Profession dangerous goods driver

Dangerous goods drivers transport fuel and bulk liquid, hazardous products and chemicals by road.

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Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional
• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Mechanical components of vehicles

  Know the mechanical components used in vehicles and identify and resolve potential malfunctions.

• Health and safety measures in transportation

  The body of rules, procedures and regulations related to health and safety measures intended to prevent accidents or incidents in transportation.

• Vehicle cargo capacity

  The capacity and the limits of the commissioned vehicle in terms of weight, type of cargo it can handle, and other cargo loading specifications.

• Hazards associated with loading dangerous goods

  Know about the hazards implied with the transport of determined dangerous goods. Know about the emergency actions and handling procedures in case of accidents with the goods during their loading or transportation.

• Effective perception of transport environment

  Know the local transport topography, including roads, traffic hotspots, and alternative routes to reach a destination. Use knowledge to transport the vehicle to its destination in the most time and fuel efficient manner, and minimising safety risks.

Skills

• Use different communication channels

  Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

• Parallel park vehicles

  Parallel park motorised vehicles in a variety of spaces.

• Maintain concentration for long periods

  Stay concentrated over a long period of time in order to make correct judgements and appropriate decisions.

• Practice emergency stops

  Practice emergency stops. Know the interchange with anti-lock braking systems (ABS), as this must be disabled before the execution of an emergency stop.

• Check dangerous goods transport unit

  Ensure that a vehicle about to transport dangerous materials complies with safety and legal regulations. Perform visual checks to identify and report leaks or other forms of damage.

• Perform defensive driving

  Drive defensively to maximise road safety and save time, money, and lives; anticipate the actions of other road users.

• Revise certifications for dangerous good transportation

  Check if the goods to be transported and their certifications meet regulations , ensure that certifications correspond to the goods. Drivers must ensure that they secure the load to their vehicle, which for dangerous goods requires a signed packing certificate (this certificate may form part of the Dangerous Goods Note).

• Operate emergency equipment

  Utilise emergency equipment and tools such as fire extinguishers, wheel chocks, pocket lamps, and warning signs.

• Interpret traffic signals

  Observe lights on the road, road conditions, nearby traffic, and prescribed speed limits to ensure safety. Interpret traffic signals and act accordingly.

• Manoeuvre heavy trucks

  Drive, manoeuvre and park tractors, trailers and lorries on roads, around tight corners, and in parking spaces.

• Control the performance of the vehicle

  Understand and anticipate the performance and behaviour of a vehicle. Comprehend concepts such as lateral stability, acceleration, and braking distance.

• Anticipate foreseeable problems on the road

  Anticipate problems on the road such as punctures, pursuit driving, understeering or, oversteering.

• Handle dangerous goods

  Transport hazardous materials in a safe manner.

• Operate GPS systems

  Use GPS Systems.

• Stay alert

  Stay focused and alert at all times; react quickly in the case of unexpected events. Concentrate and do not get distracted performing a task over a long period of time.

• Maintain logbooks

  Maintain the required logbooks according to practice and in established formats.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB