Vehicles & Attachments | Off Road Vehicle Operating (4×4)

Boost your confidence and know-how to tackle the toughest challenges that the land – and the unpredictable weather – can throw at you.

Off Road Vehicle Operating (4x4)

At the end of this course, you will have proved your ability:

  • 1
    Comply with legal requirements and safe practice
  • 2
    Identify risks associated with off road vehicle use
  • 3
    Select and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • 4
    Understand the main causes of accidents
  • 5
    Identify the controls, systems and components of your vehicle
  • 6
    Perform pre-start checks
  • 7
    Identify and report faults
  • 8
    Prepare your vehicle for use off road
  • 9
    Assess the suitability of both ground and route
  • 10
    Make structured decisions about if, and how, to tackle obstacles
  • 11
    Perform a failed hill climb
  • 12
    Drive over a variety of terrain
  • 13
    Perform an on-site risk assessment
  • 14
    Identify loading and towing capacities
  • 15
    Understand legal and practical requirements for travelling on a public road
  • 16
    Identify the dangers of vehicle recovery/self-recovery
  • 17
    Demonstrate expert decision-making about obstacles, your vehicle’s capabilities, and your own driving skills.

The Finer Details

Two certificate options are available:

Option 1 – Principles of Off Road Vehicle Operating.
Ideal if you’re only looking to tackle basic off road challenges. Geared for driving in normal conditions, you’ll only be facing a limited range of obstacles. There will be risk, but it’s kept to a minimum.

Option 2 – Operating Vehicles in Off Road Adverse Conditions.
This is all about mastering more severe tests, including tough weather conditions. It will challenge both you and your vehicle, with a wide range of obstacles to tackle. You’ll also learn how to identify and manage risk safely.

The courses involve key theory and practical sessions:

  • 1
    Introduction
  • 2
    Health and safety
  • 3
    Attributes of vehicles and systems
  • 4
    Attributes of obstacles
  • 5
    Attributes of operators
  • 6
    Vehicle checks and preparation
  • 7
    Basic operating techniques
  • 8
    Vehicle recovery, safety briefing
  • 9
    Off road to on road checks.

If you’ve already had accredited training, you still might need a refresher course if:

  • 1
    Your last training was completed more than five years ago
  • 2
    You’ve had a recent incident or near miss
  • 3
    A new vehicle means it’s time for a skills brush-up.

To join our courses all you’ll need are basic driving skills. But you’ll be off road, not on holiday, so you’ll need to wear suitable clothing and proper shoes.

Delivery Method

Training (with Assessment) Competence with Modules

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