Defensive driving courses are designed to help you identify and avoid or handle potential hazards you may encounter while driving. They teach skills that can help reduce the likelihood of you being involved in a crash. Approved driving courses may also count towards an NZQA qualification.

Completing an approved course could cut down the time spent on your restricted licence and give you some valuable safety tips to make you a better driver.

If you have had your full licence for a while perhaps you have picked up some bad habits or could be safer? Maybe you are an employer, and you would like to make sure that your drivers are the best that they can be? A Defensive Driving Course could help.

Topics covered include:

• Hazard awareness, including human factors in driving

• Defensive driving techniques and how to apply them

• Understanding braking distances and cornering forces

• Understanding vehicle performance and overtaking

• Setting up a vehicle for the driver

Courses consist of four theory lessons and a one-hour practical drive.

We have courses available in Kawerau, Whakatane, Opotiki.

Truck drivers in NZ usually earn between $20 and $30 an hour. A Class 2 truck licence allows you to drive a heavy vehicle up to 18,000kgs or a vehicle with two axles. Before you can sit your Class 2 Learner Licence, you need to have held a full Class 1 (car) licence for at least six months if you’re under 25, or at least 3 months if you’re over 25.

There are two stages to get your class 2 truck licence. The first is to pass a medical certificate and the NZTA Class 2 Learner Licence Test, and secondly you need to complete the Class 2 Full Licence Course and assessment. The learner licence test consists of 35 questions which are a mix of Class 2 specialist questions, and general road code questions. The pass mark is a minimum of 33 correct answers.

This 3-Hour Learner Licence Course takes you through the theory needed to pass the Class 2 Specific questions of the learner licence. Practice questions are provided on the course. Students are also encouraged to self-study the general road code questions before sitting the NZTA test.

Medical fees (approx. $80) and Licence Test ($93.90) costs are not included in the course fee.

Refer to the NZTA page for more details. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/licensing-fees/licence-fees/

An NZTA approved Class 2 truck licence course allows you to drive a vehicle up to 18,000kgs or a vehicle with two axles.

Heavy truck drivers usually earn between minimum wage and $30 an hour.

There are two stages to get your class 2 truck licence. The first is to obtain a medical certificate and pass the NZTA Class 2 Learner Licence Test and then secondly you need to complete the Class 2 Full Licence Course and assessment.

The three-day Class 2 Full Licence course fee includes theory training for unit standards 24089 (Fatigue and Logbook), 17574 (Operate a Rigid Vehicle Class 2) and a practical assessment.

A pre-requisite is that you hold your Class 2 learner’s licence (2L). If you do not have your Class 2 learner’s licence you must complete this before the start of the course. This involves a theory test and a doctor’s medical certificate.

An NZTA approved Class 4 truck licence course allows you to drive a vehicle with a GVM exceeding 18,000kgs.

Class 4 and 5 drivers are in extremely short supply and the number of jobs available is increasing.

The course fee includes theory training for unit standards 24089 (Fatigue and Logbook) if you have not passed this within the last 12 months, 17576 (Operate a Rigid Vehicle Class 4) and a practical assessment.

A pre-requisite is that you have held your Class 2 full licence (2F) for at least three months (aged over 25) or at least six months (aged under 25) and applied to NZTA for a Class 4 Learner Licence.

If you do not have your Class 4 learner’s licence you must complete this before the start of the course. This involves applying at a Land Transport office. You may require a doctor’s medical certificate if you have not recently had one. There is no theory test for 4L.

An NZTA approved Class 5 truck licence course allows you to drive a combination vehicle with a GVM exceeding 18,000kgs.

Class 4 and 5 drivers are in extremely short supply and the number of jobs available is increasing.

The course fee includes theory training for unit standards 24089 (Fatigue and Logbook) if you have not passed this within the last 12 months, unit standard 17577 – Operate a Class 5 heavy combination and a practical assessment.

A pre-requisite is that you have held your Class 4 full licence (4F) for at least three months (aged over 25) or at least six months (aged under 25) and passed the NZTA theory test for a Class 5 Learner Licence.

If you do not have your Class 5 learner’s licence, you must complete this before the start of the course. This involves applying at a Land Transport office. You may require a doctor’s medical certificate if you have not recently had one. There is a theory test for 5L.

Workers with a WTR endorsement can earn between $20 and $35 per hour.

To drive a special-type vehicle on the road that isn't a forklift, you must have a W, T or R endorsement on your driver licence.

This 1-day course includes the theory and practical components and includes:

• W endorsement - vehicles that run on wheels that aren’t forklifts such as passenger vehicles, tractors, fire engines, trade vehicles or vehicle recovery service vehicles

• T endorsement - vehicles that run on self-laying tracks

• R endorsement - vehicles that run on rollers

The size weight and speed of the vehicle will be relevant to the class of licence you hold.

You need to have your full Class 1 Car licence (1F) before you can add a licence endorsement.

Forklift Operators earn between $20 and $25 per hour.

Training in the effective and safe use of forklifts may open job opportunities in several industries (retail, horticulture, logistics).

Becoming a forklift operator requires a Forklift Operators Certificate as a minimum and if driving on a road, an F endorsement on their licence. The Forklift Operators Certificate has to be refreshed every three years. You can complete one or both certifications in the same day. Half-day refresher courses are also available.

NZQA Unit Standards

Forklift Operator Certificate: US 10851 – Operate a powered industrial lift truck. This course is the pre-requisite for people wanting to compete the Forklift ‘F’ Endorsement.

F endorsement: US 18496 – To gain credit for this unit standard and obtain an F (forklift) driver licence endorsement must hold a current full class 1 (car) driver licence.