Qualifications Update

The Resource Development Team at Tranzqual develops and reviews unit standards and national qualifications as well as resources to support training and assessment. This page provides our team’s latest news on these activities.

Please contribute to our project work by emailing feedback at anytime to resources@tranzqual.org.nz.

New resources

Study Guide Pack for School Bus Drivers
Candidate Packs and Quick Guides for BESS (Bridge Engineering Self Supervision)
New assessment material for NZQA managed unit standards

Reviews underway

Driver Educator Qualification and Unit Standards
The National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Introductory Skills)
National Certificate in Road Transport Management (Operations) and National Diploma in Road Transport Management
Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) Qualification

Study Guide Pack for School Bus Drivers

This guide is now available and is the most comprehensive New Zealand text for bus drivers. The Study Guide Pack includes self-check exercise, class discussion and research topics. Included in the pack is the "Drive a School Bus" guide for unit standard 15162, which has been approved by the Ministry of Education Contracts Coordinator. Click here to order.

Candidate Packs and Quick Guides for BESS (Bridge Engineering Self Supervision)

These resources are now available. Assessors registered to assess unit standard 23436, Demonstrate knowledge of the self-supervision requirements for overweight vehicles crossing bridges, can order the Candidate Packs (Study Guide and Assessment Schedule) from our website. The Quick Guide is also available (anyone can purchase) Click here to order.

Credit for unit standard 23436 may be used as evidence to support application for a candidate to be a NZ Transport Agency BESS approved driver. See the BESS process flowchart.

To find an Assessor for your region go to the Trainers and Assessors section of this website and enter 23436 into the Register of Assessors search form.

New assessment material for NZQA managed unit standards

A series of new assessment material for 'generic' unit standards is in development. As the new material becomes available, Assessors with those unit standards in their scope will be notified by email. Check out the new assessment material for 1277 and 56.

Driver Educator Qualification and Unit Standards

The third Industry Advisory Group (IAG) was held in September. Check out the reviewed unit standards below and draft Driver Educator qualification structure.

Please send feedback on the drafts to Jen Couper:
jennifer.couper@tranzqual.org.nz
by 21 November 2008.

NEW DMPDemonstrate knowledge of and apply effective decision making processes for enhanced driving safety
14509Describe risk and influences on risk management in the context of driving
14510Describe legal requirements in relation to off-road driving and training
14511Demonstrate knowledge required by driver educators of road transport legislation
14514Describe road motorcycle components, systems, dynamics, and handling characteristics
14515Demonstrate knowledge of off-road motorcycle performance, design, and handling characteristics
14516Demonstrate knowledge of loading and towing a light trailer
14519Demonstrate knowledge of quad vehicle performance, design, and handling characteristics
14520Describe light four wheel drive vehicle design features that affect performance and handling
14521Observe and analyse a person's driving, and determine optimal ways to achieve required performance
14522Describe processes which lead to enhanced driver self-management
14523Carry out in-vehicle driver training
14525Carry out motor vehicle control loss prevention training
14526Carry out quad vehicle practical training
14527Carry out off-road motorcycle training
16646Develop and follow through on individual driver training plans
16647Describe implications for driver educators of factors that affect people’s learning
16648Describe and demonstrate the use of presentation media in driver education
17975Plan, conduct, and review interactive group learning for trainee drivers
18492Conduct off-road four wheel drive (4WD) vehicle training
20179Describe light motor vehicle dynamics and handling characteristics
20180Demonstrate knowledge of hazard detection and responses
20181Provide training in basic motorcycle handling skills to meet learner licence requirements

The National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Introductory Skills)

This qualification has been updated to take account of unit standard reviews. Check out the new version awaiting NZQA registration: NC Commercial Road Transport (Introductory Skills).

National Certificate in Road Transport Management (Operations) and National Diploma in Road Transport Management

These qualifications are being revised in order to remove unit standards 1770-1775 and to allow time for a full review. The qualifications will be circulated to accredited assessors and providers in October. Email resources@tranzqual.org.nz for more information.

Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) Qualification

The review of the National Certificate in Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) was completed in April 2008.

Tranzqual ITO initiated an early review because industry indicated that the qualifications were not meeting requirements in terms of pathways or core skills. Two extensive consultation rounds were completed during 2007 to establish the way forward.

This qualification is for people who work in the commercial road transport industry and who require a Class 4 or Class 5 driver licence to drive goods service vehicles.

The qualification has been designed to ensure that the driver has the skills and knowledge to:

  • identify and respond to hazards;
  • select and record routes;
  • prepare a heavy motor vehicle for use; and
  • load, drive, and unload a goods service vehicle safely.

As part of the review, the three specialist qualifications for Bulk Dangerous Goods, Livestock, and Perishable Products are expiring; and their specialist content are now optional strands.

The reviewed qualification’s full title is:

National Certificate in Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) with strands in Heavy Rigid Vehicle, and Heavy Combination Vehicle, and with optional strands in Transportation of Bulk Dangerous Goods by Road, Transportation of Livestock by Road, and Transportation of Perishable Products by Road [Ref: 1228]

The registered qualification document and a detailed account of the review are available on the NZQA website.

Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) Training Schedules

The new Qualification Training Schedules are available from the download section of this website, or from the following links:

Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) Transition Arrangements

While there had been some uptake of version 1 of the National Certificate in Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) most training has continued to been based on the expiring ‘680’ qualification: the National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Goods Service) with strands in Heavy Rigid Vehicle Driver, and Heavy Combination Vehicle Driver, and optional strands in Dairy Industry Transport, Log Transport, Overdimension and Overweight Load Transport, Bulk Flammable Liquids Transport, Bulk Gases Transport, Bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas Transport, and Civil Construction Transport [Ref: 0680].

The replacement relationship between 680 and the new qualification is as follows:

0680 strand:Transfer to:
Heavy Rigid Vehicle DriverHeavy Rigid Vehicle Strand
Heavy Combination Vehicle DriverHeavy Combination Vehicle Strand
Bulk Flammable Liquids TransportTransportation of Bulk Dangerous Goods by Road Strand
Bulk Gases TransportTransportation of Bulk Dangerous Goods by Road Strand
Bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas TransportTransportation of Bulk Dangerous Goods by Road Strand
Dairy Industry TransportTransportation of Perishable Products by Road Strand
Overdimension and Overweight Load TransportNational Certificate in Heavy Haulage (Transportation) with an optional strand in Abnormal Loads (see qualification)
Civil Construction TransportHeavy Rigid Vehicle or Heavy Combination Vehicle Strand (and select appropriate electives).An additional strand is currently being considered for concrete transport.

Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) Transition Dates

All new training programmes must lead to Version 2 of the National Certificate in Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) [1228] from 1 July 2008.

People currently working towards Version 1 of the National Certificate in Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver) [1228] have until 31 December 2010 to complete.

People currently working towards the National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Goods Service) [0680] have until 31 December 2011 to complete. Tranzqual will continue to support trainees to complete the 0680 qualification who signed up to a training agreement before 30 June 2008.