The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Training and Competency Model is the biggest change to the Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) industry in a decade. If you or your company work on or change the normal operating conditions of the road environment this matters to you. Whether you’ve heard of the changes or not, chances are you don’t quite understand exactly how they will impact you or your business. This article will explain in layman’s terms what these changes mean for the industry and you.  The Training and Competency Model has been two years in development and consultation and the first stages are rolling out right now.  Here’s where it is currently at: Update:  The first course under the new Training and Competency Model begins November 2019. A select group of trainers appointed by NZTA have attended the TTM Mentor Train the Trainer workshop and are about to commence training workshops for the new TTM Mentors.  The trainers will contact the Mentors to organise a date. We’ve got three TTM Mentor Trainers and in the new year once the first batch of mentors have been trained the course will be open to the public.  Once Mentors have completed the training they will be issued with a new NZTA warrant card with TTM Mentor details on it. From there TTM Mentors will be able to conduct the training and verification for TTM Worker training and other practical components of the new training and competency model.  
Overview:  The new model consists of 3 separate but interconnected parts: NZTA TRAINING AND COMPETENCY - Parallaxx

General Worker (Site Personnel) 

Learning Blocks: General Worker – Introduction to TTM  Prerequisite: No prerequisites Who is it for:  Anyone working on or who is likely to visit a worksite. (Not intended to replace site induction, ConstructSafe etc, but offers a complimentary compliment. 

Manager of Activities Requiring TTM

Learning Blocks: General Worker – Introduction to TTM  Prerequisite: No prerequisites Who is it for:  Anyone working on or who is likely to visit a worksite. (Not intended to replace site induction, ConstructSafe etc, but offers a complimentary compliment. 

TTM Worker 

Learning Blocks: TTM worker Prerequisite: General worker  Who is it for: A worker who assists with TTM under the direction (eg puts signs and cones out, assists with stop/go)

Mobile Operation Driver

Learning Blocks: Mobile operation driver Prerequisite: TTM Worker Who is it for: Drivers of vehicles in mobile operations Includes drivers of TTM work vehicle, shadow vehicle (with or without a TMA), lead pilot vehicle or tail pilot vehicle with or without AWVMS  Note: Deck crew complete TTM Worker training

Traffic Controller (TC)

Who is it for: The qualified person in category A and B road environments who:
  • Assists with the deployment of the operation 
  • Maintains the site within existing TTM phase while the STMS is away from worksite
The TC will only be able to assist an STMS installing, modifying or removing TTM at a worksite, except in the following circumstances:
  • Undertakes non-invasive activities on foot on the roadside of a road with a permanent speed of 60km/h or less
  • Undertakes inspection activities 

Universal Site Traffic Management Supervisor (STMS) 

Learning Blocks: Universal STMS Prerequisite: Mobile operation driver (for those wanting to hold the one of the STMS warrants) TC Non-practising (knowledge)  Who is it for: This provided base knowledge for people wanting to become the:
  • STMS – The person who will be supervising the setup, change and removal of a worksite to a predetermined plan
  • Traffic Operations Manager
  • TTM Mentor, TTM Assessor or TTM Trainer
  • TTM Planner, Auditor, TMC and Corridor Manager

STMS Category A

Learning Blocks: STMS category A (low speed) Prerequisite: Universal STMS, must be TC warranted to complete the practical component for this qualification Who is it for: A person who has achieved universal STMS competency, who is intending to be the STMS on category A roads

STMS Category B

Learning Blocks: STMS category B Prerequisite: Universal STMS, must be TC competent to complete the practical component for this qualification Who is it for: A person who has achieved universal STMS competency, who is intending to be the STMS in a category B road environment

STMS Category C

Learning Blocks: STMS category B Prerequisite: Universal STMS, must be TC competent to complete the practical component for this qualification Who is it for: A person who has achieved universal STMS competency, who is intending to be the STMS in category C road environments

Traffic Operations Manager

Learning Blocks: Traffic Operations Manager (TOM) Prerequisite: Should be STMS knowledge qualified for the category of road environment that their crews are operating on  Who is it for: A person who manages multiple TTM crews for a company (NOTE – this is an optional role – not all companies will have a TOM)

Use of specialist TTM equipment on-site

Learning Blocks: Use of specialist TTM equipment on-site Prerequisite: Universal STMS Who is it for: The STMS at worksites using the specialist equipment (portable traffic signals, VMS).

Other specialist activities

Learning Blocks: Specialist Activities (eg Traffic signals, Sealing, Road marking, Barriers) Prerequisite: Universal STMS and warrant for training on appropriate road environment Who is it for: For TTM Planner and STMS who is involved in planning and delivering the TTM aspects for an activity.

TTM Planner

Learning Blocks: TTM Planner Prerequisite: 
  • Participants do not need to complete General worker learning block
  • TTM Worker and TC (minimum knowledge component)
  • Universal STMS
  • STMS minimum non-practising (knowledge) component for the category of road they will be developing TMPs for (category
  • A, B and C)
  • Planner expected to acquire endorsements for specialist activities (eg traffic signals, sealing and road marking) / specialist
  • TTM equipment (eg portable traffic signals, VMS) if utilising within a TMP
  • Experience in (or observation of) installation, maintenance and removal of TTM for category of TTM
Who is it for: STMS certified/warranted person who develops and submits TMPs for approval. This person will also brief the onsite STMS in charge of the site about the TMP.  Also includes specialist activities and specialist equipment as required. For example, Event management

TTM Audit

Learning Blocks:  Prerequisite: 
  • Non-practising (knowledge) qualified in category of road environment auditing on (TTM Worker, TC, Universal STMS and STMS for category of road environment they are auditing on)
  • Knowledge of specialist activities/equipment (eg event, KCTL, road markers, portable traffic signals)
  • Desirable to have attended TTM Planner workshop
Who is it for: STMS certified/warranted person who assesses worksites (static and mobile) to support continuous improvement and identify and report on poor performance

TMP Approver

Learning Blocks: TMP Approver Prerequisite: 
  • Participants do not need to complete General worker learning block 
  • TTM Worker and TC (minimum knowledge component)
  • Universal STMS
  • STMS with minimum Non-practising (knowledge) component for the category of road environment they are responsible for (Category A, B or C)
  • TTM Planner
  • TMP Approver (if required to approve TMPs)
  • Desirable to complete the Audit and TMP Approver training as their work would be improved with this knowledge

Corridor Manager and TMC

Learning Blocks: TMC and Corridor Manager Prerequisite: 
  • Participants do not need to complete General worker learning block 
  • TTM Worker and TC (minimum knowledge component)
  • Universal STMS
  • STMS with minimum Non-practising (knowledge) component for the category of road environment they are responsible for (Category A, B or C)
  • TTM Planner
  • TMP Approver (if required to approve TMPs)
  • Desirable to complete the Audit and TMP Approver training as their work would be improved with this knowledge
Who is it for: Corridor managers and TMCs

TTM Mentor

Learning Blocks: TTM Mentor Prerequisite: 
  • Must have practical experience in the activities they will be training on
  • Must be certified/warranted in the mentoring they will be undertaking
Who is it for: Person who mentors/trains staff on the practical aspects of their role, may be an in-house person.  

TTM Assessor

Learning Blocks: TTM Assessor Prerequisite: 
  • Must be TTM certified/warranted to the for the category of road environment they are assessing in
Who is it for: TTM Assessor is selected by NZTA to assess competence in a specific specialist activity (eg Category C practical assessment, TMP design assessment, Barriers assessment)

TTM Trainer

Learning Blocks: TTM Trainer Prerequisite: 
  •  Must have credible industry experience in the areas they will be training on 
  • Must be STMS warranted to the category of road environment they will be training 
  • Must be qualified in any of the workshops they will be running 
  • Must hold (or be enrolled in training for) New Zealand Certificate in Adult an
Who is it for: Person who wants to become a trainer for selected CoPTTM workshops
If you need further assistance regarding the latest model update, we’d be happy to give you more details. Drop us a message here or call us at 0800333772.
Download the full NZTA Training and Competency Model here.