Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to carry out an inspection of a commercial vehicle designed to carry a special load, including action to implement manufacturers specifications for routine checks of the vehicle and its associated equipment, to clean the vehicle and its associated equipment, and to ensure that all specified safety requirements are met and that the vehicle and 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 inspection.

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 inspect 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 Check vehicle 

1.1 A visual check of the internal and external condition of the vehicle is carried out in accordance with workplace procedures

1.2 Pre-operational inspections and checks of the vehicle's tyres, suspension, fluid levels and other critical features are carried out to ensure conformance with road safety standards

1.3 Associated equipment is tested to ensure it functions correctly to manufacturers specifications

1.4 Post start-up and shut-down checks are carried out after engine is started to identify possible engine or electrical problems

1.5 Warning systems (instruments and gauges) are checked to ensure they are operational

1.6 Where relevant, vehicle-monitoring device is logged on/off in accordance with manufacturers instructions and workplace policy

2 Clean vehicle and ancillary equipment 

2.1 Vehicle and associated equipment is cleaned in accordance with workplace procedures and legislation

2.2 Special purpose ancillary equipment is cleaned in accordance with any relevant government regulations and workplace procedures

3 Complete documentation 

3.1 Basic faults are identified and/or diagnosed and appropriate action taken to report or remedy them as required by workplace procedures and legislation

3.2 Records of inspection are updated and recommended repairs documented in accordance with workplace polices

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 inspection of vehicles designed to carry special loads

• Relevant OH&S and environmental procedures and regulations

• Procedures for the checking and routine inspection of a commercial vehicle designed to carry special loads in accordance with workplace and manufacturers requirements and established safety rules and regulations including visual inspection procedures, pre-operational checking procedures and warning systems checking procedures

• Problems that may occur during the routine inspection of a vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment, and appropriate actions and solutions

• Techniques for the recognition 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 systems, tyres, brakes, and relevant ancillary systems

• Relevant recording and documentation procedures

Required skills :

• Communicate effectively with others when carrying out the routine inspection of a vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment

• Read and interpret instructions, procedures, information, technical data and drawings relevant to the routine inspection of a vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment

• Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work

• Complete documentation related to the routine inspection of a vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment

• Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol

• Work collaboratively with others when carrying out the routine inspection of a vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment

• 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 that may be identified when carrying out the routine inspection of a vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

• Implement contingency plans for unexpected events when carrying out the routine inspection of a vehicle and its associated ancillary equipment

• 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

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

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

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

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

Inspection may include:

• visual checks of vehicle
• routine checks of vehicle systems
• checks in accordance with a detailed inspection schedule

Routine checks may include:

• water levels
• oil levels
• air pressure in tyres
• brakes
• lights
• condition of tyres
• battery
• exhaust system
• suspension
• functions of associated ancillary equipment

Environmental hazards may include:

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

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

Applicable regulations and legislation may include:

• relevant state/territory roads and traffic authority regulations and requirements pertaining to the inspection of vehicles designed to carry special loads
• relevant state/territory OH&S legislation
• relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

Competency Field 

B - Equipment Checking and Maintenance