Course in Mining Vehicles: Rigid Trucks
Online 300-hour course in mining vehicles: rigid trucks. 6 modules covering ISO 6483 (nominal tipper body volume), ISO 7132 (dumpers: terminology and specifications) and Cat MineStar. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Mining Vehicles: Rigid Trucks — studying from New Zealand
Off-road and special vehicle engineering is a major strength in New Zealand, reflecting the importance of agriculture, forestry, mining and construction. Manufacturers and fabricators in the Waikato and Canterbury produce tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment and specialised machinery, many of which are exported worldwide. Engineers in this field work on design, testing and safety compliance for equipment used on farms, in plantations and on remote worksites.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,280 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Which New Zealand bodies relate to off-road and specialist vehicle engineering?
Engineering New Zealand is the main professional body, and vehicle compliance is handled by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Heavy machinery and certain specialist vehicles can also fall under WorkSafe New Zealand rules. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so employers and regulators decide their value.
Who hires off-road and special vehicle engineers in New Zealand?
Employers include forestry and agricultural equipment firms, mining and civil construction contractors, fabrication shops, and emergency or utility vehicle fleets. Practical design, safety and maintenance skills are central to hiring. A SEIUM qualification may help, but its weight depends on the employer.
How does the study load work for someone with a job here?
The programme is fully online, so you can study around work from anywhere in New Zealand without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments or sponsored by an employer.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the mining rigid truck and its main systems.
Apply start-of-shift checks in line with safety procedures.
Analyse the loading, haulage and dumping phases of the haul cycle.
Calculate productivity taking into account haul road, gradient and rolling resistance.
Interpret dispatch systems and truck assignment.
Assess vehicle interaction risks and collision prevention measures.
Estimate maintenance and operating costs per tonne transported.
Who it's for
- Mine haulage supervisor looking to specialise in Mining Vehicles: Rigid Trucks.
- Mine planning engineer looking to specialise in Mining Vehicles: Rigid Trucks.
- Fleet dispatch manager looking to specialise in Mining Vehicles: Rigid Trucks.
- Mining truck maintenance engineer looking to specialise in Mining Vehicles: Rigid Trucks.
- Mining safety technician looking to specialise in Mining Vehicles: Rigid Trucks.
- Mining productivity analyst looking to specialise in Mining Vehicles: Rigid Trucks.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter open-pit mining.
What you'll work with
- ISO 6483 (nominal tipper body volume)
- ISO 7132 (dumpers: terminology and specifications)
- ISO 3450 (braking systems of wheeled machines)
- ISO 20474-6 (safety requirements for dumpers)
- Royal Decree 863/1985 (General Regulations on Basic Mining Safety Standards)
- ISO 21815-1 (warning and collision prevention systems)
- ISO 17757 (safety of autonomous machinery systems)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Rigid versus articulated truck: field of use1.2Ranges by payload capacity1.3Chassis, suspension and frame1.4Mechanical and electric transmission1.5Diesel engines and electric wheel drive1.6Braking system and electric retarder1.7Body: design, liner and tipping1.8Giant tyres: construction and cost1.9Dimensions, turning radii and road requirements1.10Workshop: selecting a truck for a pit
2.1Pre-operational inspection and walk-around2.2Levels, leaks and filters2.3Tyres: pressures, temperature and damage2.4Brake and retarder checks2.5Tipping system and safety locks2.6Visibility, cameras and proximity radar2.7Safe cab access and egress2.8Communication with dispatch and the shovel2.9Relief and handover of the vehicle2.10Practical: pre-start checklist
3.1Approach and positioning at loading3.2Waiting and loading times3.3Payload, overloading and on-board weighing3.4Load distribution in the body3.5Driving loaded and empty3.6Climbing and descending ramps: gears and retarder3.7Managing brake and tyre temperature3.8Dumping at waste dump, crusher and stockpile3.9Reversing and manoeuvres with a banksman3.10Practical: complete haul cycle
4.1Haul road design and maintenance4.2Rolling resistance and fuel consumption4.3Optimum gradient and cycle speed4.4Cycle calculation and matching with the shovel4.5Dispatch systems and dynamic assignment4.6Queues, delays and operational losses4.7Output per hour and per shift4.8Fuel consumption and efficient driving4.9Haulage fleet indicators4.10Practical: analysis and improvement of a real cycle
5.1Main risks: collision, rollover and run-over5.2Mine traffic rules and priorities5.3Blind spots and light vehicles5.4Working at dump edges and berms5.5Rollover risk during tipping5.6Vehicle fire: prevention and response5.7Tyre explosion and measures5.8Night driving, dust and fog5.9Incident investigation5.10Practical: risk assessment of the work station
6.1Scheduled hour-based maintenance6.2Tyre management and its cost per hour6.3Oil analysis and condition monitoring6.4Major repairs and rebuilds6.5Cost per tonne transported6.6Cost of downtime6.7Autonomous trucks and electrification: effects6.8Operator training and certification6.9Common operating errors6.10Final project: operating plan for a rigid truck fleet
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Cat MineStar, Modular Mining DISPATCH, RPMGlobal TALPAC, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assignments are based on real procedures for studying mine haul cycles, haul road and rolling resistance analysis, and fleet availability control. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the mining rigid truck and its main systems.
Apply start-of-shift checks in line with safety procedures.
Analyse the loading, haulage and dumping phases of the haul cycle.
Calculate productivity taking into account haul road, gradient and rolling resistance.
Interpret dispatch systems and truck assignment.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient English to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with Cat MineStar, Modular Mining DISPATCH, RPMGlobal TALPAC, advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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