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Heavy Truck Driver

Heavy truck drivers drive trucks with or without trailers. They transport materials, livestock, machinery, liquids, general freight, and sometimes hazardous substances.

Tasks & duties

Heavy truck drivers may do some or all of the following:

carry out routine checks on their trucks every time they drive them
pick up the daily delivery instructions
make sure they understand the instructions and know the route
weigh the truck before and after it is loaded
supervise or help with the loading of the truck
check the condition of the load and that it is securely fastened
follow the correct safety procedures if the goods being transported are dangerous
handle livestock
check all the documentation related to the loads
drive a truck to make deliveries or pick up goods
keep a log book of the hours they work
carry out basic vehicle maintenance
run their own trucking business

Specialisations

Heavy truck drivers may specialise in a particular area of truck driving such as line haulage (city to city driving), rural driving, or driving trucks within a town or city centre.

Skills & knowledge

Heavy truck drivers need to have:

excellent heavy truck driving skills
knowledge of emergency procedures and how to identify and handle hazardous road conditions
first aid skills
knowledge of different methods of securing and covering loads such as tying different kinds of knots and using chains, locks and straps
an understanding of the Road Code, defensive driving techniques and relevant transport laws
knowledge of the area they work in and the correct routes to take
the ability to use satellite tracking equipment and on-board computers
skill reading maps
decision-making skills

Heavy truck drivers who are self-employed also need to have good business skills.

Entry requirements

To become a heavy truck driver you need to have a Class 2 licence. You can then progress through the licence stages to gain a heavy combination vehicle licence (Class 5). You must also pass a medical examination every 10 years, when you renew your licence. Some drivers are required to have a First Aid Certificate.

Further information on driver licensing is available from Land Transport New Zealand, which also provides a list of approved courses for occupational drivers.

If you carry hazardous goods, you need to have completed unit standards in dangerous goods, which can be done as part of a National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport.

Land Transport NZ website - information on transport service licences

Secondary education

There are no specific secondary education requirements, but useful subjects include School Certificate or NCEA equivalent maths and English.

Tertiary education

A National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport is useful for heavy truck drivers.

Training on the job

New drivers often accompany more experienced drivers until they learn the travel routes, and learn how to handle the various goods being carried. The new licence system means drivers often choose to train with a registered trainer, so that they can progress through the stages more quickly.

The National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport is available through Tranzqual ITO, the training body for the road transport and logistics industries.

Tranzqual ITO website - road transport and logistics industry training information

Useful experience

The best experience for this job is work as a truck driver's assistant. Other useful experience includes driving other heavy vehicles, or working on the docks, in warehouses or stores, or as a courier.