Who this course is for
- Drivers who move material and equipment with a rigid body truck on site
- Crews delivering plant, formwork, reinforcing and packaged material between sites
- Plant hire and logistics drivers working on mines and construction projects
- Supervisors who have to appoint competent truck drivers for site work
What you will be able to do after this course
- Carry out pre-trip and pre-operation inspections on a rigid body truck
- Distribute and secure a load correctly for the road and the site
- Drive, reverse and manoeuvre safely on site and on haul roads
- Discharge a load safely and park and shut the vehicle down correctly
What the course covers
The course works through the safety regulations that apply to site vehicles, then through the truck and the load itself, which is where most of the risk sits.
Learners cover vehicle components and controls, pre-trip and pre-operation inspections, mass limits and load distribution, securing and restraining a load, driving and reversing on site, spotter and banksman signals, haul road discipline, discharging and offloading safely, and correct parking and shutdown. The driving work is assessed practically.
How you are assessed and what you receive
Assessment covers a written knowledge test and a practical, where the learner inspects the truck, checks and secures a load, drives a set route and offloads under supervision. On successful completion the learner is certificated, and the certificate can be downloaded from the Fundza portal as well as issued directly.
What this certificate is worth
Site vehicle competence is checked at induction on almost every mine and construction project, because trucks share space with people and plant. The certificate proves the driver is competent in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Learners can download it from the Fundza portal whenever proof is needed.
Duration, dates and fees
| Option | Duration | Fee | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full course | 5 Days | R8,020 | First-time certification |
| Refresher | 1 Day | R3,700 | Already certified, renewing |
On-site delivery at your own operation is available and is usually the better option for a fleet, because the practical work is done on your own vehicles and routes. For group bookings, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based.
Where and how the training runs
Training runs at the Fundza Training Institute centre in Mokopane, and on site at your own operation. On-site delivery is generally better for a transport crew, since load types and site routes differ and are the main things the driver has to manage. For a group booking, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.
Rigid body truck and flat back truck: how they differ
| Rigid body truck (this course) | Flat back truck | |
|---|---|---|
| What it certifies | Driving and discharging a rigid body vehicle | Transporting material and equipment on a flat deck |
| Load type | Contained in the body | Strapped and secured on an open deck |
| Main skill | Load distribution and safe discharge | Load restraint and overhang control |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
The vehicles are similar to drive. The difference is how the load behaves, which is why they are certified separately.
Where this course can take you
Rigid body truck driving sits inside the hauling and transport stack at Fundza. Drivers commonly add Transport Material and Equipment Using a Flat Back Truck, Operate Tipper Truck or Truck Mount Crane Operator so they can cover more of the fleet. Browse the full range of earthmoving machinery training.
Enquire about this course
Tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.