Drivers and Your Trucks
Management and or owners should have qualifications such as the National Certificate in Professional Driving would be a benefit, as this qualification offers a broad range of skills including:
- Customer relations
- Freight loading
- Crane operation
- Occupational health and safety
- Abnormal loads
- Financial planning
- Self-development
- Operating a vehicle combination.
The Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) accredit training providers countrywide.
Drivers
A heavy duty driver’s license (code 10 to code 14) is essential. Hire legally qualified truck drivers. Do extensive background checks on your drivers before hiring them.
There is nothing more detrimental to a new transport business than a bad accident or any kind of incident with an unprofessional driver or illegally licensed driver. Training should be provided for Driver training.
Drivers should be trained in:
- Road safety awareness
- How to deal with fatigue
- The importance of carrying out routine vehicle safety checks
- What to do if there is an accident
- How to loading and unloading safely
- Drivers rights with regard to hours and rest breaks
Drivers’ Licenses
Unlike the old public driving permit (PDP), which was only required by drivers of public carrier vehicles, the professional driving permit (PrDP) is also required by drivers employed by companies carrying their own goods. Drivers of the following vehicles must hold a license card, endorsed with an appropriate PrDP:
- Heavy goods vehicle, loaded or empty – (codes C1, C, EC1 and EC)
- Bus above 3 500 kg GVM – (codes C1, C, EC1 and EC)
- Bus or minibus with seating for more than 12 including the driver
- Taxi or other vehicle carrying paying passengers (e.g. an ambulance)
- Vehicle carrying more than 12, including the driver, whether or not it has enough seats and irrespective of its weight.
Next up > What are the regulations and risks