Driver Supervisor Certification Program

Description

Overview

The Driver Supervisor Certification Program is a post-licensing microcredential for the heavy vehicle sector. The program is funded by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) under the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI) and has been developed by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia (CILTA).

This certification is designed for experienced drivers, trainers, and mentors who are responsible for supporting and assessing licensed heavy vehicle drivers beyond initial licensing.

Purpose of the program

Existing heavy vehicle licensing pathways can result in significant variation in real-world driving competency. The Driver Supervisor Certification Program addresses this gap by preparing qualified individuals to mentor and assess licensed drivers through a structured post-licensing assessment process.

Certified Driver Supervisors are authorised to deliver the Driver Supervisor Assessment, a post-licensing assessment developed specifically for use by certified supervisors operating within industry.

The program has been developed following extensive consultation with experienced trainers and instructors who have long been performing driver supervision and mentoring roles in practice.

Becoming a Certified Driver Supervisor

A Driver Supervisor plays a key role in mentoring and assessing licensed drivers in operational environments. To perform this role, participants must complete a specialist microcredential that focuses on a defined set of core knowledge and assessment competencies.

This certification program comprises:

• Ten structured learning modules forming the CILTA Driver Supervisor microcredential, or
• Four specific competency modules aligned with relevant VET skill sets.

The program is positioned as a post-licensing microcredential, pitched below the level of a heavy vehicle assessor or auditor, and less intensive than the Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (TLI41222). It provides a formal pathway for experienced driver mentors to obtain recognised certification as a Driver Supervisor.

Course assessment and certification

Before undertaking the course, applicants must complete and submit the Driver Supervisor application form and upload the required supporting documentation for review.

Once the application is approved, the applicant will be invoiced for the program. Enrolment is granted upon receipt of payment.

Assessment requirements include:

• Multiple-choice questions at the end of each module
• A total of 34 assessment questions
• A minimum pass mark of 85%

Upon successful completion:

• The participant’s result is submitted to the National Driver Supervisor Course Register
• The participant is issued a Driver Supervisor identity card
• Eligible participants may apply to become a practising Driver Supervisor

Course duration

The course is designed to be completed in one full day (7.5 hours) or an equivalent duration online. Participants may complete the program at their own pace within the online learning environment.

Modules covered

• Mentoring principles
• Hazard identification and management
• Mass limits
• Driving hours and fatigue management
• Chain of Responsibility
• Low-risk driving considerations, including:
  • Speed limits and speed management
  • Road positioning and buffering
  • Crash avoidance space
  • Safe overtaking and lane changing
  • Reversing techniques
• Additional regulatory requirements
• Temperament and behavioural considerations
• Post-trip maintenance observations
• Assessment questions relating to the Driver Supervisor assessment process