Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to obtain a licence to drive a medium rigid vehicle. It includes systematic and efficient control of all vehicle functions, monitoring of traffic and road conditions, management of vehicle condition and performance and effective management of hazardous situations. Assessment of this unit will be undertaken within a licensing examination conducted by, or under the authority of, the relevant Heavy Vehicle Driver Licensing Authority.

Application of the Unit 

Driving must be carried out in compliance with the licence requirements and regulations of the relevant state/territory roads and traffic authority pertaining to medium rigid vehicles.

Driving is performed with limited or minimum supervision, with limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes.

Driving involves the application of routine vehicle driving principles and procedures to maintain the safety and operation of a medium rigid vehicle across a variety of driving contexts.

Licensing /Legislative Requirements 

The primary legislative requirements applicable to this unit of competency are State/Territory legislation in relation to road use and driver licensing.

This unit addresses the underlying knowledge and skills necessary for the granting of a Medium Rigid Driver Licence. Drivers may require additional training to drive particular vehicles of the class or in particular contexts.

Obtaining this competency is a necessary pre-requisite for obtaining a Medium Rigid Driver Licence. However, it is only one of several criteria for obtaining the licence. Prospective licence applicants should check with the State/Territory driver licensing authority for other criteria (for example: licence tenure and medical fitness) to confirm compliance with other eligibility requirements before undertaking training and/or assessment.

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 Drive the medium rigid vehicle 

1.1 The medium rigid vehicle is started, steered, manoeuvred, positioned and stopped in accordance with traffic regulations and manufacturers instructions

1.2 Engine power is managed to ensure efficiency and performance and to minimise engine and transmission damage

1.3 Braking system of medium rigid vehicle is managed and operated to ensure effective control of the vehicle under all conditions

1.4 Driving hazards are identified and/or anticipated and avoided or controlled through defensive driving

1.5 The medium rigid vehicle is driven in reverse, maintaining visibility and achieving accurate positioning

1.6 The medium rigid vehicle is parked, shut down and secured in accordance with traffic regulations, safe&secure.

1.7 Load is safely and effectively restrained

1.8 Where required, overwidth and overweight permit applications are undertaken in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements

1.9 Appropriate procedures are followed in the event of a driving emergency

2 Monitor traffic and road conditions 

2.1 An appropriate route of travel is observed taking into account prescribed routes.

2.2 Traffic and road conditions are constantly monitored and acted upon to enable safe operation and to ensure no injury to people or damage to property, equipment, loads and facilities

2.3 Interaction with other road users is conducted courteously and in accordance with road rules to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow

3 Monitor and maintain vehicle performance 

3.1 Vehicle performance is maintained through pre-operational inspections and checks of the vehicle

3.2 Appropriate signage, lights and the like are checked for operational effectiveness and for conformity to prescribed traffic regulations

3.3 Performance and efficiency of vehicle operation is monitored during use

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

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

Required knowledge :

• Relevant road rules, regulations, permit and licence requirements of the relevant state/territory road traffic authority

• Relevant OH&S and environmental procedures and regulations

• Medium rigid vehicle controls, instruments and indicators and their use

• Medium rigid vehicle handling procedures

• Procedures to be followed in the event of a driving emergency

• Engine power management and safe driving strategies

• Efficient driving techniques

• Driving hazards and related defensive driving techniques

• Pre-operational checks carried out on vehicle and related action

• Differences between transmission types

• Principles of operation of air brakes and procedures for their use

• Principles of stress management when driving a vehicle

• Map reading and navigation of the vehicle and related action (including prescribed routes)

• Factors which may cause traffic delays and diversions and related action that can be taken by a driver

• Causes and effects of fatigue on drivers

• Fatigue management strategies including on-road techniques

Required skills :

• Communicate effectively with others when driving a medium rigid vehicle

• Read and interpret instructions, procedures, information and signs relevant to the driving of a medium rigid vehicle

• Complete documentation related to the driving of a medium rigid vehicle

• Apply fatigue management knowledge and techniques

• Monitor performance of equipment

• Monitor and anticipate traffic hazards and take appropriate action

• Carry out pre-operational checks on a medium rigid vehicle

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
• other relevant aspects of the range statement

• Assessment of competency for this unit must be subject to the successful completion of the Mandatory Assessment Instrument as approved by the Licensing Authority.

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 on road or in the workplace

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

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

• The mandatory assessment tool provided by the Licensing Authority must be used to conduct the final assessment.
• The Licensing Authority may prescribe approved routes which must be used for the conduct of the final assessment.
• Practical driving aspects must be assessed in a vehicle typical of the class as approved by the Licensing Authority. The use of simulators for driver testing is not permitted.

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 on road or in the workplace

• The assessor must use the mandatory assessment tool provided by the Licensing Authority to conduct the assessment for this unit in accordance with Licensing Authority requirements
• Practical driving aspects must be assessed in a vehicle typical of the class as approved by the Licensing Authority. The use of simulators for driver testing is not permitted.

EXCEPTION 

Where the candidate is already the holder of a valid Australian driver licence of the Medium Rigid class, the Licensing Authority has already deemed the candidate to be competent against this standard for the purposes of issuing a driver licence. In this case the requirement to conduct the assessment using the Mandatory Assessment Instrument provided by the Licensing Authority is waived and the assessor may use any suitable process and materials for conducting the assessment.

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 includes:

• all medium rigid vehicles, for example any 2-axle rigid vehicle, including truck and bus greater than 8 tonnes GVM

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

• operations conducted at day or night
• typical weather conditions
• on the open road
• on a private road
• while at a depot, base or warehouse
• while at a client's workplace or work site

Driving must be carried out in typical road transport situations, including:

• negotiating hills
• negotiating a range of more complex traffic infrastructure (for example; roundabouts, traffic lights, stalemate intersections, level crossings of railways)

Vehicle handling procedures may include:

• starting a vehicle
• steering and manoeuvring a vehicle
• accelerating and braking
• positioning and stopping a vehicle
• reversing a vehicle
• operating vehicle controls, instruments and indicators
• using air brakes
• using defensive driving techniques
• managing engine performance

Pre-operational checks may include:

• visual check of vehicle
• checking and topping up of fluid levels
• checks of tyre pressures
• checks of operation of vehicle lights and indicators
• checks of brakes

Driving hazards may include (examples only):

• wet and iced roads
• oil on road
• animals and objects on road
• fire in vehicle
• leaking fuel
• faulty brakes
• parked vehicles on the road
• faulty steering mechanism on vehicle
• pedestrians crossing the road
• flooded sections of road
• windy sections of road
• foggy conditions

Factors that can cause traffic delays and diversions may include:

• traffic accidents
• flooded sections of road
• road damage
• bridge/tunnel damage
• road works
• building construction
• emergency situations such as bushfires, building fires, etc.
• road closures for special events such as marches, parades, etc.
• holiday traffic
• road closures for utility works such as electricity, water, sewerage, telecommunications, gas, etc.

Documentation/records may include:

• state/territory medium rigid vehicle driving licence requirements
• vehicle log book or record book (where required)

Applicable procedures and codes may include:

• relevant state/territory roads and traffic authority driving regulations and licence requirements pertaining to medium rigid vehicles
• relevant state/territory road rules
• relevant state/territory permit regulations and requirements
• relevant state/territory OH&S legislation
• relevant state/territory fatigue management regulations
• relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

Competency Field 

LIC - Licensing Units