Sideloader Operator's Certificate

A sideloader operator's certificate shows that an operator has been trained and assessed as competent to use a sideloader. A sideloader is a truck- or trailer-mounted crane that lifts shipping containers. It is also called a side lifter or sidelifter. In the Sideloader Operator's Certificate course, the operator does the theory online and gets a certificate of achievement. They then pass a practical assessment on the sideloader they use. Once a manager validates that result, they get the operator's certificate and an ID card for Google Wallet or Apple Wallet.

Anyone who operates a sideloader at work needs sideloader training. The Good Practice Guide says assistants who help with lifts need training too. The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course suits:

• new operators, alongside hands-on training on the machine
• experienced operators renewing their training, who often pick up habits that were never taught
• operators returning to the job after a break
• supervisors who check how operators work
• assistants who help the operator during lifts

The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course covers how sideloaders work and how to use one safely. Topics include:

• types of sideloader and their main parts
• warning decals, the load plate and safe working limits
• how the crane arm position affects the lift
• pre-start checks and maintenance
• your health and safety duties as an operator
• managing risks on site, and arriving and leaving safely
• setting the stabiliser legs
• loading, unloading and transferring containers
• double-stacking and minilifters

The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course has a module for each of Hammar, Swinglift and Steelbro. The rest of the course applies to every sideloader. Safe set-up, lifting and transfers work the same way on all brands. The brand modules are optional, so you can turn off the ones your operators don't use.

If you run a different make, operators can still do the course. They then need training on your machine, using the manufacturer's operating manual. The Good Practice Guide asks for this machine-specific training for every operator (section 3.2). Your remote control may have a different button layout. Most brands use the same or similar symbols, so an experienced operator can show them the differences.

Yes, but not with the online course alone. The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course gives a new operator the theory. They also need supervised, hands-on training on the sideloader they will use. Then they must pass the practical assessment, which can be conducted by a supervisor at the company's location, using the equipment they would usually use and lifting a load that's typical for them. If you don't have an experienced operator to provide supervision, training and/or instruction for them, TR Driver Training runs hands-on sideloader training at your workplace. Call 0800 637 000.

No. No law in New Zealand says sideloader training must come from an external or accredited trainer. The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 lets your business meet its training duty in the way that suits you. The result must be as good as, or better than, what the Good Practice Guide for sideloaders recommends. The guide says trainers need the right knowledge and skills, and must be confident the operator is competent (section 3.4).

Many businesses find in-house training works better. The online theory in the Sideloader Operator's Certificate course goes into more depth than a one-day course. Operators can repeat modules as often as they need. Translations and audio help operators with English as a second language. When your own supervisor does the practical assessment, they see how the operator works on your site.

Yes. Sideloader operators in New Zealand must be trained. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, a business must give its workers the training they need to work safely (section 36). For sideloaders, the WorkSafe-endorsed Good Practice Guide says what that training should cover. Every operator, and any assistant, must be trained on the make and model they use. Training must be kept current (section 2.1).

You can meet this with a competency course like the Sideloader Operator's Certificate, or with NZQA unit standard 17679.

No. NZQA Unit Standard 17679, Operate a truck-mounted sideloader, is optional. It is a level 3 standard worth 6 credits. The Good Practice Guide says an operator with this unit standard meets the general training requirements. The business must still train them on the machine they use (section 3.1).

The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course is a competency course. It goes into more detail than the unit standard, but it doesn't award unit standard credits. If you want the credits, TR Driver Training runs a sideloader unit standard course, assessed by a trainer.

DT Training recommends renewing the Sideloader Operator's Certificate at least every three years. No law in New Zealand sets a fixed period. The Good Practice Guide says training must be kept current, and training records should be reviewed every year (sections 2.1 and 3.5). Three years is common practice for machinery training. You can set a shorter period, such as two years, if your risks are higher. The course's management tools show which operators' certificates are about to expire.

Yes. The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course teaches the theory online, and that's where most of the learning is. A hands-on practical assessment on your own sideloader covers the practical side. Operators must pass it to get the operator's certificate. Doing the theory online means:

• no day off-site for your operators
• short modules they can fit into quiet times over several days
• videos of each step on real machines
• modules they can repeat as often as they need
• subtitles in 25 languages, questions in 76 languages and audio of every question in English
• reports and progress tracking for managers, including expiring certificates

The practical assessment for the Sideloader Operator's Certificate course is required for the operator's certificate. There are two ways to do it:

1. In-house: an experienced operator or supervisor in your business assesses the operator. They use the checklist and guide video in the course, during normal work on the sideloader the operator usually uses. There's no extra cost.
2. Verification of competency: TR Driver Training, which co-produced the course, assesses the operator at your premises, at extra cost. Call 0800 637 000 to book.

Once a manager validates the result, the operator gets the operator's certificate and an ID card. The ID card can be saved to Google Wallet or Apple Wallet.

The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course gives you the training, the assessment tools and the certificates:

• video modules with questions, including modules for Hammar, Swinglift and Steelbro
• a downloadable study guide
• a practical assessment checklist and guide video
• a certificate of achievement when the operator finishes the theory
• an operator's certificate and ID card (Google Wallet or Apple Wallet) once a manager validates the practical assessment
• extra managers at no cost, who can track operators, download reports and create certificates

DT Training made the Sideloader Operator's Certificate course with TR Driver Training. TR Driver Training's trainers teach the sideloader unit standard and run verifications of competency. They also appear in the course videos. Both businesses are part of TR Group. TR Group owns more sideloaders in New Zealand and Australia than any other company, and uses this course to keep its own operators competent. TR Driver Training trainers also contributed to the Good Practice Guide for sideloaders.

Sideloader operators usually also drive the truck and trailer that carries the container, so this course pairs well with Semitrailer reversing, Rollover prevention and Trailer coupling and uncoupling. Together, they cover getting the container to site, lifting it safely and getting back on the road.

The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course takes around 2.5 hours, depending on the trainee. That includes the videos and questions for every module. If you turn off the optional introduction and the brand modules your operators don't use, it takes a little over 2 hours. Operators can spread the modules over several days. The practical assessment takes extra time.

To use the Sideloader Operator's Certificate course:

• You need one course licence per operator. You can't use one licence for several operators.
• You need a computer, smartphone or tablet with internet access for the theory.
• You must do a practical assessment on a sideloader at the end of the course. An experienced operator in your business can do it using the course checklist, or TR Driver Training can do a verification of competency at extra cost.

Yes, in part. The Sideloader Operator's Certificate course has language and literacy support:

• video subtitles in 25 languages (choose the language in the video; not available in interactive modules)
• questions you can view in 76 languages (written answers must be in English)
• audio of every question in English

Some captions are AI-generated and may have occasional errors.

"We have found the course to be extremely beneficial, a great learning tool, and I believe will set myself and fellow employees up to become efficient, safe and good side loader operators. Having the flexibility to be able to learn in our own environment and at our own pace is proven to be invaluable, and would recommend all companies to take this course as it would be bang-for-buck a great investment."

Cody Hata, MD, KFM Logistics Groups

"I personally feel that this course is pretty much self-explanatory to trainees. We will strongly recommend others to go through with this course."

Gurprit Singh, Veer Enterprise Ltd

"Initially, and from the three with 40,30 & 20 years experience each, they were a bit reluctant, but not too far into the course I could hear a few mutterings about ‘well, I never knew that’!  so after overcoming a few technical issues (ie, not being used to using computers) the outcome was very positive with new knowledge gained."

Julie