The
Global Framework of the Driver Job...
Brief
Activity Description...
Any job involving driving
for the transportation of goods must be performed in compliance with the regulations
governing transport and labour (duration of working hours - driving and hours
other than driving - and rest hours, operation of the tachograph selector and/or
time recording documents), traffic and weather conditions, safety requirements
(on or off the road) and time constraints, adapted according to the technical
characteristics of the vehicle, to the nature of the goods transported, to the
environment, and to the infrastructures.
The driver has to deliver
products entrusted to him/her at defined destinations safely and on time. He/she
has to observe both statutory regulations and the instructions issued by the
company. He/she has to be able to contact his/her company to inform on where
he/she's located, or on common problems… He/she has to use for this various
information systems (telephone, radiophone, GSM, satellite…). He/she takes care
of routine maintenance of the vehicle and has sometimes to supervise the loading
or unloading of goods. He/she must also supervise the proper distribution of
goods in the vehicle, and the proper securing of these goods to prevent them
from shifting during travelling. The proper execution of this job has a direct
influence on the quality of the service, the total transport costs and the overall
image of the company (and the sector).
Evolutions and trends for
the future are seen as being in the growing use of information technologies,
the customer services (ambassadorial role of the driver), the understanding
of the permanent legal re-orientations.
The
fields of activity of the driver job...
The
job of driver can be characterised through seven structural fields of activity
that can be broken down into two major categories:
- the fields
of activity based on specific tasks/skill (technical tasks) that can be qualified
as "vertical fields" of activity :
- the fields
of activity based on a set of tasks/skills required in the exercise of the
job of driver, overall (support tasks). These can be qualified as "transversal
fields" :
DRIVING
The "Driving"
field recovers all those activities related to the organisation and management
of a given trip :
- Determining routes
- Calculating travel time
- Leaving/collecting recording
tools
- Managing driving time
- Driving the vehicle
in compliance with the Highway Code, traffic conditions (traffic information,
avoiding jams).
Main
Knowledge or skills required :
- Knowledge of applied
geography and possession of geographical insight
- Ability to read roadmaps
and city plans
- Ability to independently
plan and follow a route
- Ability to specify and
estimate distances· Knowledge of road conditions
- Ability to determine
position of vehicle on the road, distance form the other vehicles
MAINTENANCE
The "Maintenance"
field recovers all those actions performed by a driver on his/her vehicle within
the framework of a given transport operation :
- Applying rules for vehicle
maintenance
- Performing the suitable
technical checks
- Performing everyday
servicing (cleaning and/or technical aspects)
- Understanding and solving
everyday operational problems
- Performing minor repair
operations
Main Knowledge or
skills required
- Awareness of the importance
of various technical instruments for inspection and measuring,
- Ability to read these
instruments and interpret indications
- Ability to interpret
various indicators on the dashboard and sound signals, ability to perform
visual inspections, to check fluid levels, to replace lamps, …
- Ability to couple tractor
to trailer and check coupling on completeness and reliability
- Ability to perform routine
maintenance and minor repairs
- Ability to make a diagnosis
and explain a defect
- Knowledge of various
ways to clean the vehicle
COLLECTION
AND DELIVERY OF GOODS
All those actions performed
by a driver to transport the goods in best conditions :
- Checking the goods (condition,
weight, etc.)
- Providing guidance for
loading
- Supervising the loading/unloading
of goods (and sometimes participating)
- Positioning/securing
the goods
- Installation/removal
of the sheets on the vehicle
- Operating material handling
equipment
- Preventing risks of
theft or of damage to the goods
- Delivering the goods
- Obtaining delivery receipts
Main Knowledge or
skills required
- Ability to prepare
truck for loading and unloading of goods
- Ability to visually
inspect goods / packaging on possible damage
- Ability to determine
damages and/or missing goods
- Ability to fill in a
damage report
- Ability to load/unload
a vehicle safely and professionally and supervision of these activities
- Knowledge of various
conditions of loading and unloading
- Ability to stow and
secure various types of cargo
- Ability to judge stability
of a cargo
CUSTOMER
RELATIONS / CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
This field recovers all
those activities related to the interface between a driver and the company's
customers :
- Understanding what
is involved in the job of carrier
- Developing a confident
relationship with customers
- Understanding customers
needs, anticipating change
- Representing the firm
in all circumstances
- Observing the services
offered by competitors
- Proposing possible innovations
Main Knowledge or
skills required
- Ability to read and
fill in various commercial documents (invoices, dispatch notes, credit notes,
etc.)
- Knowledge of customs
formalities concerning road transport
- Knowledge of various
methods of payment
- Ability to express oneself
in a correct language
- Ability to have a correct
and customer-oriented behaviour
- Ability to present oneself
on behalf of the company
INFORMATION
PROCESSING / COMMUNICATION
This field recovers all
those activities related to the tracing back and processing of information and
the necessary communication for the completion of a transport operation :
- Identifying, exploiting
information related to the activity (returns, customers, job, market…)
- Using the information
systems, techniques and technologies developed by the firm (oral communication,
data transmission, on-board computer)
- Finding, filling in,
distributing the various administrative documents related to the performance
of a transport operation
- Developing clear and
appropriate exchanges
Main Knowledge or
skills required
- Ability to understand
the contents of documents, what they are for and fill out them
- Knowledge of documents
whose availability is necessary in the truck
- Ability to check validity
of documents
- Ability to use various
means of communication
- Awareness of the benefits
of informatic tools and of communication with the company
- Knowledge of the use
and operation of the on-board computer
- Ability to enter data
in an on-board computer, interpret them
INTEGRATION
OF THE VARIOUS REGULATIONS / RECOMMENDATIONS IN FORCE
This field recovers all
those activities aiming at taking into account the various regulatory constraints
likely to influence the organisation and performance of a given transport operation
:
- Tracing back, taking
into account the regulations related to the traffic, to the goods and to the
transport activity in itself
- Identifying the various
regulatory documents (operational records, typical contracts, international
authorisations, transit documents…)
- Identifying, locating,
calling upon local, national or European organisation likely to provide regulatory
information
Main Knowledge or
skills required
- Knowledge of statutory
regulations on driving and rest times (and compliance)
- Knowledge of speed limits
and right-of-way rules
- Knowledge of and compliance
with general rules of behaviour on the road
CONTRIBUTION
TO THE MANAGEMENT OF SAFETY AND QUALITY
All those actions by wich
the driver participates in the implementation of the safety and quality policies
developed by the firm for which he/she is working :
- Preventing or understanding
/ reporting incidents or accidents during work (on or off the road)
- Contributing to the
observance of lead times and customer satisfaction
- Finding an equilibrium
between customer demands, technical constraints and regulations
- Complying precisely
and stringently with the safety and quality commitments of the firm
- Proposing new avenues
to improve the safety and quality commitments of the firm
Main Knowledge or
skills required
- Knowledge of safety
rules on the road and ability to comply with them
- Knowledge of the safety
and quality regulations of the company and the customers
- Knowledge of the level
of liability of each actor implicated in a transport operation
- Ability to drive economically
(knowledge of weather, road and traffic conditions, or one's driving style
on fuel consumption)
- Ability to drive defensively
- Ability to make an evaluation
of the nature and severity of an accident
- Knowledge of procedures
of emergency and ability to follow them
- Knowledge of safety
requirements and compliance with these requirements
- Ability to offer first
aid
- Ability to use fire-fighting
equipment