Drive goods vehicles

This standard is about driving goods vehicles on public roads safely and efficiently to transport goods. It covers the use of vehicle controls to maximise safety, and factors that affect fuel efficiency and the safety of other road users. 

It also covers knowing how to deal with unexpected situations, including breakdowns and accidents.

This standard is relevant to all those who drive goods vehicles as part of their job role.

1.    maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in line with the relevant legislation and organisational requirements
2.    assess the risks associated with the work before starting and throughout the activity and take required action to minimise or report risks  in line with organisational procedures
3.    confirm that the required personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work being carried out is worn at all times in line with organisational procedures
4.    complete all training, certification and approvals required to operate goods vehicles of the relevant class, and confirm your fitness to drive in line with organisational procedures and legislative requirements
5.    obtain information about the load to be transported, including any specific requirements, and confirm that the goods vehicle is suitable
6.    obtain information on the destination of the load, the schedule and any specific requirements for loading/unloading the goods vehicle or monitoring the load during transportation
7.    operate and monitor goods vehicles’ systems in line with manufacturers’ requirements and organisational procedures
8.    monitor and adapt to changes in driving conditions whilst driving goods vehicles
9.    monitor the security, condition and stability of the load and respond to any changes or potential hazards in line with organisational guidelines and procedures
10.    position goods vehicles and apply lane discipline to maintain the safety of yourself and other road users, according to driving conditions, the goods vehicle and the load carried
11.    use correct signals, in good time, to make other road users aware of your intended manoeuvres
12.    drive goods vehicles within the legal speed for the road, the vehicle and driving conditions and in a way that maintains load stability, minimises fuel consumption and wear and tear on the vehicle and braking systems
13.    apply the brakes to slow or to bring goods vehicles to a complete stop in line with driving conditions, the distance available, the vehicle and the load carried
14.    adhere to driver rest breaks when driving goods vehicles in line with drivers’ hours and Working Time Directive Legislation
15.    control the speed and position of goods vehicles during overtaking manoeuvres in line with road conditions
16.    follow the correct procedures to prevent harm to vulnerable road users in line with Highway Code requirements
17.    manoeuvre goods vehicles safely in busy or restricted spaces following organisational guidelines and procedures
18.    when using a banksman, agree all signals beforehand, in line with regulations and recognised standards
19.    respond to unexpected or hazardous situations when driving goods vehicles, in line with organisational procedures and legislative requirements
20.    maintain the safety and security of goods vehicles when left unattended, in line with organisational procedures
21.    maintain the required records in line with relevant legal and organisational requirements

1.    your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation and organisational requirements
2.    how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the work being carried out, and suitable control measures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) that can be put in place to reduce risks
3.    the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be worn when driving goods vehicles
4.    how to identify and access information relevant to the required work
5.    the organisational policies and procedures and relevant regulatory, safety and operating requirements relating to driving goods vehicles and the importance of complying with these
6.    Drivers Hours and Working Time Directive legislation and the importance of
complying with these
7.    the Department for Transport Safety of Loads on Vehicles and why this is
important
8.    goods vehicle manufacturers’ operating information and why this is important
9.    the Safe and Fuel-Efficient Driving (SAFED) guidelines on driving safely and efficiently and why these are important
10.    the effects on the environment of operating goods vehicles
11.    Observation Anticipation and Planning (OAP) principles and when to apply these
whilst driving vehicles
12.    the Highway Code and the importance of complying with this, including how to reduce danger to vulnerable road users 
13.    the information that is required about the load to be transported by goods vehicle, including load type, dimensions and weight, and when additional legislative requirements and permits are required
14.    the information that is required about the destination of the load, the schedule and any specific requirements for loading/unloading or monitoring the load during transportation
15.    how to monitor the goods vehicle instruments and when action is required
16.    how to position goods vehicles on the road to ensure the safety of yourself and other road users
17.    how to adapt driving to suit driving conditions and maintain safety
18.    the properties of the load being carried, how to maintain the stability of the load during transit and how to identify and adapt driving to changes in load movement
19.    the importance of checking and correctly securing the load throughout driving operations
20.    how to identify damage or deterioration in the condition of the load being carried and the action to take
21.    stopping distances for goods vehicles, the factors affecting stopping distances, and how to assess and maintain safe separation distances from other road users
22.    how to adjust braking under different road conditions, and the effects of severe braking on the stability of the load, and the roadworthiness of goods vehicles
23.    how to assess when it is safe and legal to overtake, hazards involved in overtaking and factors affecting distance for overtaking
24.    when to use signals to indicate an intended manoeuvre 
25.    the risks associated with SMART motorways
26.    the procedures for manoeuvring goods vehicles in busy or restricted spaces
27.    why it is important to be polite and courteous to other road users
28.    how to respond to unexpected or hazardous situations when driving goods vehicles
29.    the effects and dangers of in-cab distractions on driving and ways to minimise these
30.    the safety and security requirements for goods vehicles when left unattended
31.    the information and recording systems used by the organisation and the legal and organisational requirements for maintaining records, including data protection legislation and organisational procedures for data security

Banksman/signaller: a trained and competent person who controls the movements of vehicles, equipment and people to ensure work activities are carried out safely. A hierarchy of controls must be established between the banksman/signaller and other operators to ensure that pre-agreed signals are clearly transmitted and understood.

Driving conditions: road conditions, weather conditions, traffic conditions, road layout, road works and diversions, terrain, pedestrians, animals 

Fuel: hybrid, Electric Vehicle, hydrogen fuel cell, petrol, diesel

Goods vehicle: the vehicle you normally drive, includes trailer when connected, and ancillary equipment

Health and safety includes mental and physical wellbeing

In-cab distractions: radios and other audio devices, satellite navigation, passengers, personal and organisational electronic devices, food and drink

Instruments: gauges, warning lights, displays, audible alerts, tachograph, telematics, tyre-pressure indicators, coolant levels, oil levels, air pressure, additive gauge, charging gauge, load sensors

Load could include: containers; sealed loads or trailers; palletised goods; cages; individual boxes/packages; casks/kegs: bulk materials; liquids, powders or grains; food; temperature-controlled goods; livestock; hazardous goods; vehicles, plant or machinery; timber; customer’s removal goods; goods for return/repair etc

Organisation: the company you drive for or your own business

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could include: high-visibility clothing, hard hats, protective clothing, eye protection, masks, gloves, safety footwear

Regulations and recognised standards: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

Restricted spaces: small spaces, hard-to-get-into spaces, spaces with poor vehicle access points, spaces with restricted heights and entrances, spaces directly off the road/highway with no driveway, shared spaces

Safe System of Work (SSoW) is a method of work that puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards, which are broken down into four elements: safe person; safe equipment; safe place; and safe practice.

Unexpected or hazardous situations: vehicle theft; hijacking; suspected people trafficking; terrorism; malicious damage; breakdown, vehicle accidents; unexpected route and weight restrictions; bridge strikes; deterioration or movement of loads; spillages; extended delays; driver illness whilst on duty; wrong address; collection/delivery refusal 

Vulnerable road users: pedestrians (with children, older adults and disabled people being more at risk); mobility scooters; cyclists; horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles; motorcyclists; e-bikes; e-scooters