Driver: job description and responsibilities

It seems to many that the driver is a relatively simple job. But nevertheless, the description of the profession and responsibilities should certainly be taken into account in order to understand what awaits the person when choosing her. There are many subtleties and nuances that are not obvious from the outside.

If you focus on the classifier of activities adopted in Russia, then it is easy to notice that the driver's profession belongs to category 11542. But this characteristic is completely insufficient to figure out what kind of activity it is. In essence, the driver is a professional who is committed to driving. But you must understand that this is not all. Drivers can additionally work in the following professions:

• freight forwarders;
• technicians;
• taxi drivers;
• couriers;
• security guards;
• collectors;
• specialists in cross-border transportation of goods and so on.

The driver of any vehicle must fulfill the following duties:

• check the availability of fuel, oil and other technical fluids, consumables, their worthy quality;
• assess the condition of electrical equipment, brakes, steering and other equipment on the car;
• to carry out freight, passenger and special transportation themselves;
• draw up documentation;
• to resolve difficult and contradictory situations during the journey "from point A to point B".

This is not just another working profession in the template sense of the word. The driver must also plan the maintenance and debugging of his car, evaluate how high-quality the service was. You will have to learn first aid skills to save passengers who have got into an accident or who were injured for another reason. Some drivers are forced to help logisticians plan transportation and organize loading and unloading of their vehicles ... and this list can be continued for a long time.

The bus driver must take into account the features of passenger traffic. In this case, it is one thing when the bus moves around the city, and quite another - riding along the intercity or even international highway. These are unequal load modes, even travel speeds differ significantly. But driving a bus means always submission to the dispatcher and compliance with speed.

The following points should also be studied:

• hazardous and relatively safe areas;
• sharp turns;
• intersections and intersections;
• the location of bridges, railway crossings, tunnels, avalanche zones (in the mountains).

Immediately after arrival, before leaving or when changing gear, the driver needs to check the condition of the wheels, steering wheel, brakes, communication system, rear and side view mirrors. Any bus must have warning signs, driver’s first aid kits, fire extinguishers, route indicators and other special signs. All of them are checked before dispatch, as is the serviceability of ventilation, air conditioning, heating, as well as the condition of the housing, windows, engine. It is also necessary to receive waybills and check all documents, undergo a pre-trip medical examination.

The bus driver is the face of his company. Therefore, it must comply with strict requirements in appearance, condition of uniform and tidiness (hygiene). When the bus leaves for a long distance, and two drivers go there, they should replace each other only where it is prescribed by the waybill. If you have to do this at any other time, you need to immediately inform the dispatcher and explain the reason.

Of the additional responsibilities, the following are worth mentioning:

• strict adherence to the route and schedule when driving around the city;
• stopping only in designated areas;
• passenger safety control, including during boarding and alighting;
• ensuring the safety of baggage and hand luggage on tourist flights;
• checking left and forgotten things, handing them over to the dispatcher or the person responsible for the fleet;
• suppression of crimes;
• notification of appropriate services of suspicious objects and any kind of criminal threats.

The tram driver is significantly different from the bus driver, if only because he does not have such freedom when driving. However, this is not reflected at the level of responsibility. In addition, a tram, like a trolley car, is a source of increased electrical and fire hazard. Car drivers are closer not to drivers of automobile transport, but to subway and electric train drivers. However, they still have to comply with traffic standards, traffic signals, and in some cases, the gestures of traffic controllers.

In fleets, a position such as a driver with a mechanic’s functionality is often distinguished. A competent driver-mechanic is required to understand as deeply as possible how the vehicle works, what kind of problems it may have, how to fix them. And also driver-mechanics (more precisely, driver-mechanics or "mechanical drivers") are included in the crews of tracked and wheeled vehicles of military and special purposes, all-terrain vehicles. People in this profession must perform the following duties:

• carry out routine maintenance, repair and adjustment of engines, auxiliary equipment;
• apply special equipment and equipment installed on the vehicle (sometimes weapon systems);
• to ensure the arrival of the serviced transport to the designated place, if necessary, repairing it independently in off-road conditions and the impossibility of receiving technical assistance.

The truck driver reports to fleet managers, chief industrial engineers or construction managers. Such professionals may not even have a secondary education, but they must understand how the vehicle works, how it works, and what kind of problems might be. It is equally important to learn the rules of safe driving in the current edition, the rules for using the car and its on-board equipment, and maintenance requirements.

As with the bus, you need to have correctly filled out waybills and strictly observe their instructions. Before going on a flight, you should check the condition of the truck (if necessary, cargo and special equipment), as well as undergo standard medical control.

A good driver always thinks how to keep to the schedule, how to save fuel and lubricants, while not getting into an accident. He complies with fire safety standards and always tidies his parking space, even if he stops there briefly. And also his duties include the following:

• compliance with the rules of unloading and loading;
• control of the load layout in the car, taking into account the center of gravity;
• verification of fastening of the transported cargo;
• maintenance of the vehicle;
• compliance with the rules of the schedule;
• knowledge of the correct actions in case of emergency in the garage, in the parking lot, on the road, during unloading and unloading.

The driver forwarder is more like a technical contractor. Along with driving, he is obliged to draw up documents when accepting and delivering cargo, to monitor loading. Forwarders are most often subordinate to the heads of the organization directly or to the leadership of structural units. You must have a B or C license and have a driving experience of at least 2 years.

Forklift drivers are not line personnel, but employees of a warehouse or other structural unit. Nevertheless, the requirements for medical monitoring and compliance with safety rules do not differ. We will have to study the following subtleties:

• how the forklift is arranged;
• how to load and remove cargo of various types;
• how to lift and move the load;
• fire and sanitary safety standards, labor protection;
• internal regulations;
• decisions and orders of the organization’s management.

Inspection of equipment and troubleshooting is also a mandatory part of the work of the forklift driver. We will have to deal with scheduled preventive repairs and maintenance. The work of the electric cart operator is similar in content. Both of these employees only enter into occasional contacts with other personnel; they can work both outdoors and indoors, and even alternately.

They deservedly stand out in a separate category ambulance drivers. Like taxi drivers or police chauffeurs, they must, first of all, thoroughly know the entire territory of the serviced area, all roads, be able to choose the best route. The driving pace is also determined by the driver. And often he himself has to help the sick or injured, to endure them.Therefore, special knowledge and physical strength are needed.

The driver must have the following features:

• Category B rights (better than C);
• driving experience of at least 3 years;
• thorough knowledge of traffic rules;
• the ability to maintain the machine and keep it clean;
• willingness to comply with the orders of medical staff;
• willingness to work irregular days and face inadequate patients.

An important quality for each driver is accuracy and scrupulous approach. He must be constantly vigilant - not only on a flight, but also when servicing a car. In any emergency, an extremely quick response is required. Be sure to also pay attention to the following nuances:

• Be courteous in communication with other staff and passengers;
• to be disciplined;
• execute all orders;
• be responsible and careful;
• be punctual;
• tolerate stress;
• keep clean and tidy.

Any driver must know the roads of the village or region, as well as traffic rules. You can not drive a city bus, regular and minibus without the ability to communicate with any passengers, including children. Drawing up travel documents is another important component of an intelligent driver's skills. In some cases It is important to be able to work on representative-level machines.

Chauffeur position - one of the most sought-after in Russia and abroad. Obtaining such a specialty usually does not require sophisticated training. Many sat behind the wheel almost immediately after school, taking short-term courses. They are organized by many driving schools and companies involved in the internal training of employees. But some prefer to start a career with special secondary and even higher education institutions. This will make it possible to become also organizers of transportation, manage personnel, repair and restoration work.

Examinations to such educational institutions are more focused on physics and mathematics. However, for ordinary drivers who attend simple driving schools, independent study of such disciplines is important. Chauffeurs are arranged in such institutions and companies as:

• Taxi;
• PATP;
• construction companies;
• industrial, agricultural, educational and medical institutions;
• authorities and so on.