The National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Goods Service) with strands in Heavy Rigid Vehicle Driver and Heavy Combination Vehicle Driver, recognises that the holder has the skills necessary to be able to load, unload, and drive a heavy rigid goods vehicle or a heavy combination goods vehicle safely, efficiently, and lawfully, with regard for the rights of other road users, and for the general safety of the holder. In addition, the holder will have demonstrated a range of interpersonal, personal presentation, numeracy, literacy and communication skills required for the efficient conduct of the service.

Where necessary, the holder will have met the statutory and or regulatory requirements specified in the unit standards required.

Unit standards listed in the Heavy Rigid Vehicle Driver Strand and optional strands are also contained in the Core Elective. People intending to complete the Heavy Rigid Vehicle Driver strand or an optional strand will need to ensure they do not select unit standards from the Core Elective Lists A and B that are required for their chosen strand or optional strand.

The optional strands recognise that the holder has demonstrated the specialised skills required for transporting the class of goods specified in the strand. The inclusion of the optional strand unit standards in the Core Elective List A and the additional unspecified unit standards in the domains specified in Core Elective List B recognise the particular and diverse skills required by heavy vehicle commercial drivers.

This qualification does not authorise the holder to drive any class of motor vehicle on New Zealand roads without holding a current driver licence appropriate to the mass and configuration of the vehicle driven. Drivers of vehicles transporting dangerous goods must hold a driver licence with a Type D (Dangerous Goods) endorsement. People who operate goods transport services must hold a Goods Service Licence. Licences and endorsements are issued by the Land Transport NZ.