Profession occupational driving instructor

Occupational driving instructors teach occupational drivers how to operate their vehicles according to driving regulations. They teach their students theory and techniques on how to optimally drive and maintain their specific vehicle, observe and evaluate the students' practice. They also focus on non-driving related subjects such as customer service (in case of person transportation drivers) and safety measure regulations.

Personality Type

• Social / Realistic
• Social / Artistic
• Social / Investigative

Knowledge

• Mechanical components of vehicles

  Know the mechanical components used in vehicles and identify and resolve potential malfunctions.

• Health and safety measures in transportation

  The body of rules, procedures and regulations related to health and safety measures intended to prevent accidents or incidents in transportation.

• Road traffic laws

  Understand road traffic laws and the rules of the road.

• Geographic areas

  Know the geographic area in detail; know where different organisations carry out operations.

Skills

• Assess students

  Evaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.

• Ensure vehicle operability

  Keep the vehicle clean and in roadworthy condition. Ensure regular maintenance of the vehicle and provide valid official documents such as licenses and permits where appropriate.

• Use different communication channels

  Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

• Park vehicles

  Park motorised vehicles without compromising the integrity of vehicles and safety of people.

• Apply teaching strategies

  Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners' level, goals, and priorities.

• Assist students in their learning

  Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.

• Give constructive feedback

  Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.

• Observe student's progress

  Follow up on students’ learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.

• Apply intercultural teaching strategies

  Ensure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Explore individual and social stereotypes and develop cross-cultural teaching strategies.

• Interpret traffic signals

  Observe lights on the road, road conditions, nearby traffic, and prescribed speed limits to ensure safety. Interpret traffic signals and act accordingly.

• Adapt teaching to student's capabilities

  Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.

• Perform defensive driving

  Drive defensively to maximise road safety and save time, money, and lives; anticipate the actions of other road users.

• Control the performance of the vehicle

  Understand and anticipate the performance and behaviour of a vehicle. Comprehend concepts such as lateral stability, acceleration, and braking distance.

• Drive vehicles

  Be able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.

• Adapt instruction to labour market

  Identify developments in the labour market and recognise their relevance to the training of students.

• Guarantee students' safety

  Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.

• Teach driving practices

  Instruct students in the practice of driving a vehicle such as a bus, taxi, truck, motorcycle or tractor safely, practice mechanical operation on roads with little traffic, and promote an anticipatory way of driving. Recognise the student's difficulties and repeat the learning steps until the student feels at ease. Plan routes on different types of roads, during rush hour or at night.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB