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Title / Select and configure a specialist heavy haulage combination vehicle for transporting overweight and overdimension loads
Level / 4 / Credits / 10
Purpose / This unit standard is for drivers who select and configure specialist heavy haulage combination vehicles for transport of overweight and overdimension loads.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify a specified load’s characteristics; select the vehicle for piloted road transport of a specified overweight and overdimension load; determine a specified load’s position on a specialist heavy haulage trailer; factor the load for piloted road transport of a specified overweight and overdimension load;and configure a specialist heavy haulage trailer for a specified load.
Classification / Commercial Road Transport > Heavy Haulage
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Legal requirements relevant to this unit standard include:
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Land Transport Act 1998;
Road User Charges Act 2012;
Transport Act 1962;
Heavy Motor Vehicle Regulations 1974;
Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004;
Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles 2004;
Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002;
Road User Charges Regulations 2012;
Traffic Regulations 1976.
2Any new, amended, or replacement Acts, regulations, Rules, standards, codes of practice, or New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) requirements or conditions affecting the outcomes of this unit standard will take precedence for assessment purposes, pending review of this unit standard.
3References
The Official New Zealand Truck Loading Code – Code of Practice for the Safety of Loads on Heavy Vehicles ISBN 9780478289916, available from booksellers and at
The NZTA Vehicle dimension and mass permitting manual (VDAM)ISBN 9780478445015, available at
The NZTA Overdimension vehicle route maps (OCRM) ISBN 0478047266, available at
The NZTA Overweight permit route maps (OPRM)ISBN 0478041136, available at
4Definitions
A bridge is a structure designed to carry a road or path over an obstruction (such as a river, road, or rail line) by spanning it and includes culverts with a waterway area greater than 3.4m2 and stock underpasses;
Configuring means to widen, lengthen, or attach load divider dollies, clip on or tag axles, independent axles, ramps, hydraulic steer and lift trailers, and hydraulic winches or other lifting ancillaries, in order to prepare a specialist heavy haulage trailer to carry a specific load;
Organisational requirements include any legal requirements, standards, codes of practice, organisational and/or site requirements, industry best practice, and manufacturers’ instructions. These must be available to candidates, providers, and assessors;
Road furniture is pedestrian refuges, power poles, stop and give-way signs, street signs, telephone poles, threshold signs, traffic control signs such as traffic lights, and any other items that are positioned on or near a road and that need to be considered by an operator in relation to an overdimension load vehicle fitting the route;
Road geometrics include but are not limited to – width, camber, gradient, surface, horizontal and vertical curvature;
The Rule is the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002;
Swept path means the maximum road width required by a vehicle when it negotiates a turn;
The Truck Loading Codeis the Official New Zealand Truck Loading Code – Code of Practice for the Safety of Loads on Heavy Vehicles;
A vehicle is a combination vehicle.
5Assessment against this unit standard shall be conducted under practical workplace conditions. For the purposes of assessment, the load must be no greater than category 3.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify a specified load’s characteristics.
Evidence requirements
1.1The load’s mass is determined or identified from information supplied in accordance with organisational requirements.
Rangeweigh bridge, manufacturer’s information, engineer’s certificate, shipping bill, by calculation.
1.2The load’s dimensions are measured or identified from information supplied and the load’s category is determined in accordance with the Rule.
Rangemanufacturer’s information, engineer’s certificate, shipping bill.
1.3The load’s centre of gravity is determined or identified from information supplied in accordance with organisational requirements.
1.4Particular features of the load which may create difficulties for loading, unloading, or during transportation, are identified in accordance with organisational requirements.
Rangeweight, dimensions, stability, route.
Outcome 2
Select the vehicle for piloted road transport of a specified overweight and overdimension load.
Evidence requirements
2.1Selecting the vehicle includes checking the vehicle type and components selected for the specified load cater for features that may create difficulties during transportation, and are in accordance with organisational requirements.
Rangeincludes – weight, dimensions, stability, route.
2.2Selecting the vehicle includes identifying load accessories required for transporting the load safely, in accordance with organisational requirements.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – clip-on axles, lifting and canting abilities, lifting axles, load sharing dollies, load support equipment, widening capabilities.
2.3Selecting the vehicle includes identifying vehicle equipment required for transporting the load safely, in accordance with organisational requirements.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – first aid equipment, fire extinguisher, hazard warning flags, oversize signs and panels, lighting, load security equipment, overheight load skidding, measuring equipment, radio communication equipment.
2.4The vehicle selected for the specified load meets stability and axle mass requirements of the Rule, organisational requirements, and the parameters of the proposed route.
Rangeparameters include but are not limited to – bridge repairs, bridge structures, bridge dimensions and weight limits, choke-points, manoeuvre points, overhead obstructions, railway level crossings, road conditions, road furniture, road geometrics, road works, route position markers, route restrictions, service conductors, wires, and cables.
Outcome 3
Determine a specified load’s position on a specialist heavy haulage trailer.
Evidence requirements
3.1The trailer selected for the specified load meets organisational requirements and the requirements of any particular features identified in evidence requirement2.4.
3.2Determining the load’s position includes identifying load distribution techniques that will maximise vehicle control for the proposed route’s road geometrics and that are in accordance with the Truck Loading Code, and organisational requirements.
3.3The position, load placement balance, and centre of gravity location for the load, are selected in relation to the proposed route’s road geometrics, the stability triangle of the vehicle and trailer, and in accordance withorganisational requirements.
3.4The placement of the load on the trailer meets axle-loading requirements and is in accordance with the Rule, the Truck Loading Code, and organisational requirements.
3.5The vehicle’s turning circle and swept path are identified for the selected load position in accordance with organisational requirements.
3.6The load security requirements for the selected load position are identified in accordance with the Rule and the Truck Loading Code.
Outcome 4
Factor the load for piloted road transport of a specified overweight and overdimension load.
Evidence requirements
4.1Factoring the load includes determining piloting requirements in accordance with the Rule.
Rangeclass of pilot(s), number of pilots, other supervisions.
4.2Factoring the load includes determining that the proposed load configuration for the selected vehicle complies with the Rule, the Overweight Permit Manual, the Truck Loading Code, and organisational requirements.
Outcome 5
Configure a specialist heavy haulage trailer for a specified load.
Evidence requirements
5.1Configuring includes adapting the trailer’s width and/or length for the specified load’s position within a stability triangle and in accordance with organisational requirements.
Rangechassis extensions, clip-on axle/s, load dividers, outriggers, space frames, trailer widening, trombones, whiskers.
5.2Configuring includes positioning load cradles, bracing and/or cushions in accordance with organisational requirements.
5.3Configuring includes setting up load security points in accordance with organisational requirements and the Truck Loading Code.
5.4Configuring includes selecting axle steering systems and closing off or opening hydraulic or manual elements in accordance with organisational requirements.
Planned review date / 31 December 2020Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 21 September 2007 / 31 December 2017
Review / 2 / 16 July 2015 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0092
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR 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 the NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) (MITO) if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) (MITO)SSB Code 101542 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018