SUBJECT: DRIVERS TRAINING PROGRAM DATE: 07/17/89 REVISED: 07/22/2007 (SK, MT) APPROVED BY: JEFF SMITH, FIRE CHIEF 1. The 1 st Assistant Fire Chief will be responsible for all volunteer emergency vehicle drivers training and the driver training program as delegated by the Fire Chief. Certification for driving Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department vehicles on emergency responses will be by the 1 st Assistant Fire Chief and/or his designee as reviewed and approved by the Driving Training Committee. 2. All prospective apparatus drivers must meet the eligibility requirements and general requirements listed below prior to starting any actual vehicle driving. 3. A Driver s Training Committee will be appointed by the 1 st Assistant Fire Chief and approved by the Fire Chief and will consist of the following: a) 1 st Assistant Fire Chief Chairman b) One Line Officer Vice Chairman c) One (1) Line Officer d) Two (2) Experienced Drivers e) One (1) recently certified Class A Driver 4. Prospective drivers with proper valid driver s license may only operate apparatus in a non-emergency mode in the presence of a certified driver for the vehicle presently training on. 5. All training time and information is to be recorded by the trainee and maintained on the attached forms. Completed forms are to be submitted to the 1 st Assistant Fire Chief for record keeping. This information is the responsibility of the trainee until this form is completed. 6. All drivers must read and agree to abide by SOG s 50 & 51. 7. Once the driver is approved as an Emergency Vehicle Operator he/she must maintain a good driving record. Failure to do so will result in removal from the Approved Drivers List until the situation is corrected. 8. The 1 st Assistant Fire Chief (or his/her designee) will maintain and post at least quarterly a current listing of all Approved Emergency Drivers and will post individual updates to this list as required. 9. The Drivers Training Committee may recommend revocation of fire division members' driving privileges.
ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTIFICATION TO OPERATE FRIENDSWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES: 1. The member must be in good standing with the department and can not be on "Probationary Status". 2. The member must possess an appropriate and Valid Texas Drivers license and a good driving record. 3. The member must be 21 years of age with a minimum of a class B exempt license. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS DRIVING EMERGENCY VEHICLES 1. Attend 2.5 hour classroom portion of the Emergency Vehicle Driving Class (Volunteer Fireman's Insurance Services, Inc. curriculum). 2. Watch the Video Tape on "Operating Emergency Vehicles", and take the written test that accompanies it. PROCEDURE FOR DRIVER CERTIFICATION ON FRIENDSWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT APPARATUS 1. The procedure for certification on FVFD Apparatus is outlined below. Personnel Certifying on Non-Class "A" Fire Apparatus: Currently these are the Brush Truck and Support vehicles. The following are the requirements for certification on Non-Class "A" Apparatus: a) Possess as a minimum a Valid Class C Texas Drivers License. b) Drive the vehicle in the city for a minimum of 1 hour and demonstrate proficiency. c) If Certifying on Brush Truck 1, the person must drive the vehicle off-road for a minimum of 1 hour additionally and demonstrate proficiency. d) Be capable of operating and knowing the location of all the systems/equipment on the vehicle. e) Be capable of performing standard weekly Preventative Maintenance checks on the vehicle. Testing will be required as follows: a) A "Vehicle specific" standardized WRITTEN TEST will be given for the vehicle the person is certifying on. This will test will include questions on driving, operation of pump (if applicable), equipment on the vehicle, and maintenance checks/procedures, etc. Members must score 80% or better to pass the test. b) A "Vehicle specific" standardized HANDS-ON TEST will be given for the vehicle the person is certifying on. This test will include performing pumping operations (if applicable), operation of equipment on the vehicle, and performing the weekly preventative maintenance checks. c) A standardized DRIVING TEST will be given, and the vehicle the person is certifying on will be used for this portion. The test will be in two parts: Part 1: Driving the vehicle through a standardized course in the city. Part 2: Driving the vehicle through elements of an obstacle course.
Personnel Certifying on their First Class "A" Fire Apparatus: The following are the requirements for certifying on the member's first Class "A" fire apparatus, which are identified as E-1, T-1, E-2, E-3, & E-30 1. Possess a minimum of a valid Class "B" Non -Commercial Drivers License for Emergency Responders. (The member should first take the written test from the Texas DPS to obtain a learners permit first before actually driving the FVFD vehicles). 2. Be a minimum of 21 years of age 3. View the videotape on "Positioning Apparatus", and take the written test that accompanies it. 4. Drive the vehicle in the city for a minimum of 6 hours with approved trainer, of which the last hour should be completed at night. Inclement weather driving is also encouraged, but only in the 5 th or 6 th hour of training. 5. Members must complete a minimum of 8 hours of approved pump operations training. 6. Be capable of operating and knowing the location of all the systems/equipment on the vehicle. 7. Be capable of performing standard weekly Preventative Maintenance checks on the vehicle. Testing will be required as follows: a) A "vehicle specific" standardized WRITTEN TEST will be given for the vehicle the person is certifying on. This will test will include questions on driving, operation of pump (if applicable), equipment on the vehicle, and maintenance checks/procedures, etc. Members must score 80% or better to pass the test. b) A "vehicle specific" standardized HANDS-ON TEST will be given for the vehicle the person is certifying on. This test will include performing pumping operations (if applicable), operation of equipment on the vehicle, and performing weekly preventative maintenance checks. c) A standardized DRIVING TEST will be given, and the vehicle the person is certifying on will be used for this portion. The test will be two parts: Part 1: Driving the vehicle through a standardized course in the City Part 2: Driving the vehicle through elements of a standardized obstacle course. Personnel certifying on second and subsequent Class "A" Fire Apparatus" The following are the requirements for the members second and any subsequent Class "A" Apparatus: (This does not include T-1) a) Drive the vehicle for a minimum of 2 hours in the city. It will be acceptable to drive at night or in inclement weather during the second hour only. b) Be capable of operating and knowing the location of all the systems/equipment on the vehicle.
c) Be capable of performing standard weekly Preventative Maintenance checks on the vehicle. Testing will be required as follows: a) A "vehicle specific" standardized WRITTEN TEST will be given for the vehicle the person is certifying on. This test will include questions on driving, operations of pump (if applicable), equipment on the vehicle, and maintenance checks/procedures, etc. Members must score 80% or better to pass the test. b) A "vehicle specific" standardized HANDS-ON TEST will be given for the vehicle the person is certifying on. This test will include performing pumping operations (if applicable), operation of equipment on the vehicle, and performing the weekly preventative maintenance checks. c) A standardized DRIVING TEST will be given, and the vehicle the person is certifying on will be used for this portion. This test will be in two parts: Part 1: Driving the vehicle through a standardized course in the city. Part 2: Driving the vehicle through elements of an obstacle course. Re-certification of Apparatus a) Individual certification on an apparatus is good for 3 years unless it has been revoked. b) Re-certification will consist of a practical evaluation conducted by the apparatus officer or a certified member of the drivers training committee. I have read and understand the FVFD Drivers training SOP #50
FRIENDSWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LOG Name: Texas Drivers License Number: Class: Expiration Date: Last Defensive Driving Class Date: In the past 12 months have you received any moving traffic violations (i.e., speeding, reckless driving, running a red light or stop sign, etc.)? If yes, please list. VEHICLE FOR CERTIFICATION: Completion of Tests: Tested By: Score (if Applicable): Video on Operating Emergency Vehicles & Test: Pump Operations Test: Video on Positioning Apparatus : Written Test: Hands-On Test:
Driving Test: Part A: Part B: I hereby certify the above name person to operate the aforementioned Friendswood Fire Department Vehicle. Name Title Date DRIVING TIME ACTUAL TIME DATE MILES DRIVEN CERTIFIED BY