Occupational driving instructor

Occupational driving instructors teach occupational drivers how to operate their vehicles according to driving regulations. They teach their students theory and techniques on how to optimally drive and maintain their specific vehicle, observe and evaluate the students’ practice. They also focus on non-driving related subjects such as customer service (in case of person transportation drivers) and safety measure regulations.

The following job titles also refer to occupational driving instructor:

PCV driving instructor
passenger carrying vehicle instructor
instructor in occupational driving
specialist driving instructor
LGV driving instructor
occupational driving instruction practitioner
heavy equipment operator instructor
HGV driving instructor
occupational driving teacher

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as occupational driving instructor. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

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.

Occupational driving instructor is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to occupational driving instructor.

occupational railway instructor
maritime instructor
hospitality vocational teacher
business administration vocational teacher
public speaking coach

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

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of occupational driving instructor.

Geographic areas: Know the geographic area in detail; know where different organisations carry out operations.
Road traffic laws: Understand road traffic laws and the rules of the road.
Mechanical components of vehicles: Know the mechanical components used in vehicles and identify and resolve potential malfunctions.
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.

These skills are necessary for the role of occupational driving instructor.

Guarantee students’ safety: Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.
Control the performance of the vehicle: Understand and anticipate the performance and behaviour of a vehicle. Comprehend concepts such as lateral stability, acceleration, and braking distance.
Drive vehicles: Be able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.
Observe student’s progress: Follow up on students’ learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.
Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Adapt teaching to student’s capabilities: Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.
Apply teaching strategies: Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners’ level, goals, and priorities.
Assess students: Evaluate the students’ (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.
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.
Teach driving practices: Instruct students in the practice of driving a vehicle such as a bus, taxi, truck, motorcycle or tractor safely, practice mechanical operation on roads with little traffic, and promote an anticipatory way of driving. Recognise the student’s difficulties and repeat the learning steps until the student feels at ease. Plan routes on different types of roads, during rush hour or at night.
Adapt instruction to labour market: Identify developments in the labour market and recognise their relevance to the training of students.
Give constructive feedback: Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.
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.
Park vehicles: Park motorised vehicles without compromising the integrity of vehicles and safety of people.
Assist students in their learning: Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.
Apply intercultural teaching strategies: Ensure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Explore individual and social stereotypes and develop cross-cultural teaching strategies.
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 occupational driving instructor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Customer service: Processes and principles related to the customer, client, service user and to personal services; these may include procedures to evaluate customer’s or service user’s satisfaction.
Driving examinations: The components, regulations, and properties of theoretical and practical driving tests.
Passenger transport regulations: Have knowledge of passenger transport conventions and regulations.

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

Provide high-end driving services: Drive vehicles such as limousines or taxis for high-end services. Transport people and goods providing optimal service quality, safety, and efficiency.
Perform tests on airport vehicles: Test the suitability of vehicles following maintenance. Ensure that all security and manufacturer specifications have been met before releasing the vehicles to operations in airports.
Ensure implementation of safe driving practices: Establish principles and standards of safe driving among staff. Impart information on safe driving practices to staff and ensure that they utilise these in the performance of transport operations.
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.
Take over pedal control: Use an additional instructor’s brake, gas or clutch pedal, placed at the passenger seat in a vehicle, in order to overrule the driver’s pedals and take control.
Comply with policies for trolley bus driving: Comply with all official city policies and procedures in the operation of trolley buses in urban areas.
Manoeuvre bus: Drive a bus in reverse and make turns.
Diagnose problems with vehicles: Diagnose issues with vehicles and assess the efforts and costs required to resolve them.
Operate radio dispatch systems for taxis: Operate radio dispatching systems for taxi driving activities.
Manage test drives: Select appropriate vehicle, carry out test drive and manage follow-up discussion.
Manoeuvre heavy trucks: Drive, manoeuvre and park tractors, trailers and lorries on roads, around tight corners, and in parking spaces.
Manage resources for educational purposes: Identify the necessary resources needed for learning purposes, such as materials in class or arranged transportation for a field trip. Apply for the corresponding budget and follow up on the orders.
Operate gps systems: Use GPS Systems.
Teach driving theory: Use didactic ways to educate on road traffic laws, on the appropriate driving behaviour, on authorisation requirements for vehicles and trailers, on the operation of different types of vehicles, and on the dangers of road travel.
Ensure vehicles are equipped with accessibility equipment: Ensure that the vehicle is equipped with accessibility equipment such as passenger lift, seat belts, restraining harnesses, and wheelchair clamps or webbing straps.
Provide lesson materials: Ensure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.
Prepare examinations for vocational courses: Prepare examinations that test both theoretical and practical understanding of the content and the procedures imparted during a course or teaching programme. Develop exams that assess the most important insights that trainees should have gained from participating in the course.
Drive two-wheeled vehicles: Drive two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles and motorcycles for the performance of different tasks relating to the transportation of goods and passengers.
Recruit bus drivers: Recruit bus drivers having assessed their skills following examinations, and with consideration of the feedback of other professionals about the ability of the candidates.
Drive waste collection vehicle: Drive a heavy truck which is equipped for waste collection services in a safe manner, compliant with road legislation and waste management legislation.

2320 – Vocational education teachers

 

 

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References

1. Occupational driving instructor – ESCO