Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society

Vehicle Load Evaluation and Calculation Training

SAQA US 256521 | NQF 4 | Credits 10 | Duration 7 Days
From $1,523 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the skills to evaluate and calculate loads on vehicles to ensure safe transportation and compliance with South African road traffic regulations. Participants will learn to assess load distribution, stability, and weight limits to prevent overloading and accidents. The course emphasizes practical application in logistics and transport operations.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply relevant legislation and standards to evaluate vehicle loads.
  • Calculate load mass, volume, and distribution to ensure compliance with legal limits.
  • Assess vehicle stability and load security to prevent accidents.
  • Analyze load characteristics and their impact on vehicle performance.
  • Demonstrate correct procedures for loading and securing different types of cargo.
  • Evaluate load-related risks and implement control measures.

Target Audience

This course is designed for transport managers, logistics supervisors, fleet operators, and drivers responsible for loading and securing goods on vehicles. It is also suitable for health and safety officers involved in vehicle load management.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Vehicle Load Evaluation

Objectives:
• Understand the importance of vehicle load evaluation for safety and compliance
• Identify different types of vehicles and their load capacities
• Explain basic principles of load distribution and centre of gravity

Topics:
• Overview of vehicle load evaluation regulations in South Africa
• Types of vehicles: light, medium, and heavy vehicles
• Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), Gross Combination Mass (GCM), and payload
• Principles of load distribution and centre of gravity
• Consequences of overloading: safety, legal, and mechanical
• Relevant SAQA unit standards and legislation

Day 2: Load Calculation Fundamentals

Objectives:
• Calculate maximum allowable loads for various vehicle configurations
• Apply formulas for axle load distribution
• Interpret vehicle manufacturer specifications

Topics:
• Axle load limits and regulations
• Calculating payload: GVM minus tare weight
• Load distribution formulas for different axle configurations
• Practical examples of load calculations
• Using manufacturer data sheets
• Introduction to load calculation software

Day 3: Load Securement and Safety

Objectives:
• Understand principles of load securement
• Identify appropriate tie-down equipment
• Calculate required tie-down forces

Topics:
• Legal requirements for load securement (SANS 10228)
• Types of securing devices: chains, straps, ropes
• Friction and its role in load restraint
• Calculating tie-down force requirements
• Load shift prevention techniques
• Practical demonstrations of securement methods

Day 4: Practical Load Calculation Exercises

Objectives:
• Perform load calculations for real-world scenarios
• Use load calculation tools and software
• Verify load compliance with regulations

Topics:
• Step-by-step load calculation for a rigid truck
• Load calculation for a truck-trailer combination
• Using load calculation software
• Cross-checking calculations with manufacturer specs
• Common calculation errors and how to avoid them
• Practical exercise: load planning for a delivery

Day 5: Load Evaluation for Special Vehicles

Objectives:
• Evaluate loads for tankers, tippers, and abnormal loads
• Understand permits and exemptions
• Apply load evaluation principles to specialized equipment

Topics:
• Load evaluation for tankers: liquid surge and weight distribution
• Tippers: load stability and tipping sequence
• Abnormal loads: permits, route planning, and escort requirements
• Load evaluation for trailers and interlinks
• Special considerations for hazardous materials
• Case studies: load evaluation challenges

Day 6: Practical Load Securement and Evaluation

Objectives:
• Apply load securement techniques in a practical setting
• Evaluate load security and compliance
• Use inspection checklists

Topics:
• Hands-on load securement practice
• Inspection of load securement equipment
• Evaluating load distribution and centre of gravity
• Using load inspection checklists
• Practical exercise: secure a mixed load on a flatbed
• Group activity: peer evaluation of load securement

Day 7: Integration and Assessment

Objectives:
• Consolidate knowledge through a comprehensive assessment
• Demonstrate ability to evaluate and calculate vehicle loads
• Apply learning to real-world scenarios

Topics:
• Review of key concepts and formulas
• Comprehensive load evaluation exercise
• Written and practical assessment
• Feedback and discussion
• Course wrap-up and certification information

Practicals

24 hours of practicals To be conducted online or on-campus or in-house
Overview

Practical sessions are essential for learners to apply load calculation and securement principles in a controlled environment. These hands-on activities ensure competence in real-world load evaluation tasks.

Practical Activities
  • Load Calculation Workshop — Learners perform load calculations for various vehicle types using provided data sheets and software, then verify results against regulations. (8h)
  • Load Securement Practice — Learners secure mixed loads on flatbed trailers using chains, straps, and friction mats, then inspect and evaluate their work. (8h)
  • Comprehensive Load Evaluation — Learners conduct a full load evaluation on a simulated vehicle, including calculation, securement, and documentation, followed by peer review. (8h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) 100% 30%
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 50%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Practicals 30% + Daily Average 20% + Final Test 50%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Fri 11 Sep 2026 Mon 21 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Thu 01 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Wed 21 Oct 2026 Thu 29 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Wed 09 Dec 2026 Thu 17 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Tue 12 Jan 2027 Wed 20 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Mon 15 Feb 2027 Tue 23 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Fri 05 Mar 2027 Mon 15 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 11 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Wed 17 Mar 2027 Thu 25 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Tue 08 Jun 2027 Wed 16 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Tue 06 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 23 Jul 2027 Mon 02 Aug 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 09 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Wed 29 Sep 2027 Thu 07 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Tue 19 Oct 2027 Wed 27 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Wed 08 Dec 2027 Thu 16 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Tue 28 Dec 2027 Wed 05 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Tue 25 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 492 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Tue 18 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,284 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Wed 19 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $5,929 Register
Wed 12 Aug 2026 Thu 20 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,607 Register
Wed 12 Aug 2026 Thu 20 Aug 2026 Mauritius Winter 2026 $4,525 Register
Thu 13 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,769 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Tue 22 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Fri 09 Oct 2026 Mon 19 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Thu 29 Oct 2026 Fri 06 Nov 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Thu 17 Dec 2026 Fri 25 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Wed 20 Jan 2027 Thu 28 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Tue 23 Feb 2027 Wed 03 Mar 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Tue 16 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 19 Mar 2027 Mon 29 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 25 Mar 2027 Fri 02 Apr 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 16 Jun 2027 Thu 24 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 06 Jul 2027 Wed 14 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 26 Jul 2027 Tue 03 Aug 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 17 Sep 2027 Mon 27 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 07 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 27 Oct 2027 Thu 04 Nov 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 16 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 05 Jan 2028 Thu 13 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 25 Jan 2028 Wed 02 Feb 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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