The Operator Specialist Vehicle (OSV) is a soldier who operates and maintains heavy articulated vehicle fleet that includes, Semi-trailers, road trains, bulk liquid fuel tankers, and heavy equipment / tank transporters. All first and second class roads throughout Australia are included in the area of operations. The driving task involve heavy, long haul operations to transport stores, bulk fuel and water and equipment, in combat support and combat service support roles, by day and night.

Duties

• Drive loaded and unloaded heavy articulated vehicles e.g. road trains (double and triples) and low loaders/floats (tank/plant transporters).
• In convoys or operating independently, as a single vehicle throughout Australia .
• Load and secure stores for safe movement.
• Recover damaged vehicles and equipment .
• Maintenance and servicing of the vehicle assigned to them.
• Assist Army tradesmen with repairs.
• Required to operate: Material Handling Equipment (MHE); armoured vehicles APC/ASLAV/MBT (first and reverse only); and various engineer plant equipment (first and reverse only).
• Transport bulk liquids such as fuel and water.
• Transport Dangerous Goods and Commonwealth Explosives .

Special Requirements

To become an Operator Specialist Vehicle, a soldier or NCO needs:

• To have completed approximately three or more years as a Driver Transport before completing further training for this speciality.
• Must have successfully completed a Driver Bus Heavy Rigid (HR3) Course or a Driver Heavy Rigid (HR2) Course.
• HR Operators must be assessed in a HR vehicle by a DTO for suitability to progress to the next vehicle class before being panelled on a Heavy Combination course.
• Must have current DG qualifications .
• Army Individual Readiness Notice (AIRN) compliant with no medical restrictions relating to back problems or heavy lifting.

The equivalent of these licences and experience is acceptable for non-RACT personnel however individual circumstances would need to be taken into consideration.

Employment Training

After passing all requirements outlined above you will meet the prerequisites to attend the Operator Specialist Vehicle (OSV) Course conducted at the Army School of Transport in Puckapunyal, Victoria. The duration of the course is 25 days that teaches skills and knowledge required to drive a Heavy Combination (HC) vehicle safely including systematic and efficient control of all vehicle functions, monitoring of traffic and road conditions and management of vehicle condition and performance .

After completing the Operator Specialist Course there is a return of service obligation (ROSO) training time plus one year applies on reallocation to Operator Specialist Vehicle. Drivers must then complete 6 months (obtaining at least 10,000klm) on the job experience (OJE) of driving a heavy combination vehicle prior to attempting additional licence code training such as:

• Road Train course
• Bulk Liquid Fuel Tanker course or
• Heavy Tank/Plant Transporter course.

The Operator Specialist Vehicle Advanced Course is conducted over a 10 day period at AST in Puckapunyal. This course qualifies you to operate a heavy tank / plant transporter that can carry loads up to 46 tonnes. Historically this combination has carried a wide range of loads which has included Leopard tanks, heavy engineer plant, train engines and carriages, as well as Mirage and Hercules aircraft. However in keeping up with progress a new addition to the Heavy Vehicle fleet in the 'MAN Heavy Equipment / Tank Transporter (HET) which has a heavier lift capacity of (68 Tonnes) suitable for transporting the Army's new fleet of Abrahams Main Battle Tanks and the Hercules Recovery Tank. The HET course is conducted over 12 days.

Employment Location

The Operator Specialist Vehicle has employment opportunities in Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin and Puckapunyal.

Pay

The pay levels for this employment are:

• Operator Specialist Vehicle Grade 1 PTE Pay Group 3.
• Advanced Operator Specialist Vehicle Grade 2 PTE-CPL Pay Group 4.

Civilian Qualifications

The military vehicle qualifications obtained during the formal courses conducted by ALTC are fully recognised by the state and territory road transport authorities. In fact, the training surpasses any civilian equivalent and combined with several years of experience carrying the range of equipment, dangerous goods and commonwealth explosives makes an OSV highly employable upon separation from the Army.

Further Information

RACT Home Royal Australian Corps of Transport