18931 version 3

Page 1 of 6

Transport logs by over-dimension heavy combination motor vehicle in off-highway environments

Level / 4
Credits / 15

PurposeThis unit standard is for drivers who transport logs in off-highway environments using over-dimension heavy combination vehicles of stem and/or multi-trailer configuration.

People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare for log transportation by over-dimension vehicle; prepare to oversee and oversee the loading of logs onto an over-dimension vehicle; secure the load; demonstrate knowledge of handling characteristics and dynamics of over-dimension logging vehicles; drive an over-dimension logging vehicle off-highway; deliver and oversee unloading of logs from an over-dimension vehicle; and describe obligations of the driver of an over-dimension logging vehicle.

Subfield / Commercial Road Transport
Domain / Goods Service
Status / Registered
Status date / 25 May 2007
Date version published / 21 November 2008
Planned review date / 31 December 2012
Entry information / Drivers must hold a current class 5 driver licence, including, if required, a current W endorsement, and comply with the requirements of the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and NZ Transport Agency.
Standard setting body (SSB) / NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated)
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0092

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1The legal requirements to be complied with include:

Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;

Land Transport Act 1998;

Road User Charges Act 1977;

Transport Act 1962;

Road User Charges Regulations 1978;

Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999;

Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles 2004;

Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004;

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002.

2Any new, amended or replacement Acts, regulations, Rules, standards, codes of practice, or NZ Transport Agency requirements or conditions affecting this unit standard will take precedence for assessment purposes, pending review of this unit standard.

3Definitions

the Approved Code of Practicerefers to the Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Forest Operations (Wellington: Occupational Safety and Health Service, Department of Labour, 1999) and any subsequent amendments. Available at

LTSC Industry Standards is a set of best practice guidelines and minimum legal requirements produced by the Log Transport Safety Council. Available from the LTSC, 127 Balmoral Drive, Tokoroa;

off-highway, for the purposes of this unit standard, refers to driving on privately owned forest roads. On such roads vehicles must be driven in accordance with road traffic law, but are not restricted in terms of weights and dimensions, except as determined by the road owner and manufacturer's ratings;

organisational requirements include any legal requirements, standards, codes of practice, organisational and/or site requirements, industry best practice, and manufacturers’ instructions;

over-dimension vehicle refers to a heavy combination motor vehicle, being a stem unit or a multi-trailer logging truck that, due to being over-dimension for width, height, and/or length, and exceeding public road weight limits, cannot legally be driven on public roads (except for an approved purpose), but may be driven off-highway on what are commonly referred to as private roads. These vehicles are registered as ‘Exempt Class A’, are not fitted with hubodometers, and do not incur road user charges. Over-dimension vehicle, for the purposes of this unit standard, excludes special type harvesting vehicles;

positioning, in addition to positioning of the vehicle for loading and unloading, includes setting of equipment for the vehicle;

the Truck Loading Code means The Official New Zealand Truck Loading Code – Code of Practice for the Safety of Loads on Heavy Vehicles (Wellington: Land Transport New Zealand, current edition), available from booksellers.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Prepare for log transportation by over-dimension vehicle.

Performance criteria

1.1Preparations ensure that the vehicle is equipped to meet the requirements of the Approved Code of Practiceand organisational requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – tools, first aid equipment, fire extinguisher, securing devices, bolster attachments and locking devices.

1.2Preparations ensure that protective clothing and equipment required by the Approved Code of Practice and organisational requirements are accessible.

1.3Preparations include locating the loading site in terms of a navigable route to it, using maps, oral, or written instructions.

1.4Preparations include inspection of the vehicle to establish it meets organisational and legal requirements for heavy motor vehicles.

Element 2

Prepare to oversee the loading of logs onto an over-dimension vehicle.

Performance criteria

2.1Preparations include establishing communications with the loader operator and positioning the vehicle for loading in accordance with the directions of the loader operator and organisational requirements.

2.2Preparations include wearing protective clothing and equipment at all stages of loading operations in accordance with the Approved Code of Practice and organisational requirements.

2.3Preparations include unloading the trailer from the truck and hooking it on with all brake and electrical connections made in accordance with LTSC Industry Standards.

2.4Preparations include positioning and parking the vehicle with required park brakes applied in accordance with organisational requirements.

Element 3

Oversee the loading of logs onto an over-dimension vehicle.

Performance criteria

3.1Log movement and loading is directed from a safe position in accordance with the Approved Code of Practice and LTSC Industry Standards.

3.2Communication with the loader operator ensures that the correct product is selected and positioned correctly on the vehicle.

3.3Load is assessed for weight, height and length in accordance with LTSC Industry Standards.

Rangeweight assessment may include – using on-board scales.

3.4Documentation is completed to the requirements of the transport company and forest owner.

Element 4

Secure the load.

Performance criteria

4.1Load securing devices are attached in accordance with LTSC Industry Standards.

4.2Load and vehicle are checked to ensure there is no loose debris in accordance with LTSC Industry Standards.

Element 5

Demonstrate knowledge of handling characteristics and dynamics of over-dimension logging vehicles.

Rangevehicles – stem, multi-trailer; loaded, unloaded.

Performance criteria

5.1Vehicles are described and are compared with each other in terms of their special handling characteristics and dynamics, and are compared with on-highway logging trucks in terms of handling characteristics and dynamics.

Rangetail swing, turning circles, tracking, braking.

Element 6

Drive an over-dimension logging vehicle off-highway.

Performance criteria

6.1Vehicle is driven on privately owned forest road in accordance with road traffic law, the requirements of the Approved Code of Practice, and organisational requirements.

Rangeloaded, unloaded;

road conditions include undulations, bends, sealed, unsealed.

Element 7

Deliver and oversee unloading of logs from an over-dimension vehicle.

Performance criteria

7.1Delivery includes positioning and parking the vehicle with required park brakes applied in accordance with organisational requirements.

7.2Unloading operations meet the requirements of LTSC Industry Standards.

7.3Documentation is handled in accordance with organisational requirements.

7.4If required, trailer is loaded onto the truck following unloading in accordance with LTSC Industry Standards.

Element 8

Describe obligations of the driver of an over-dimension logging vehicle.

Performance criteria

8.1The driver’s responsibilities for weight of laden log transport vehicles, and the consequences of overloading, are described in accordance with organisational requirements.

8.2Information that must be entered on log load documentation is identified in accordance with the requirements of the harvesting contractor, loader operator, log transport operator, weighbridge operator, and customer.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018