HYATTSVILLE
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

DRIVER'S TRAINING PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• A. The drivers training program is administrated by the drivers training committee.
  Effective January 27, 1997 the following will be the managers of the driver training committee:
  
  • Chair: Tim Lorenzano
    
  • Manager: Louis P. Alar
    
  • Manager: Keith Rinehimer
    
  • Manager: Thomas Steve Wright
    
  D/C Lorenzano will have overall authority and final say on all drivers training issues.
  
  
• B. Following are the various status levels and abbreviations for the status board within the drivers training system:

  Status	Abbreviation	Brief Description (all refer to a specific piece of apparatus)
  Non-Driver	NO	No driving responsibility or training
  Drivers Training	DT	Progressing though the various levels of the drivers training program
  Provisional Driver	P	Cleared to drive on emergency calls with a regular driver.
  Regular Driver	R	Cleared to drive on emergency calls without restriction
  Master Driver	M	Cleared to drive on emergency calls for 6 months
  Reserve	R	Previously cleared as a regular/master driver and still a member, but no longer meeting regular duty requirements
  Drivers Training Committee Member	DTC	Cleared to drive all apparatus on emergency calls for six months

  
  
• C. Members cleared to drive all apparatus for a minimum of six months will automatically be on the drivers training committee.
  
  
• D. All members entering the drivers training program will establish a file to maintain all drivers training documentation.
  
  
• E. The following information must be submitted to a DTC member and a copy placed in your drivers training file prior to driving any vehicle owned or operated by the Hyattsville Vol. Fire Dept.
  • 1. Proof of successful completion of the Prince George's County Fire Department drivers training course.
    
  • 2. Produce a valid, proper class, drivers license.
  
  
• F. Prior to entering the drivers training program, a member must meet the minimum age requirements set forth by the department as outlined in the station By-Laws.
  
  
• G. Five levels of drivers training have been established for the trainee to progress during their training on each piece of apparatus.
  
  
• H. Following is a summary of the levels and who is authorized to train the member within the specific level:
  (Specific details/evolutions within the levels are outlined in the attachment)
  

  Level	Brief Description	Authorized Trainer
  I	Vehicle Familiarization	Driver Training Committee member
  II	Parking lot evolutions	Driver Training Committee member*
  III	On Road w/ trainer	Driver Training Committee member*
  IV	Aerial/Squad/Pump Ops.	Any regular or master driver
  V	On Road	Any regular or master driver
  * At the discretion of a Drivers Training Committee member, a master driver may conduct level II or III training. The Driver Training Committee member who authorizes the master driver, is still responsible to ensure the proper training has been completed and must initial the progress report.
  ** Special AMBULANCE Exception: Any member that is a master driver on the ambulance is authorized to conduct driver training at all levels. EMS Officers and Drivers Training Committee members must still clear a member to provisional and regular status following the guidelines established herein.

  
  
• I. As a guideline, the order of progression with respect to drivers training will be:
  
  • 1. Utility Vehicles
    
  • 2. Ambulance*
    
  • 3. Tiller
    
  • 4. Engine
    
  • 5. Squad
    
  • 6. Tractor
    
  * Note: Prior to drivers training on the ambulance, the member is required to be cleared in the "aid" position.
  (Any exceptions must be authorized by the Chief of the Department)
  
  
• J. Each time a member trains on a piece of apparatus, he or she must have the trainer fill out a progress report. This will log the trainees progress, list areas that need improvement, and provide documentation for the required hours. It is the trainee's responsibility to ensure the documentation has been completed and properly filed.
  
  
• K. Following is a summary of the minimum hour requirements for driver training Hyattsville VFD apparatus:
  • Ambulance: 10 hours
    
  • Tiller: 10 hours
    
  • Engine: 12 hours
    
  • Squad: 12 hours
    
  • Tractor: 12 hours
    
  
  
• L. After the member has successfully completed all levels of training, and documented the minimum hours for the specific piece of apparatus, he or she is placed on provisional driving status. This must be documented in the member's file and placed in the log book by a drivers training committee member and the Chair of the Drivers Training Committee must be notified (i.e., page, E-mail, phone call).
  
  
• M. Logging Calls: Under provisional status, the member will be authorized to respond on emergency calls with another regular or master driver. The provisional driver must log 10 calls on each piece of apparatus. The regular or master driver will evaluate the response of the provisional driver.
  
  Note: Officers and drivers will take into account the need for provisional drivers to log calls (i.e., riding assignments, pulling that piece on a call). If more than one member is on provisional status, duty crew personnel will get preference, beyond that, the duty officer will need to divide the calls to ensure a fair and even distribution.
  
  
• N. A provisional driver must complete their 10 emergency calls and placed on regular status prior to starting the drivers training process for the next piece of apparatus.
  
  
• O. The driver training committee chair must be contacted and verbally, approve regular driver status for each member. Regular status must be documented on the log of emergency responses and noted in the log book. In the absence of the Chair, a manager may approve a regular status appointment until final approval by the chair.
  
  
• P. All driving, emergency or otherwise, shall conform to all applicable traffic laws and fire department general orders and procedures. Safety shall be the overriding consideration at all times.
  
  
• Q. No personnel shall operate any fire department owned or operated vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. At a minimum, an individual shall not operate any apparatus owned or operated by this department for eight (8) hours after their last alcoholic beverage. After this time limit, the individual shall use his or her better judgement, however, at any time, the officer can use his or her discretion and prohibit any driver from operating a piece of apparatus.
  
  
• R. Two individuals drivers training on both the tractor and the tiller of the ladder truck, at the same time, shall be prohibited.
  
  
• S. Drivers that have been involved in the following incidents will be automatically removed from the drivers list until sufficient investigation has been completed and authorization to return to active driving status has been approved by a Chief Officer:
  • A. any accident or incident which resulted in property damage or personal injury;
    
  • B. any complaint or incident regarding the drivers performance;
    
  • C. at any other time deemed necessary by the OIC of the apparatus.
    
  
  Immediately following an incident as outline above, all crew members and witnesses will be required to submit to the investigating officer, a written account of all the events regarding the incident.
  
  
• T. Reserve drivers must be cleared by a Chief Officer prior to driving on an emergency call. At the discretion of the Chief Officer, the Reserve driver may be required to complete refresher training.
  
  
• U. Members who wish to be cleared to drive the Utility Truck must meet the following requirements and provisions:
  • * Cleared and documented by a DTC member after review of pertinent requirements outlined herein;
    
  • * At the discretion of the DTC member, the new driver may be required to complete various road skills;
    
  • * Does not respond emergency unless specifically ordered by a command officer.
    
  
  
• V. Certified drivers from other Prince Georgesâ County stations may drive HVFD apparatus under the following conditions:
  • * Member in good standing with original company;
    
  • * Driver in good standing with original company;
    
  • * Completed the minimum requirement of hours for the type of apparatus they wish to drive;
    
  • * Must complete Level I and 2 hrs. road time for each piece of apparatus with a DTC member.
    
  
  
• W. Class A permit Guidelines and Procedures:
  • * A member with a Class A permit will only train for the Class A test.
    
  • * Training will be limited to parking lot practice with the tractor of the ladder truck.
    
  • * In order to conduct any road driving, the driver trainer is required to have had their Class A licence for three years.
    
  • * MVA tests vary from year to year. As a test is announced, a specific list of the required skills will be posted.
    
  • * After successful completion of the Class A test, the member will be placed in the drivers training program and will progress as outlined herein.
    
• X. Any questions, comments, or concerns regarding drivers training, please contact a manager.
  
  

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