Upper Leacock Fire Company SOG's

Section 14    Driver Trainee & Qualified Driver Rules & Regulations
 

1.    The Upper Leacock Fire Company Driver Training Manual is a separate manual that was designed specifically for the Driver Trainee Candidate. The Fire Company Engineer is required to issue all new Driver Trainee Candidates a copy of this manual.

2.    The Driver Training Manual contains the following: Driver Training Application, Driver Trainee and Qualified Driver Rules and regulations, Pennsylvania vehicle code laws concerning emergency vehicle, Accident report guidelines, Driver training qualification standard, Driving safety practices for the Driver Trainee Candidate, Upper Leacock Twp. Road listing guide, Driver training log and acknowledgement form, and misc. information. Although this manual was designed for the new Driver Trainee Candidates, it also has some important information that pertains to all Fire Company Members including Qualified Drivers.

3.    This section of the Upper Leacock Fire Company Standard Operating Guideline Manual contains the important information taken from the Driver Training Manual that pertains to all Fire Company Members and qualified drivers. The sections taken from the manual include: Driver Trainee and Qualified Driver rules and regulations, Accident report guidelines, and Driver training qualification standards.

4.    Any Fire Company Member who wishes to review the complete Driver Training Manual may review a copy stored in the Fire Company Office or above the sign in desk in engine bays.

1.    Any member of the Upper Leacock Fire Company who wants to be put on driver training must fill out an application and have the approval of the Fire Company Engineer and Chief Officer.

2.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers must possess a valid Pennsylvania drivers License.

3.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers must be 21 years on age to drive Engine 3-11-1, Engine 3-11-2, and Air 3-11. You must be 18 years of age to drive Squad 3-11-1 and Squad 3-11-2 (fine police unit).

4.    All Driver Trainee Candidates should be under the direct supervision of the Fire Company Engineer or his designee, while operating any piece of apparatus during driver training.

5.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers should notify the Fire company Engineer and Chief Officer in the event that their driver's license was suspended, revoked, or expired.

6.    Any Driver Trainee Candidate that receives a traffic citation or is involved in any motor vehicle accident is required to notify the Fire Company Engineer and Chief Officer A.S.A.P. (notification is also required to be made even if a citation or accident occurs outside of a Fire Company function).

7.    The Fire Company Engineer and Chief Officer have the right ot suspend driving privileges of any Qualified Driver o Driver Trainee Candidate at anytime due to unsafe driving violations of Fire Company policy.

8.    All Driver Trainee Candidates are expected to keep and active log of all driver training that is completed and muse t complete and emergency vehicles safety checklist before driving any apparatus at anytime during driver training.

9.    All Driver Trainee Candidates that successfully meet the qualification standards set fourth in this driver training manual will be recommended by the Fire Company Engineer for that candidate to be listed as a Qualified Driver by the Fire Chief.

10.    The Fire Chief is the only person allowed by the Pennsylvania Law to authorize a member to drive any Fire Company apparatus. The Fire Chief will issue a "Certification of Authorization" card upon successful completion of the driver training qualification standards and the Fire Company Engineer's recommendation.

11.    The Fire Chief and Engineer have the right to make any changes or additions to this driver-training manual or to the driver-training program. Changes or additions to this driver-training manual or to the driver-training program. Changes or additions by the Fire Company Engineer must be approved by the Fire Chief.

12.    All Driver Trainee Candidates must complete their driving training. Failure to complete their qualification standards will require a driver training. Failure to complete their qualification standards will require a candidate to fill out a new driver trainee application and start the driving training program all over again from the beginning UNLESS the Engineer grants an extension based on the circumstances beyond the Driver Trainee Candidate's control.

13.    Under no circumstances is a Driver Trainee Candidate permitted to drive any piece of apparatus to an emergency call UNLESS a Chief Officer gives the Candidate permission at the time of the emergency, due to special circumstances. In the event that permission to drive is given to the candidate Extreme Caution should be used during the response. If the candidate does not feel comfortable driving the apparatus or operating the pump during an emergency, he should not drive.

14.    Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers are not permitted to smoke while driving any piece of apparatus.

15.    No one is permitted to drive any Fire Company apparatus while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or controlled substance, which renders the person incapable of safe driving.

16.    Any Driver Trainee Candidate or Qualified Driver is required to notify the Fire Company Engineer and Chief Officer A.S.A.P. in the event that they can no longer drive or operate equipment on a piece of apparatus due to illness, medical problems, physical problems, or any other condition that exists.

17.    All Driver Trainee Candidates are required to complete 15 hours of driver training before they are eligible to take their qualification test on all apparatus except Squad 3-11-1 and Squad 3-11-2. In addition to the 15 hours of driver training required, each Driver Trainee Candidate must drive a minimum of 50 miles before they are eligible to take their qualification test.

18.    The Fire Company Engineer and Chief Officer have the right to reduce the driver training hours for 15 to 8 hours and the 50 miles required to 20 miles for any Driver Trainee Candidate who possess a CDL. License, or has completed a state approved 16 hour Pump Operation class. A reduction in hours and road miles may be possible for any Driver Trainee Candidate who was Qualified Driver for another fire company prior to his or her membership with our Fire Company. The Fire Company Engineer and Chief Officer have the right to make reductions or require additional hours and road miles based on each individual Driver Trainee Candidates need or qualifications.

19.    It is the responsibility of the Fire Company Engineer to ensure that each Driver Trainee Candidate has been given an up to date copy of the driver training manual and any other information beneficial to the Driver Trainee Candidate.

20.    It is the responsibility of the Fire Company Engineer to retain all records of each Driver Trainee Candidate.

21.    All Qualified Drivers are required to adhere to the following Fire Company apparatus response protocols for the following emergency calls:   

1. Structure, Building, Dwelling, and Barn Fires:
   • (1^st) Engine 3-11-2
   • (2^nd) Engine 3-11-1
   • (3^rd) Air 3-11
   • (4^th) Squad 3-11-1
2. Automatic Alarms:
   • (1^st) Engine 3-11-2
   • (2^nd) Engine 3-11-1
   • (3^rd) Air 3-11
   • (4^th) Squad 3-11-1
3. Engine Company Transfers:
   • Engine 3-11-1
4. All Other Calls
   • (1^st) Engine 3-11-2
   • (2^nd) Air 3-11

   - A Chief Officer or Officer in Charge has the right to request a specific piece of apparatus which does not follow this protocol under certain circumstances, which he or she deems necessary.

22A.    All Qualified Drivers should use the emergency lighting and audible siren on all emergency calls EXCEPT for the following:

1. Emergency work details
2. Pump Details
3. Automatic Alarms reported false
4. Engine Company Transfers
5. Public Service Calls
6. Controlled Burns

- This also includes any call when you are instructed to respond at a reduced rate or under caution. No emergency lighting or sirens will be used for above-mentioned responses. When responding emergency rate to an emergency call, ALL emergency lights and audible sirens will be activated.

22B.    The Officer in Charge in the Officers seat up front should control all siren functions, air horn functions, and radio communications, NOT the Driver.

23.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers are required to wear their seatbelts at all times. They are also responsible to see that all crewmembers have their seatbelts on also.

24.    If a complaint is received from a Fire Company Member or private citizen in regards to Any Unsafe Driving Act committed by ANY of our members the following complaint protocol will be followed;

1. All complaints must be written on an approved Upper Leacock Fire Company Complaint Form within 30 days from the date that the accused act had occurred.
2. All complaints will be turned into a Chief Officer and Fire Company Engineer who will investigate each complaint.
3. All investigations must be completed within 30 days upon receipt of the complaints unless certain circumstances arise. Upon completion of investigation, a write response will be given to the complainant and the accused member.
4. The investigating Chief Officer and Fire Company Engineer have the right to incorporate any outside agency to assist in the investigation of the driving complaint such as Police, etc.

25.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers are responsible to see that ALL equipment is returned and placed back in service prior to leaving the scene of an emergency cal or training event.

26.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers are responsible to fuel up the apparatus they were driving if the fuel gauge is below 3/4 a tank.

27.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers are responsible to see that all apparatus is cleaned up upon returning from a training event or emergency call. (This mainly pertains to washing off salt residue during winter months).

28.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers are are required to fill out the apparatus logs upon returning from any emergency call or training event.

29.    All Qualified Drivers should yield the right of way to drive any apparatus during an emergency call if a Fie Company Engineer or Assistant Engineer is present unless you are instructed otherwise. If you have announced your response to an emergency call and your apparatus is about to pull out from the Fire Station, you do not have to stop and yield the right of way to an Engineer or Assistant Engineer that may have just arrived. Less experienced Qualified Drivers should yield the right of way to drive apparatus to a more experienced senior Qualified Driver during emergency responses when possible.

30.    The following protocol shall be followed when repairs are needed to be made to apparatus or equipment on our apparatus;

1. The Fire Company Engineer should be notified at your earliest convenience anytime a MINOR repair is needed to any apparatus or its equipment. A minor repair is one that does not require a piece of apparatus or equipment to be taken out of service.
2. The Fire Company Engineer and Chief Officer must be notified IMMEDIATEL when a MAJOR repair is needed that will require a piece of apparatus or equipment to e placed out of service.
3. It is the responsibility of the Fire Company Engineer or Chief Officer to take apparatus or equipment out of service. Under no circumstance should you as a Qualified Driver resume that responsibility.
4. In the event you are unable to reach the Fire Company Engineer or Chief Officer, the Officer In Charge may take apparatus or equipment out of service after he or she has exhausted all means of establishing contact with the Fire Company Engineer or Chief Officer.

31.    No repairs should be made to any apparatus by any Fire Company member until the Fire Company Engineer has been advised of the needed repair and authorizes you to fix the apparatus or equipment.

32.    Driver Trainee Candidates and Qualified Drivers are not permitted to take any piece of apparatus out of service to attend any Fire Company function such as a piece of apparatus out of service to attend any Fire Company function such as parade or special event UNLESS permission was obtained through the Board of Trustees first and approval was agreed upon by the general membership during a monthly Fire Company Business Meeting. In the event approval was given to attend such a parade or special event, the Fire Chief should be notified as soon as possible prior to the event date.

33.    The Fire Chief may authorize apparatus to be taken out of service for a local Training class in which our members are participating in.

34.    Headlights on our apparatus should be turned of and used at ALL times for personal safety and visibility even during daylight travel.

35.    It is strongly suggested that a Spotter be used when you are in the process of backing a piece of apparatus anywhere.

36.    NO driver or Driver Trainee Candidates or Qualified Drivers should pull out from dangerous intersections in our jurisdiction such as Snake Hill Rd. and New Holland Pike or Hartman Station Rd. UNLESS those intersections are controlled by Fire Police.

37.    All Driver Trainee Candidates and qualified Drivers should drive in a safe professional manner at all times adhering to all Pa. Motor Vehicle Laws.

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UPPER LEACOCK FIRE COMPANY

DRIVER TRAINING QUALIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGINE 3-11-1 & 3-11-2

 

Driver Training Candidates Name: _________________________

Instructors name: _________________________

Starting Date of Driver Training: _________________________

Ending Date of Driver Training: _________________________

Engineer's Signature of Authorization Date

______________________________________________________________________________

DRIVER TRAINING QUALIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR 3-11

 

Driver Training Candidates Name: _________________________

Instructors name: _________________________

Starting Date of Driver Training: _________________________

Ending Date of Driver Training: _________________________

Engineer's Signature of Authorization Date

______________________________________________________________________________

DRIVER TRAINING QUALIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS FOR SQUAD 3-11

 

Driver Training Candidates Name: _________________________

Instructors name: _________________________

Starting Date of Driver Training: _________________________

Ending Date of Driver Training: _________________________

Engineer's Signature of Authorization Date

______________________________________________________________________________

DRIVER TRAINING QUALIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAFFIC 3-11

 

Driver Training Candidates Name: _________________________

Instructors name: _________________________

Starting Date of Driver Training: _________________________

Ending Date of Driver Training: _________________________

Engineer's Signature of Authorization Date

____________________________________________________________________________

DRIVING OBSTACLE COURSE

The obstacle course is designated to measure the skills of drivers of emergency vehicles. Through its use, training officials can determine the progress each trainee has made over a given period of time. The "Recommended Time" allocated to each vehicle type indicates an ideal score toward which trainees may use as their objective. It may also be used to test present drivers' skills against a norm. the obstacle course is planned to duplicate seven situations in which driver skill, judgment and knowledge of the limitations of his vehicle are required for effective maneuvering. This course of driving tests is listed in the N.F.P.A. Publication # 1002 titled FIRE APPARATUS DRIVER/OPERATOR PROFESSES IONAL QUALIFICATIONS, 1976, in Appendix A. Scoring is based on total time required to complete the course plus the penalties assigned for mis-maneuvers.

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Page last edited: 03/12/06

© Upper Leacock Fire Company 2003