Plan the route and timings for the collection and delivery of goods
Overview
This standard is about planning the route and timings for the collection and delivery of goods.
This standard covers multi- and/or single deliveries. It includes planning routes using information about the collection or delivery requirements for multi- or single loads and the schedule, as well as the identification of factors relating to the goods vehicle and the load that influence route choice, such as weight and height restrictions. It also includes the need to comply with the relevant legal requirements for breaks during driving duties and to identify suitable places for breaks.
This standard is relevant to all those who are responsible for planning the route and timings for the collection and delivery of goods as part of their job role.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
1. maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in line with the relevant legislation and organisational requirements
2. identify hazards and assess risks as you carry out the activity and wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), where required
3. confirm that the relevant training has been received to carry out the work, recognise the limits of your competence and seek access to further training where required
4. comply with the policies and procedures of the organisation and the relevant legal and organisational requirements relating to the collection and delivery of goods
5. collect all relevant information on the type of goods, destinations, route, schedule, driving distances, multi- or single-drop requirements, collection/delivery times and customer requirements for the collection and delivery of goods
6. confirm the method of transport and the types of vehicles and equipment to be used
7. combine or break down consignments into manageable loads wherever possible, considering driver and vehicle operating capacity
8. identify relevant factors, including restrictions, that may affect the goods vehicle and load, when selecting and planning the route
9. use relevant route-planning resources to reach destinations, including identifying suitable main and minor roads
10. identify any potential issues with using the proposed routes and plan alternative routes
11. prioritise and optimise delivery and collection schedules to meet customer requirements
12. plan the driving distances and time required to achieve the route and schedule, considering any load or delivery requirements that have an impact on the driving stages
13. identify driver break stops and locations that have the required facilities for the driver, goods vehicle, and load
14. maintain effective communication with colleagues and customers when carrying out the work
15. deal effectively with issues that arise within the scope and limitations of your responsibilities and competence, and report issues which cannot be resolved, in line with organisational procedures
16. complete and store all required documentation and records in line with relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
1 your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation and organisational requirements
2 how to identify hazards and assess risks as you carry out the activity and the requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE)
4 the organisation’s policies and procedures and the relevant legal and organisational requirements relating to the collection and delivery of goods
5 the information required to plan the route and timings for the collection or delivery of goods
6 the different modes of transport available
7 the types of vehicles and equipment to be used
8 the different types of route planning resources available and how to use them
9 the customer requirements that might affect the selection of a delivery route
10 the restrictions the load might place on the choice of route
11 the goods vehicle dimensions, height and weight, and the impact these have on planning routes
12 how to identify road restrictions that may affect the proposed route and the different ways of planning alternative routes
13 how to select and plan a route to meet the requirements of the customer, the goods vehicle used and the goods being delivered or collected
14 the environmental, economic and efficiency issues relating to the load and the vehicle
15 how to obtain the relevant information on the factors that can affect journey times
16 how to plan driving distances and the technology that can be used to assist with this
17 the facilities required when identifying driver break stops
18 how to plan timings for the collection or delivery of goods, including restrictions on driving times
19. the importance of communicating with colleagues and customers involved in the collection and delivery of goods
20 the issues that may occur when planning the collection or delivery of goods, the actions to take and organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
21 the recording and documentation procedures used when planning routes and scheduling loads, the legal and organisational requirements, including data protection legislation and organisational procedures for data security
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Consignment: goods carried by freight transport
Health and safety includes mental and physical wellbeing
Information: type of load, destinations, route, schedule, driving distances, multi- or single-drop requirements, collection/delivery times, customer requirements
Goods could include: containers; sealed loads or trailers; palletised goods; cages; individual boxes/packages; casks/kegs; bulk materials; liquids, powders or grains; food; temperature-controlled goods; livestock; hazardous goods; vehicles, plant or machinery; timber; customer’s removal goods; goods for return/repair etc
Legal and organisational requirements could include:
- Driving, vehicle and transport regulations
- Machinery and equipment regulations
- Workplace safety regulations
- Working time regulations
- Codes of practice
- Organisational requirements
- Environmental, ethical and social considerations
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could include: high-visibility clothing, hard hats, protective clothing, eye protection, masks, gloves, safety footwear
Route-planning resources: maps, satellite navigation devices, other electronic devices, traffic-related websites/social media, other drivers
Schedule: collection time, delivery time, stops