the course of servicing activities

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

• The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of applying:

• the underpinning knowledge and skills
• relevant legislation and workplace procedures
• other relevant aspects of the range statement

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts
• Resources for assessment include:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or
• access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace

• In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

• relevant and appropriate materials and equipment, and
• applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment 

• Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation
• As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests
• Practical assessment must occur:

• through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or
• in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Type of vehicle may include all vehicles designed to carry special loads, for example:

• concrete agitator
• livestock transporter
• armoured car
• tanker
• refrigerated vehicle
• waste vehicle
• fresh produce vehicle
• car carrier
• container carrier
• recovery vehicle

Maintenance may be carried out in typical road transport situations, including:

• operations conducted at day or night
• typical weather conditions
• in confined spaces, exposed conditions and controlled or open environment
• while in a depot, base or warehouse
• while in the vehicle on the road
• while at a client's workplace

Ancillary equipment will be dependent on type of special load carried and may include:

• refrigeration systems
• concrete agitation systems
• car transporter systems
• livestock transporter systems
• waste loading/discharge systems
• recovery systems
• tanker pumping and related systems
• on-board cranes and hoists
• armoured car systems

Maintenance checks may include:

• routine inspections of vehicle systems
• routine inspections of ancillary systems
• checks prior to operations
• checks on completion of operations
• checks on completion of maintenance activities

Minor routine repairs may include:

• replacement of blown globes in vehicle lights
• replacement of broken fan belt
• replacement of blown fuse
• door mirrors
• repairs to rear tail-light lens
• changing of tyres
• repair of tyre punctures
• replacement of broken coolant hose
• minor repairs to ancillary systems in accordance with instructions

Minor routine servicing may include:

• topping up of water levels
• replacement of oils
• replacement of air in tyres
• topping up of fluid levels in ancillary systems where relevant

Environmental hazards may include:

• leaking oil and fuel
• defective or inappropriately adjusted exhaust systems
• inappropriate disposal of vehicle fluids in drains or sewerage systems

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:

• company procedures
• enterprise procedures
• organisational procedures
• established procedures

Information/records may include:

• workplace routine servicing and maintenance procedures, checklists and instructions for both the vehicle and associated ancillary equipment
• relevant state/territory roads and traffic authority vehicle maintenance regulations
• maintenance checklists and records
• vehicle manufacturers instructions, specifications and recommended procedures
• precautions and procedures to be adopted to protect the environment when servicing and maintaining vehicles designed to carry special loads
• OH&S procedures to be followed when servicing and maintaining vehicles designed to carry special loads

Applicable regulations and legislation may include:

• relevant state/territory roads and traffic authority vehicle maintenance regulations and requirements
• relevant state/territory OH&S legislation
• relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

Competency Field 

B - Equipment Checking and Maintenance