Application
This unit describes the skills required to prepare a vehicle and drive over difficult terrain, including cross country and other off road situations. This involves the application of low risk driving techniques, dealing with hazards, and the assessment (where necessary) and the safe negotiation of obstacles, including water courses such as rivers and streams. The driver must be able to deal with contingencies related to an emergency that may occur in the hazardous situations that may be encountered in driving over difficult terrain under field conditions.
This unit was developed for military drivers in a threat environment, but is applicable to any individuals who work in this field.
The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.
Those undertaking this unit would work independently or as part of a team, under direct and indirect supervision, use discretion and judgement, and take responsibility for the quality of their output. They would perform complex tasks in a broad range of unpredictable contexts.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section. |
1. Prepare a vehicle for driving over difficult terrain | 1.1 Conduct serviceability check of a vehicle for driving over difficult terrain. 1.2 Rectify and/or report any vehicle faults. 1.3 Configure vehicle for driving in difficult terrain. |
2. Drive over difficult terrain | 2.1 Conduct reconnaissance of the terrain to be traversed by map and/or visual observation identifying potential hazards, including entry and exit routes, obstructions and bypasses. 2.2 Plan task and discuss potential hazards and contingency actions with a supervisor. 2.3 Reconfigure vehicle and adjust the load as necessary. 2.4 Apply low risk driving techniques when driving over difficult terrain. 2.5 Apply vehicle contingency actions when required to deal with accidents and emergencies that may occur when negotiating hazards. |
3. Refurbish vehicle | 3.1 Inspect vehicle for damage after hazardous situations are negotiated and on completion of the task. 3.2 Rectify and/or report faults and damage to the supervisor. 3.3 Clean and reconfigure vehicle and load as necessary for standard driving conditions. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.
carrying out contingency actions
recovering a vehicle
applying first aid
evacuating injured people
reading maps and use navigational aids
conducting route reconnaissance and task planning
driving a vehicle over difficult terrain including:
crossing a defile
crossing soft terrain
crossing a water obstacle
negotiating thick scrub
dealing with contingencies including:
engine stall on a steep grade
breakdown of a vehicle while crossing a water obstacle
recovery of a vehicle from an obstacle
recondition a vehicle after driving in difficult terrain
preparing and driving a vehicle over difficult terrain in a range of environments by day and night, and dealing with contingencies in hazardous situations
applying sound judgement, this must be displayed in the analysis of difficult terrain to determine whether it is trafficable, and if so, what are the implications for vehicle preparation, safety of passengers and load planning
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.
route and task planning
obstacles and hazards
vehicle capabilities
Assessment Conditions
Competency should be demonstrated over a time frame that allows for driving a vehicle over a variety of difficult terrain, encountering hazardous situations and applying contingency actions all under a range of field conditions.
Competency should be assessed using a number of practical assessments of driving over difficult terrain including inclines and declines (to the rated capability of the vehicle), waterways, thick scrub, defiles, sand and soft bottoms. Individuals should be assessed in each of these environs and then collectively over a ‘vehicle run’ in which a number of the types of difficult terrain, including watercourses, are encountered requiring a contingency response.
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The foundation skills demands of this unit have been mapped for alignment with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The following tables outline the performance levels indicated for successful attainment of the unit.
Further information on ACSF and the foundation skills underpinning this unit can be found in the Foundation Skills Guide on the GSA website.
Competency Field
Transport