Shunt Truck Training: Yard Safety Training
Duration: Full Day
Keeping your entire operation moving
Shunt trucks, also known as spotter trucks, yard trucks, terminal tractors and more, are designed to move full or empty cargo containers and trailers. Shunt trucks play an important role in numerous industries, including ports and terminals, distribution centres and warehouses, and industrial settings. Basically, anywhere the transportation of goods is required. Their primary function is to safely, easily, and efficiently transport trailers for commercial activity within a job site.
This course includes information that keeps you safe on the job while using a shunt truck.
While operating these trucks is significantly safer than using a semi-truck for instance, they are not without hazards. These vehicles must navigate tight and restricted spaces while often carrying heavy, potentially dangerous loads in busy areas.
A shunt truck is beneficial for operations when:
- Moving empty trailers within a yard site
- Frequently travelling short distances
- Requiring frequent stops and starts
- Attaching and detaching trailers multiple times per day
Shunting is the short distance trailer maneuvers for relocating to a specified area and the shunt truck is an efficient way to handle these operations.
Shunt truck efficiency and safety in yard operations
- Shunt trucks, with their shorter wheelbase, offer a tight turning radius making them ideal for yard maneuverability.
- Operators can connect, lift, and drive without leaving the cab, ensuring a quick and efficient process.
- Enhanced visibility in shunt trucks means operators will be more comfortable, confident and more productive.
- Reduced operational costs and sustainability
- Electric models offer additional benefits such as increased battery capacity, a wider temperature range, and improved ergonomics.
- Shunt trucks significantly reduce the risk of injuries, as operators can perform tasks from within the cab.
- Standard tractor operators face higher injury risks from frequent exits and entries, as well as fall risks and strain-related injuries.
Shunt trucks offer superior performance, safety, and cost savings compared to regular trucks. Today, diesel and electric models are also available when fuel efficiency and sustainability are important purchasing factors.
Fortunately, when it comes to safety, continuous improvements and positive behaviors can be implemented while operating a shunt truck. This program will review the many steps required to keep you safe on the job while operating a shunt truck.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THIS COURSE
The learning objectives of this course are listed below and at a high level include:
- Understanding the importance of safety for shunt truck operation.
- Identifying legislation including the rights, roles and responsibilities of all workplace stakeholders.
- Recognizing hazards and describing the controls to eliminate or minimize the hazards.
- Understanding the equipment and safe operation of the vehicle.
- Reviewing the elements of and importance of documentation and record-keeping.
- Demonstrating effective inspection and safe operation.
What you Get
We offer comprehensive shunt truck training, delivered right at your workplace for maximum convenience and relevance. Our shunt truck training can be tailored to your specific yard and equipment and delivered directly at your workplace for practical, real-world learning.
Learners receive certificates, etc.
- Participant Workbook
- Record of Training
- Training interval reminders
- Theoretical evaluation
- Practical evaluation
What safety training complements shunt truck training?
Shunt truck training focuses specifically on the safe operation of shunt trucks and the unique hazards within a yard environment. To create a truly comprehensive safety program, several other training modules are highly complementary:
- Yard Safety / Traffic Management Plans:
- Why it's complementary: Shunt trucks operate within a larger yard ecosystem. This training broadens the scope beyond just the truck to the entire environment, covering pedestrian safety, blind spots for all vehicles, designated walkways, traffic flow, signage, and communication protocols within the yard. It often involves understanding and implementing a comprehensive traffic management plan.
- Key topics: Pedestrian-vehicle interaction, safe zones, speed limits, right-of-way, backing procedures for all vehicles, communication signals, high-visibility clothing.
- Forklift Operator Safety:
- Why it's complementary: Many yards also utilize forklifts for loading, unloading, and material handling. There's a significant risk of collisions between shunt trucks and forklifts if operators aren't aware of each other's operational limitations, blind spots, and best practices for sharing space.
- Key topics: Forklift stability, load handling, pedestrian awareness around forklifts, safe operating speeds, maneuvering in tight spaces, battery/propane handling for forklifts.
- WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) (GHS):
- Why it's complementary: Shunt trucks transport trailers that may contain hazardous materials. Drivers need to understand the labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of these materials to know what to do in case of a spill, leak, or other incident.
- Key topics: Hazard pictograms, SDS interpretation, safe handling and storage of hazardous products, emergency procedures for chemical spills.
- Defensive Driving (for Commercial Vehicles):
- Why it's complementary: While shunt truck driving is primarily low-speed yard work, the principles of defensive driving are universally applicable. Shunt truck operators still need to anticipate hazards, react safely to unexpected situations, and maintain situational awareness. This is especially true if the shunt truck occasionally operates on public roads for short distances.
- Key topics: Hazard perception, space management, adverse weather conditions, distracted driving prevention, managing fatigue, backing procedures, incident reporting.
- Spill Response Training:
- Why it's complementary: Given that shunt trucks handle various goods, including potentially hazardous liquids, knowing how to contain and respond to spills is crucial.
- Key topics: Identifying spill types, using spill kits, proper PPE for spills, reporting procedures.
- Fire Extinguisher Training:
- Why it's complementary: Propane-powered shunt trucks or trailers carrying flammable materials pose a fire risk. Knowing how to use the correct fire extinguisher for different classes of fires can prevent minor incidents from escalating.
- Key topics: Classes of fire, P.A.S.S. method, workplace fire plan.
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and Machine Guarding (if maintenance is done in-house):
- Why it's complementary: If shunt truck operators are involved in any minor maintenance or inspection where machinery could unexpectedly start, LOTO training is critical.
- Key topics: Energy control procedures, recognizing hazardous energy sources.
By combining shunt truck-specific training with these complementary safety modules, workplaces can build a much more robust and effective yard safety program, mitigating a wider range of potential hazards.
Get in touch with us today to register or learn more.
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