Moving truck driver

Moving truck drivers operate lorries or trucks intended for relocating and transporting goods, belongings, machinery, and others. They assist in placing goods in the truck for efficient use of space and security compliance.

The following job titles also refer to moving truck driver:

moving van driver
moving truck operator
removal truck driver
removal lorry driver
removal van driver
removal van operator
moving lorry driver

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a moving truck driver. A heavy truck driving licence is also necessary.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Moving truck driver is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to moving truck driver.

move coordinator
cargo vehicle driver
dangerous goods driver
bus driver
trolley bus driver

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of moving truck driver. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of moving truck driver with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

desalination technician
gas processing plant control room operator
mine safety officer
oil refinery control room operator
astronaut

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of moving truck driver.

• Road traffic laws: Understand road traffic laws and the rules of the road.
• Road transport legislation: Know road transport regulations at regional, national, and European level in matters of safety and environmental requirements.
• Mechanical components of vehicles: Know the mechanical components used in vehicles and identify and resolve potential malfunctions.
• Vehicle cargo capacity: The capacity and the limits of the commissioned vehicle in terms of weight, type of cargo it can handle, and other cargo loading specifications.

These skills are necessary for the role of moving truck driver.

• Communicate with customers: Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
• Load bulk trucks: Conduct activities associated with determining the itineraries and loading of bulk trucks.
• Handle delivery of furniture goods: Handle the delivery and assemble the furniture and other goods, according to customer’s needs and preferences.
• Drive in urban areas: Drive vehicles in urban areas. Interpret and understand transit signs in a city, the regulation of traffic, and the related common automobility agreements in an urban area.
• Read maps: Read maps effectively.
• Perform cleaning duties: Perform cleaning duties such as waste removal, vacuuming, emptying bins, and general cleaning of the working area. Cleaning activities should follow health and safety regulations if required.
• Read pictograms: Interpret pictograms that indicate characteristics and required measures for handling objects through visual representations.
• Use equipment for safe stowage: Use tools and equipment to perform safe stowage and ensure proper loading and securing of goods.
• Ensure vehicle operability: Keep the vehicle clean and in roadworthy condition. Ensure regular maintenance of the vehicle and provide valid official documents such as licenses and permits where appropriate.
• Use communication equipment: Set up, test and operate different types of communication equipment such as transmission equipment, digital network equipment, or telecommunications equipment.
• Manoeuvre heavy trucks: Drive, manoeuvre and park tractors, trailers and lorries on roads, around tight corners, and in parking spaces.
• Operate gps systems: Use GPS Systems.
• Follow work procedures: Adhere to procedures at work in a structured and systematic manner.
• Interpret traffic signals: Observe lights on the road, road conditions, nearby traffic, and prescribed speed limits to ensure safety. Interpret traffic signals and act accordingly.
• Store warehouse goods with precision: Transport goods in the warehouse and place them in the appropriate and designated locations with precision in order maximise used of space. Operate forklifts or other instruments in this activity.
• Carry objects: Carry and relocate objects from one place to another adhering to health and safety regulations. Carry objects while maintaining their integrity.
• Perform defensive driving: Drive defensively to maximise road safety and save time, money, and lives; anticipate the actions of other road users.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of moving truck driver. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Animal transport regulations: The legal requirements relating to safe and efficient transport of animals.
• Hazards associated with loading dangerous goods: Know about the hazards implied with the transport of determined dangerous goods. Know about the emergency actions and handling procedures in case of accidents with the goods during their loading or transportation.
• Health and safety measures in transportation: The body of rules, procedures and regulations related to health and safety measures intended to prevent accidents or incidents in transportation.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.
• Animal transportation vehicles: The types of vehicles for the transportation of animals and their features, the selection of appropriate vehicles and their safe use, according to national and international regulations.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of moving truck driver. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Load animals for transportation: Load and unload animals safely into containers or cages for transportation. Make sure they are secure and safely established in the transport vehicle.
• Execute vehicle maintenance: Execute vehicle maintenance based on supplier or manufacturer instructions. This might include cleaning vehicle engine, cleaning vehicle interior and exterior, maintaining mileage and fuel records, performing non-mechanical maintenance tasks. Service small engines including hydraulic equipment. Check the oil and fluid levels on all equipment. Check vehicles and equipment to ensure that they are in smooth and safe working order.
• Determine cargo loading sequence: Determine freight loading sequence aiming to increase the efficiency of operations. Arrange loading so that maximum amount of goods can be stored.
• Use packaging equipment: Use fastening and packaging tools such as plastic strapping, applicators and adhesives, marking and labelling equipment, and tape.
• Apply techniques for stacking goods into containers: Apply techniques required to stack materials into containers. Use techniques to maximise the space in containers.
• Stack packaged items: Stack packaged items for transportation or storage. Anticipate the need for and utilise additional protective materials in stacking the products.
• Organise weight of loads according to lifting equipment capacity: Organise the weight of loads to prevent overloading and imbalances in lifting equipment.
• Pack goods: Pack different kinds of goods such as finished manufactured products or goods in use. Pack goods by hand in boxes, bags and other types of containers.
• Assemble goods: Assemble goods coming from in manufacturing processes or in removing activities.
• Use traditional toolbox tools: Use tools found in a traditional toolbox, such as hammer, plier, screwdriver, and wrench. Observe safety precautions while operating these instruments.
• Maintain inventory of tools: Keep an inventory of tools utilised in manufacturing or in the provision of services. Ensure that tool sets remain complete and suitable for use.
• Analyse requirements for moving goods: Analyse goods to be relocated and their moving requirements. Check requirements and prepare actions to ensure appropriate transport of goods.

8332 – Heavy truck and lorry drivers

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References

1. Moving truck driver – ESCO
2. Featured image: By BrokenSphere – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0