Latest qualifications news
Find here the latest news about:
- unit standards - reviews and development
- national qualifications - reviews and development
- new and updated resources - to support training and assessment.
Email your feedback to Tranzqual’s resource development team
New and updated resources
Passenger endorsement trainer kit and resources
Full review of trainer kits in 2010
Ongoing updates to trainer kits and resources
Transition for future resources - keeping resource stocks current
Professional Skills for Driving Trucks - book
New assessment material for NZQA managed unit standards
Study guide for school bus drivers
BESS (Bridge Engineering Self Supervision) resources
New and reviewed qualifications
Transportation of bulk dangerous goods by road – review
New national qualification for senior drivers (goods service)
Passenger services review
A new national qualification for removalists
New training schedules for reviewed qualifications
New and updated resources
Passenger endorsement trainer kit and resources – update released
The trainer kit, study guide, and assessment for the passenger endorsement course (unit standard 17579) have been updated to take account of recent legislative changes. These changes are explained in our newsletter for passenger endorsement course providers.
Newsletter for passenger endorsement course providers [PDF: 1Mb, 15 pages]
Full review of trainer kits in 2010
NZTA and Tranzqual will carry out a full review of the trainer kits, starting in 2010. This review will involve the unit standards the courses are based on; the trainer kits (activities, trainer guide and trainee activity book); the candidate pack (study guide and assessment); and the approved course conditions. The review will cover both the educational and technical aspects of the trainer kits, and investigate ways of making the kit format easier to maintain and update. This review was signaled to providers when the trainer kits were first released in 2008.
The updated trainer kits are scheduled to be released during 2011. Providers will be required to purchase these.
Ongoing updates to trainer kits and resources
The trainer kits and resources for approved courses will be updated to take account of legislative change as required. The updates will also take account of issues logged by providers and issues raised through moderation of assessments.
Trainer kit and resource updates soon to be released:
- Unit 17579 - Passenger endorsement is in the process of being released, see above for more details
- Unit 24089 - Work time and logbooks is due out early 2010
- Unit 17580 - Vehicle recovery endorsement is also due out early 2010.
Email your feedback about our trainer kits and resources
Transition for future resources - keeping resource stocks current
The NZTA Statement of approval conditions requires providers to use current material; page 4 states: "The Tranzqual ITO trainer kits and unit standards (including the corresponding assessments schedules)... are to be the version current at the time the course training and assessment is commenced".
In order not to disadvantage providers who have resources in stock, NZTA and Tranzqual have agreed that a phase out period will apply for all future releases unless legislation prevents this. The phase out period will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the extent of legislative change.
In cases where law changes mean a limited phase out time applies, this will be communicated to providers in advance of the release. Providers will be advised not to purchase large stocks of resources that they may not be able to use.
Contact Jen Couper for more information
Professional Skills for Driving Trucks - book
Professional Skills for Driving Trucks covers a range of heavy truck driving topics and the standards for driver licence classes 2-5. It also includes driver logbooks and other high-usage unit standards such as vehicle inspections and heavy vehicle dynamics. Professional Skills for Driving Trucks is a graphically illustrated, high quality 230 page book full of no-nonsense information on all the skills and knowledge you need to safely and efficiently drive trucks.
Read more about this book, including how to order a copy
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. Go to ‘Downloads and forms’ to see the new assessment material for the following unit standards: 56, 334, 376, 414, 1277, 1279, 1304, 3483, 3490, 3491, 3501, 5941, 8489, 8490, 9696, 9704 and 11097.
Downloads and forms – assessment resources
Study guide for school bus drivers
This study guide for school bus drivers covers unit standards 15162, 15163, 17972, 3465, and 3466. It includes self-check exercises, class discussion and research topics. The "Drive a school bus" guide for unit standard 15162 included in the pack, has been approved by the Ministry of Education’s Contracts Coordinator.
Order resources from Tranzqual
BESS (Bridge Engineering Self Supervision) resources
Assessors registered to assess unit standard 23436 (Demonstrate knowledge of the self-supervision requirements for overweight vehicles crossing bridges) can now order the following resources:
- candidate packs (study guide and assessment schedule combined)
- study guide
- assessment schedule only
- quick guide.
Order resources from Tranzqual
Credit for unit standard 23436 may be used as evidence to support an application for a candidate to be a New Zealand Transport Agency BESS approved driver.
See the BESS process flowchart [PDF: 108Kb, 1 page]
New and reviewed qualifications
Transportation of bulk dangerous goods by road - review
This review is in response to feedback from industry and training providers about the Transportation of Bulk Dangerous Goods strand of the National Certificate in Goods Service (Heavy Vehicle Driver).
An industry advisory group was established in October 2008. It included representatives from bulk dangerous goods road transport operators, training providers, and the Environmental Risk Management Authority New Zealand (ERMA). This group developed two new unit standards and reviewed the existing bulk dangerous goods unit standards, and unit standard 15159 which deals with the transport of gases in cylinders. Draft unit standards were circulated for national consultation and endorsed by industry in July 2009.
Contact Yogi Hansen for more information
New national qualification for senior drivers (goods service)
The first industry advisory group (IAG) meeting was held in May 2009. It was agreed that there is a gap in the existing national qualification pathway for commercial road transport drivers. The first steps were taken to establish the profile of a senior driver. The group decided that the qualification should recognise the individual’s loyalty to, and expertise within, the company AND be a step in the qualification pathway for further development of the driver within the company framework.
So what does a senior driver look like? Here’s a case study from the second IAG meeting in October:
Harry is a very experienced driver who enjoys his job but has the ability to do more – both to develop his own skills and knowledge, and to benefit the company’s operations. He holds a National Certificate as a heavy combination vehicle driver, has very good interpersonal skills, and interacts well with the rest of the drivers. His experience means he has credibility with his peers and the company manager believes he would make a very good in-house trainer and leading hand. The Senior Driver qualification offers a great option for progression for Harry.
Here are the key skills and attributes that the group decided a senior driver should possess:
- good knowledge of legislation
- be a mentor/role model/buddy
- promote company culture
- be an all rounder
- promote and practice workplace health and safety
- have good interpersonal skills
- be approachable and well presented
- have good technical ability
- be able to provide feedback up and down the organisation
- know how to respond to an incident or accident
- be customer focussed
- understand other drivers
- be an excellent truck driver
- understand how the business operates including policies and procedures
- have an incident and accident free driving history, or at least a good no-fault accident history
- be able to solve problems
- have transferable knowledge and skills.
Contact Yogi Hansen for more information
Passenger services review
The review of unit standards in the domain ‘Passenger Services’ will include the following qualifications:
- National Certificate in Passenger Service (small passenger vehicle) with an optional strand in taxi driving
- National Certificate in Passenger Service (large passenger vehicle) with strands in school bus; urban and local route; and long distance
- National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (taxi operations).
Contact Martin Draper for more information
A new national qualification for removalists
The National Certificate in Relocation Operations (level 2) with strands in domestic relocation operations and international relocation operations has been approved for registration on the qualifications framework.
See the new relocation operations qualifications and unit standards [NZQA website]
Assessment material and a trainer guide for new workplace assessors was trialed in late 2009. A formal launch for the qualification is planned for March 2010.
Contact Jen Couper for more information
New training schedules for reviewed qualifications
New training schedules for qualifications that have been reviewed are available along with a summary of new schedules. The summary contains hyperlinks to the NZQA review reports, which detail the changes made. The old schedules will continue to be posted on our website with a note to indicate that later versions are available.
Summary of qualifications with new training schedules [PDF: 30 Kb, 1 page]
See a list of our training schedules
If you have any questions about using the new schedules please contact your nearest Tranzqual regional training advisor for assistance.