Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center

On-the-job Training

• Inspect motor vehicles
  • Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
• Follow safety procedures for vehicle operation.
  • Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
• Inspect cargo to ensure it is properly loaded or secured.
  • Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
• Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
  • Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.
  • Drive trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
  • Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
  • Operate trucks equipped with snowplows or sander attachments to maintain roads in winter weather.
• Secure cargo. Package materials or products.
  • Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers.
  • Wrap and secure goods using pads, packing paper, containers, or straps.
• Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards. Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
  • Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
• Review documents or materials for compliance with policies or regulations.
  • Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
• Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures. Verify information or specifications.
  • Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
  • Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.
• Connect cables or electrical lines.
  • Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.
• Inspect cargo areas for cleanliness or condition.
  • Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
• Maintain vehicles in good working condition.
  • Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid or performing minor repairs.
  • Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.
• Read maps to determine routes.
  • Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.
• Acquire supplies or equipment.
  • Inventory and inspect goods to be moved to determine quantities and conditions.
• Operate communications equipment or systems.
  • Operate equipment, such as truck cab computers, CB radios, phones, or global positioning systems (GPS) equipment to exchange necessary information with bases, supervisors, or other drivers.
• Adjust routes or speeds as necessary. Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
  • Plan or adjust routes based on changing conditions, using computer equipment, global positioning systems (GPS) equipment, or other navigation devices, to minimize fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
• Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
  • Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.
• Remove debris or damaged materials.
  • Remove debris from loaded trailers.
• Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
  • Install or remove special equipment, such as tire chains, grader blades, plow blades, or sanders.
• Direct material handling or moving activities.
  • Give directions to laborers who are packing goods and moving them onto trailers.