Truck Drivers   (NOC: 7411)

1. 

Reading Text

• Read workplace hazardous materials information system (whmis) labels on products. (frequently)
• Read memos from the head office with new rules for drivers and updates on freight information. (weekly)
• May read handbooks with special procedures, such as those for border crossings. (occasionally)
• Read trucking magazines which include industry reports and information on new products. (monthly)
• May read portions of the national safety code and dangerous goods manuals to prepare for renewing their licences for transporting dangerous goods (tdg). (occasionally)
• May read moving van contracts which outline the hourly tariff, details of the load and the responsibilities of the company and of the customer.
• Read operators' manuals and air brakes manuals in case repairs are needed during a trip. (occasionally)

2. 

Document Use

• Read road signs, safety signs and product labels.
• Complete drivers' logs, stating date, destination and driving and resting periods.
• Complete loading manifests and company bills of lading.
• Fill in forms to explain why shipments cannot be unloaded if there has been a mixup in delivery instructions.
• Complete damage and accident reports. accident reports may include drawing a picture to show the angle of impact.
• Fill in drivers' checklists, verifying the safety of various parts of the truck.
• May consult tables in the transportation of dangerous goods (tdg) guide to identify the properties of chemicals and to make sure that the truck has the correct hazard placards showing.
• Read fuel tables which indicate average fuel consumption over a certain number of kilometers.
• Refer to city and provincial maps and to tables in atlases which show the distances between various cities in north america.
• May read us customs forms to establish whether there are any restrictions on transporting a particular product.
• Refer to assembly drawings for air brakes.
• Read schematic drawings for the truck's electrical system to determine which fuse needs replacing.
• Interpret sketches from other drivers showing entry points and manoevering angles for difficult unloading situations.
• Refer to scale tickets at weighing stations to get the weight of the axles before leaving the check point.

3. 

Writing

• May write notes to other drivers with instructions on where to take the next load. (daily)
• Write memos to company managers explaining why it was not possible to complete a pickup or delivery. (occasionally)
• Write comments on the truck inspection form provided to the mechanics, noting a defect which is not easily visible. (occasionally)
• Write log book entries, indicating the number of driving and rest hours, mileage, results of department of transport vehicle inspections and events or problems which occurred during the trip. (daily)
• Fill in accident report forms and write letters to advise insurance companies of the details of an accident. (rarely)

4. 

Numeracy

• Collect money for cod deliveries, verifying the bill, receiving payment by cash, credit card or cheque and making change if necessary. (money math), (1)
• Measure tire treads to establish that the tire treads are at a safe thickness. (measurement and calculation math), (1)
• Calculate amount of pay due by multiplying mileage by pay rate. (money math), (2)
• Prepare records of time and money expended during trips for presentation to the office along with time cards. (scheduling or budgeting & accounting math), (2)
• Calculate gross weights of loads to ensure that they do not exceed load limits. (measurement and calculation math), (2)
• Calculate gas consumption and mileage and compare these readings to tables indicating average consumption for various types of vehicles. (data analysis math), (2)
• Estimate the time between a pickup and a delivery. (numerical estimation), (2)
• Estimate the size and weight of cartons and skids to determine if they will fit in the trailer and not exceed load limits. (numerical estimation), (2)

5. 

Oral Communication

• May talk to dock workers and other drivers as they load and unload freight.
• Discuss mechanical breakdowns with mechanics.
• Communicate with supervisors and dispatchers to receive orders and discuss problems.
• Interact with customers when delivering a product or explaining charges.
• Communicate with office staff when bringing in time sheets and expense claims.
• May interact with terminal or depot managers to discuss upcoming business

6. 

Problem Solving

• May find that the refrigeration system develops a major defect during a trip. they monitor the state of the shipment and may have to arrange for a replacement vehicle on an emergency basis.
• May encounter weather delays which will mean the shipment will arrive late. they phone loading dock personnel to arrange for a late arrival.
• May discover that loose wheel nuts have damaged a wheel's rims. they wait for a mechanic to install new rims before starting out and notify supervisors of delays.
• May find that loads do not fit in the truck. they call dispatchers to explain the problem and to request a replacement vehicle or to arrange to share the load with a co-worker.
• May find that no fork lifts are available to receive the load at the destination or there is no space to unload. they attempt to call customers to discover what preparations they have made for the delivery.

7. 

Decision Making

• Decide whether to accept a cargo of dangerous goods with some poorly packaged items.
• Make decisions about the most practical route to a destination.
• Decide if the vehicle is safe to operate.
• Decide whether the load has been properly positioned so that items will not shift in transit.
• Decide how to divide a load which must be delivered in two different trucks.

8. 

Job Task Planning

• While truck drivers have little control over their schedule, they have some flexibility in determining routes. priorities are generally set out for them; however, in the event of truck breakdowns, they reprioritize tasks, coordinating with other drivers and possibly making arrangements to transfer loads to other vehicles.

9. 

Finding Information

• Phone the weather office's public number for forecasts and information on road conditions.
• Refer to maps and atlases to find information on routes.
• Read bills of lading or contact customers to gain information about the contents of a load.
• Look up information on classifications of dangerous goods and their labels in dangerous goods manuals and charts.

10. 

Computer Use

• Use bookkeeping, billing and accounting software. for example, they may enter predefined codes into the computer to call up bills of lading and customer account information.
• Use computers in other ways, such as using function keys to generate printouts of load information or using computerized satellite equipment within the truck to show possible routes.

11. 

Critical Thinking

12. 

Use of Memory

• Remember routes to loading docks in many cities.
• Remember phone numbers of often called contact persons at various destinations.
• Remember rules and regulations for the transportation of dangerous goods.
• Remember which routes have low underpasses which could pose a problem for the truck.

13. 

Working with Others

Truck drivers generally drive alone, although sometimes they drive with a partner or helper who assists with unloading. they may work as members of a team when loading and unloading large cargoes.

14. 

Continuous Learning

Truck drivers continue to learn through their participation in a number of courses, such as transportation of dangerous goods (tdg), air brakes class 1, defensive driving and forklift training. they may also attend information sessions to learn about safety regulations and new machinery and trucks purchased by the company.

15. 

Other Information

Truck divers sit most of the time. they also stand and walk at the beginning and end of the route when assisting in the loading and unloading of vehicles or supervising these functions. they may stoop and bend to unload and load items. they climb into high cabs and may have to climb onto the roof of the truck or crawl underneath the vehicle to perform maintenance checks.

The truck drivers interviewed felt that truck drivers should be patient, alert, organized and able to handle the stress of heavy traffic and tight deadlines. they should have a positive attitude and the ability to work alone for considerable periods of time.

The trend toward a higher level of log book enforcement means that truck drivers need to be able to fill in complex documentation accurately. some drivers may need to upgrade their document use skills to meet the more stringent requirements. with the growing use of computerized satellite systems in trucks, their drivers will need to be computer literate.