Crucial Skills Covered in a Heavy Vehicle Driving Course

Australia relies on its trucking industry to move most of its freight, making the sector the economy's lifeblood. However, the trucking industry continues to struggle, with 80% of businesses in the segment claiming that they do not have enough qualified heavy vehicle drivers. Therefore, if you are an aspiring heavy truck driver, now is the perfect time to get into the business. However, you need a license to operate a truck, and you can only get it by passing an HR driving course. This article provides insight into the most crucial skills that a heavy vehicle driving course offers.

Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Inspections -- When most aspiring drivers enrol in a heavy vehicle driving class, they think that much of the course covers areas such as traffic rules and truck operation. Therefore, many trainees are surprised to learn that pre-trip and post-trip truck inspections are equally important. The safe operation of a heavy truck starts before you turn the ignition. The pre-trip inspection section introduces learners to a truck's major systems, such as the engine compartment, fuel tank, battery, coupling system, trailer, cabin and air brake. All the parts must be in good condition before you embark on a journey, and your findings must be recorded in a logbook. The post-trip inspection examines the same parts to establish whether any component was damaged during the trip and requires immediate repairs.

Vigilance Training -- In 2019, the National Transport Insurance company released a report revealing that 34% of all truck driver deaths were caused by fatigue. This is a troubling statistic because truck drivers are less likely to die in accidents involving trucks and cars. Fortunately, truck drivers can avoid such accidents, and trade schools play a significant role in this by insisting on vigilance training. Vigilance training entails teaching aspiring drivers how to identify risk factors and avoid unnecessary accidents. For instance, vigilance training equips you with crucial tips for preventing fatigue, such as making your seat comfortable. You also learn to be aware of your general surroundings to avoid over-reliance on other drivers' actions for your safety.

Navigation and Route Assessment -- While route conditions affect any vehicle's drivability, trucks are impacted the most. This is especially the case when route conditions change during transit and you are required to make quick decisions. If you do not have the right training, you might struggle to conduct a route assessment and read and interpret a navigation system. Therefore, during a heavy vehicle driving course, you learn how to use a navigation system and weather forecasting tools to stay alert about route conditions.