Transport ready mixed concrete with a concrete mixer truck
Overview
What is this standard about?
This standard is about transporting ready mixed concrete with a concrete mixer truck. It covers the steps that a driver has to take to transport ready mixed concrete safely to a delivery site.
It also covers the use of the concrete mixer truck controls to maximise safety and fuel efficiency, and knowledge of the factors that affect fuel efficiency and the safety of other road users.
Who is this standard for?
This standard is relevant to drivers of concrete mixer trucks and those who are responsible for concrete mixer trucks within logistics organisations.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- comply with the organisational procedures and all relevant legal, environmental, health and safety and operating requirements relating to concrete mixer truck operations
- prepare the concrete mixer truck for transporting the load to the delivery site
- plan a suitable route to transport the load safely to the delivery site abiding by legal, safety and operating requirements
- maintain the required drum agitation revolution speed in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification
- drive the concrete mixer truck at an appropriate speed based on the road conditions, product consistency and quantity loaded
- monitor and adapt to changes in driving conditions while driving the concrete mixer truck on public roads in a safe and fuel-efficient manner
- monitor and adapt to changes in the movement of the load being carried
- monitor and respond to any potential hazards on the public road or surrounding areas
- position the concrete mixer truck and apply lane discipline to maintain the safety of yourself and other road users, according to the driving conditions, the vehicle and the load carried
- drive the concrete mixer truck safely, within the specified speed limits and taking into account the road and driving conditions, other road users and the load carried
- control the speed of the concrete mixer truck in a way that minimises fuel or energy consumption, wear and tear on the vehicle and braking systems
- apply the brakes to slow or bring the concrete mixer truck to a complete stop in a controlled manner relevant to the driving conditions, the distance available and the load carried
- control the speed and position of the concrete mixer truck during overtaking manoeuvres, in line with road conditions, maintaining safety with no overspill from the drum
- take defensive and preventative action to avoid harm to any other road users
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the organisational procedures and all relevant legal, environmental, health and safety, and operating requirements relating to driving the concrete mixer truck on public roads
- the hazards associated with handling ready mixed concrete
- the risk assessments and safe operating procedures for the task
- the responsibilities of the driver for the concrete mixer truck and the load
- how the product can be affected by time, weather and temperature
- how to prepare the concrete mixer truck for transporting the load to the delivery site
- how to plan an efficient route to the delivery site abiding by legal, safety and operating requirements
- who to inform if there are changes in the schedule resulting from driving conditions
- the consistency and specification of the product properties of the load being carried
- how the quantity and specification of the product can affect the behaviour and speed of the concrete mixer truck
- how to control the rotation direction and rotation speed of the drum in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications
- how the rotation direction and drum rotation speed can affect the behaviour of the concrete mixer truck
- how to identify and adapt driving styles to changes in driving conditions
- how to identify and adapt driving styles to changes in the movement of the load
- how to maintain the stability of the load during transit to reduce the risk of roll over
- the correct health and safety procedure for dealing with leaks or spillages of the load carried
- how the actions of other road users could lead to a loss of control of the concrete mixer truck
- how to identify when other road users are about to change direction and speed
- how to position the concrete mixer truck on the road to ensure the safety of yourself and other road users
- when to use signals to indicate a change of position
- how the concrete mixer truck speed should be altered to meet different types of road conditions and to maintain the stability of the load
- how to use the controls and gears of the concrete mixer truck to adjust speed and to drive in an efficient manner
- the factors affecting the concrete mixer trucks stopping distances and how to assess and maintain safe separation from yourself and other road users
- the type of hazards involved in overtaking, when overtaking should occur, and when it should not
- the factors affecting the distance required to overtake other road users
- the type of hazards that could occur on public roads
- defensive driving techniques
- how to use the controls of the concrete mixer truck to adjust braking under different road conditions
- the effect that severe braking could have on the stability of the load, roadworthiness of the concrete mixer truck and efficiency
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Controls: accelerator, clutch, footbrake, handbrake, steering wheel, gears, indicators, lights, windscreen wipers, demisters, heating and ventilation, Power Take Off (PTO), differential lock
Instruments: gauges, warning lights, displays, audible alerts, tachograph, telematics, slump gauge tyre-pressure indicators, coolant levels, oil levels, air pressure
Legal, safety and operating requirements: Highway Code, transport regulations, safety regulations, codes of practice, organisational requirements
Vehicle systems: Ignition, electrical, lights, brakes, transmission, engine, fuel, tyres, coupling, information technology, digital, communications and telemetry systems, ancillary equipment, loading, unloading, temperature control