Heavy Vehicle Driver

Supervision requirements
Please refer to the Declaration policy, table 15 for the requirements on supervision.

Modified supervision arrangements available: YES

Adequate Training Arrangements - Certificate III in Driving Operations Employers are required to provide, or arrange to provide the facilities, range of work, supervision and training as detailed in the training plan.

Qualified person for apprenticeships
1. A person who has satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship in the apprentice's calling in Australia, and is the holder of a completion certificate issued under an Act, or
2. A person who holds a certificate of recognition issued under an Australian Act, certifying the person has the necessary skills and knowledge in the calling, or
3. An Australian tradesperson in the apprentice's calling, as defined under a specific industrial instrument, or
4. A New Zealand tradesperson in the apprentice's calling who's occupation may be recognised under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 2003, or
5. A person who holds a relevant qualification in the apprenticeship calling, or
6. A person individually, or persons collectively, who has/have documented competence (i.e. a testamur/qualification and associated record of results or a statement of attainment as recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, achieved through an RPL or training pathway) in all the competencies the employer is required to provide training for under the apprentice's training plan.

And, where a worker is required to have a licence to practice the calling/occupation, the qualified person holds a current workers licence.

While there is no set ratio required for the number of supervisors to apprentices or trainees it is generally accepted for apprenticeships there is one supervisor to each apprentice, this may be relaxed as an apprentice gains skills and experience or where an apprentice commences with existing skills and experience.

Adequate supervision of apprentices and trainees cannot solely be provided from an offsite location by electronic means. Electronic means include, but are not limited to, telephones, radios and webcams.

The level of supervision will normally range between direct, general and broad as per the below guidelines:
- Direct - Close monitoring of work ensuring understanding and identifying potential risks and/or hazards
- General - Occasional monitoring to ensure progress is occurring
- Broad - Quality checking of completed tasks.

Licensing requirements -
The prospective apprentices must hold a Queensland open drivers licence.

Age restrictions apply to the obtainment of a heavy vehicle licence. A worker will need to have held their open licence for a minimum of 1 year to apply for a Light or Medium licence, or have held their open licence for a minimum of 2 years to apply for a Heavy Rigid licence. Apprentices do not have to complete a licencing unit as part of the qualification. They may already hold a heavy vehicle licence before commencing the apprenticeship. If they do not already hold a heavy vehicle licence, they will need to attain this during the apprenticeship period by competing one of the included licencing units of competency, in order to complete the core unit of competency TLIC1051 - Operate commercial vehicle, relevant licencing age restriction will apply.