The Professional LGV Driver's Handbook

David Lowe was a freelance writer well known in the road transport industry, particularly for his involvement with training for the professional competence examinations. Formerly he was an independent transport consultant and regular contributor to the transport press, and was the author of many transport books, including The Transport Manager's and Operator's Handbook, The Dangerous Goods Safety Manual, A Guide to the LGV Driving Licence, Driving Test and Theory Test, The European Bus and Coach Handbook, The European Road Freighting Handbook, and Goods Vehicle Costing and Pricing Handbook. Mr Lowe's previous experience included: Over 50 years' experience in road haulage and own-account transport - at one time as an owner-driver haulier. From British Road Services trainee in 1952 to own-account fleet management in food distribution in 1966. Staff writer on Commercial Motor from 1968 specialising in transport legislation, operational and management issues. First edition of the highly successful Transport Manager's Handbook, the so-called transport manager's 'bible', published in 1970. Freelance writer from 1972, contributing to most UK transport journals and many other publications including the Financial Times, Management Today, Logistics Focus and The Director.

Contents Foreword The author Acknowledgements Introduction Part 1 Driver licensing, driving tests and qualifications 1.1 Driver licensing The law about licences; Goods vehicle categories; Vocational licensing; Production of driving licences; Issue of driving licences and information 1.2 Medical standards for drivers Medical requirements for all licence holders; Medical requirements for vocational entitlements; Eyesight requirement; Medical appeals and information; Drugs and driving 1.3 Learner drivers Full licences used as provisional entitlements; Supervision of learner drivers; Display of 'L' plates; Learner drivers on motorways; Driving on a test pass certificate; Compulsory re-tests for offending new drivers 1.4 Application for driving licences Completing the licence application; The DVLA's decisio; Certificates of Entitlement 1.5 The LGV theory and hazard perception test Application for the combined theory test; Requirements for the test; Duration of the test and number of questions; Test questions 1.6 The LGV driving test Proof of identity; Application for the test; Vehicles for the LGV driving test; Knowledge required for the test; Duration of the driving test; Insurance for test vehicles; Preparing for the LGV driving test; Marking of the skills and behaviour tests 1.7 The Young LGV Driver Scheme Aim of the scheme; How to join the scheme; What is involved?; Funding; Penalty points 1.8 Summary of draft EU Directive on compulsory training for LGV drivers Initial training; Accelerated initial training; Periodic training Part 2 Vehicle characteristics and heavy vehicle driving skills 2.1 Technical characteristics of heavy vehicles Main types of goods vehicle; Forces that affect vehicle control and stability; Goods vehicle stability; Gear ratios 2.2 Vehicle braking and speed controls Basics of heavy vehicle brakes; Anti-lock (ABS) brakes; Endurance brakes - retarders; Low-pressure warnings; Driver checks; Speed limiters 2.3 Vehicle suspensions and trailer couplings Heavy vehicle suspensions; Trailer couplings 2.4 Road traffic accidents Duty to STOP; At the scene of an accident; Information to be given; What NOT to say at the scene of an accident; Reporting to the police; Producing evidence of vehicle insurance; Production of driving licence; Recording accident details 2.5 Safe driving How to avoid accidents; Illegal use of mobile telephones; Speed and braking distances; Safe vehicles; Daily safety checks on goods vehicles; Tiredness can kill; The 'Well Driven' campaign 2.6 Professional driving -- respect for other road users and the environment Respect for other road users and the environment 2.7 Driving abroad Road haulage controls; International carriage of goods for reward (CMR); Customs procedures; Dangerous goods (ADR); Perishable foodstuffs (ATP); Eurovignettes; Fiscal charges; Insurance for travel abroad; Medical aid for international travel 2.8 Safe loading and stowing The driver's responsibilities; Safety of loads; Overloading and weighing of loads Part 3 Transport regulations, offences and enforcement 3.1 Regulations governing transport 3.2 Goods vehicle weights and dimensions Current legal maximum weights Goods vehicle dimensions 3.3 Driver's hours, working time and pay Which rules apply?; The EU rules; AETR rules; British domestic drivers' hours rules; Mixed EU and British driving; Domestic record keeping; Working time; The National Minimum Wage; Driver overnight allowances 3.4 Tachograph fitment and use Recordings; Vehicles requiring tachographs; Driver responsibilities; Two-crew operation; Tachograph breakdown; Time changes; Dirty or damaged charts; Completion of the chart centre field; New generation digital tachographs 3.5 Road traffic law Stopping, loading/unloading and parking; Bus-only lanes; Level crossings; Weight-restricted roads and bridges; Speed limits; Motorway driving; Driving in fog 3.6 Road traffic offences and penalties Fines; Offences incurring level 5 fines; New-driver penalties; The penalty points system; Disqualification offences; Dangerous driving; Removal of penalty points and disqualifications; The Traffic Commissioner's role in driver licensing; Removal of an LGV driving licence disqualification; The fixed penalty system 3.7 Driving on drink and drugs Breath testing; Drink-driving penalties; Drink-driving courses; Drug testing of LGV drivers 3.8 Enforcement authority powers and prohibitions Police constables; Police, examiners and certifying officers; Traffic wardens; Trading standards officers; Checks on vehicles; Inspection notices and prohibitions Part 4 Heavy vehicles and the law 4.1 Construction and use of vehicles Brakes; Tyres; Windscreen wipers and washers; Mirrors; Horn; Reversing alarms; Speedometer; Seat belts; Silencer; Safety glass; Wings; Rear under-run bumpers and sideguards 4.2 Goods vehicle lighting and marking Night parking of goods vehicles; Headlamps; Side marker lamps; End-outline marker lamps; Fog and spot lamps; Reversing lamps; Stop lamps 4.3 Vehicle maintenance and testing Daily safety checks; Defect reporting by drivers 4.4 Legal requirements for special loads Dangerous substances; Carriage of poisonous waste; Controlled waste; Large loads; Abnormal loads; High loads; Projecting loads; Carriage of animals; Carriage of food 4.5 Security of vehicles, loads and premises Overnight parking; Good security Part 5 Health and safety 5.1 Driver health and safety Health and safety on the road; Health and safety at work; First aid; Vehicle reversing; Safe tipping and lifting; Safe parking; Safety in dock premises 5.2 The safety of vehicles and loads Goods vehicle safety; The vehicle 'user'; C&U requirements; The safety of loads on vehicles; Vehicle batteries 5.3 Stowaways and smuggling Stowaways; Smuggling 5.4 Driver health and lifestyle Ergonomics and driver posture; Tiredness while driving; Work-related stress and fatigue; Driving and drug taking; Part 6 Transport operations, service and logistics 6.1 The road haulage economic environment Fuel consumption; Fuel economy checklist; Competition 6.2 The road haulage business environment Types of business organization; Contracts; Conditions of carriage; Quality management 6.3 The road haulage market and image Market segmentation and specializations; Ancillary activities and diversification; Freight forwarding and groupage; Intermodal freighting; Road haulage marketing 6.4 Principles of logistics and the supply chain 6.5 Training for transport NVQ/SVQ qualifications; Lifting equipment training; Driver training for dangerous goods; Training for lorry loader operators; First aid training and certification 6.6 Mobile communications and ITS Communications systems; Safety; Satellite-based communications systems; GPS; Siemens VDO system; Intelligent Transport Systems Appendix -- driving licence fees and driving test fees Index