I’m just about to venture into the LGV world and so I’m learning the lingo.
Could anyone be kind enough to explain what defensive driving and security level 4 mean?
Capt. Manuvar
In a nutshell Defensive Driving means drive as though everybody else on the road is an idiot!! (not difficult these days) If you see a situation in front of you ease off and give them some space. Try to anticipate what somebody else may do and be ready when they do it (or not). Thats my interpretation and I do try to practice it .
Level 4 Security is to do with airfreight and is all about being trained about keeping your truck secure whilst airfreight is on board. Normally the trucks will have a security cable on the curtainsides (mine does) and this should always be locked or sealed, to stop anybody interfereing with the freight whilst it is on your truck.
I think I’ve got it right but then there is probably wiser counsel on this board.
Calv
Calv’s spot on with what he says about Level 4 security (also known as AVSEC 4 as in aviation security). They also teach you what to look for as regards suspicious parcels, packets, behaviour, etc.
In fact when I did mine, the trainer was passing round lumps of semtex and C4 (plastic explosive) so we knew what it looked like 
If the delivery driver has his AVSEC 4 ticket, it’s almost like a guarantee that the load’s secure and hasn’t been tampered with or added to.
I’m not 100% sure about this, but I think that if you take a load of airfreight without an AVSEC 4, the receivers will either refuse it altogether or charge a fortune to put the load through the scanner.
Thanks a lot for the information. Are these qualifications in high demand?
Thanks
Capt. manuvar
Calv:
In a nutshell Defensive Driving means drive as though everybody else on the road is an idiot!! (not difficult these days) If you see a situation in front of you ease off and give them some space. Try to anticipate what somebody else may do and be ready when they do it (or not). Thats my interpretation and I do try to practice it .Level 4 Security is to do with airfreight and is all about being trained about keeping your truck secure whilst airfreight is on board. Normally the trucks will have a security cable on the curtainsides (mine does) and this should always be locked or sealed, to stop anybody interfereing with the freight whilst it is on your truck.
I think I’ve got it right but then there is probably wiser counsel on this board.
Calv
just to add to this, if you are sat at the airport or at another customer and the back doors/side curtains are open never leave it open if you have to enter the premises,just incase there is inspectors watching you. this will mostly happen at the airport.
Capt. Manuvar:
Thanks a lot for the information. Are these qualifications in high demand?
Thanks
Capt. manuvar
not really if you work for a company that picks up airfrieght its standard practise to have level 4 security, its not something a boss will ask you for.