Just because you know how to drive does not mean you are safe from accidents. Driving a regular car and a truck is not the same. You need to be more cautious in operating a large vehicle used for business, construction, delivery and other purposes.
Experience in driving the truck does not guarantee that you will do a good job and be safe from accidents either. Therefore, it is crucial for you to undergo appropriate training to help you stay safe when driving a truck. Getting a CPC or Certificate of Professional Competence requires you to spend hours training on how to handle a huge truck. It does not mean that you will be safe from any accident, but it reduces the chances of you getting involved in one.
The training will allow you to learn from the experts in driving who also have years of experience in handling various types of large trucks. You will learn safety guidelines to avoid causing injuries and accidents. It helps you protect yourself and the other people on the road.
Passing the assessment
After training to drive a large truck, the next step is to get the certificate by passing the assessment. During the test, the driver needs to show the ability to load the vehicle with regard to safety. Securing the vehicle and all its contents is also a part of the assessment. The driver also needs to show the ability to prevent criminality, assess emergencies and prevent physical risk. Before the driver passes the driving test, the assessor will first look at how the driver does the safety check around the vehicle. There will also be a computer-based test to check the knowledge of the driver in handling the vehicle.
You cannot be too confident
Even if you felt like you already have enough experience in driving a truck, you cannot be too confident. You also cannot be complacent and skip all the safety checks when loading items on the vehicle. You need to walk through the process before starting the truck. Otherwise, you will be in trouble. Again, even the most experienced drivers commit mistakes. When you already have the certificate, you will be careful in driving to prove that you deserve to have it. You also have more responsibility now that you passed the test.
If employed by a company, your certification will make you an asset. Most road injuries and accidents involve large trucks driven by employees for a company. As a result, they end up with tons of obligations. These companies do not want to lose money because of unwanted accidents that training could easily prevent.
If you decide to work for another company in the future, you will also benefit from having CPC. You can prove that you had the necessary training to do a great job. Add to that your experience in driving a truck, and it would be difficult to turn you down.