The Post Licensing Driver Supervisor Certification course has now been released by CILT Australia. After two years in development the specialist micro-credential originating from an NHVR HVSI grant certifies experienced a Heavy Vehicle Driver to undertake block assessments on newly licensed drivers, or drivers recently upgraded to a higher licence level. The assessment consists of some 45 activity elements under the supervision of a Certified Heavy Vehicle Driver Supervisor.
After an experienced driver has completed their Certification program they can undertake specially designed driver assessments. The assessments can be done on newly licenced drivers, drivers having just upgraded to a higher licence level, or even a driver starting with a new company. The post licensing assessments were piloted on a range of drivers in Medium Rigid trucks up to Quad Road Trains. Some common weaknesses have become apparent even from these pilot trials.
These pilot assessments were undertaken by the first group of Certified Driver Supervisors that had undertaken the initial, version 1.0, of the Driver Supervisor micro-credential. In doing so the program underwent feedback and adjustments. CILTA is pleased to report that some initial eight Driver Supervisors have been Certified, most coming from Blue Chip companies. Twenty five percent of Certified Driver Supervisors are women. The program has forecast benefits in fleet crash reductions in both costs and incidents, which have been previously reported in the programs Benefit Cost analysis.
The Driver Supervisor Certification program even allows for undertaking skill assessments on heavy vehicle construction drivers. This can add a further level of safety for construction industry heavy vehicle drivers.
The initial industry briefing was presented at the National Road Freighters Association conference in Wollongong on the 21st of February last week. Further updates will be posted.
Learn more about the Driver Supervisor Certification here.