Are you thinking about starting a career as a truck driver or upgrading your current licence into a heavy vehicle licence? Before you hit the road, remember that Australia has different types of heavy vehicle licences, and you need to find the right one that meets your requirements. As a centre for heavy vehicle training in Melbourne, we often get asked, “Which truck licence should I get?” and in this blog, we’ll be answering that question by breaking down all the types of heavy vehicle licences in Australia, allowing you to make an informed decision on which licence suits you best.
When do you need a heavy vehicle license?
In Australia, if you are planning to drive a vehicle that has a gross mass of more than 4.5 tons, you will need to obtain a heavy vehicle license. Such licenses are issued under the National Heavy Vehicle Driver License System. Under this system, you have the option of selecting from five types of heavy vehicle licenses, each catering to a specific class of heavy vehicles.
What are the different types of truck licences in Australia?
As mentioned above, the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Licence System offers five types of heavy vehicle licences. They are:
- Light Rigid Licence (LR)
- Medium Rigid Licence (MR)
- Heavy Rigid Licence (HR)
- Heavy Combination Licence (HC)
- Multi-Combination Licence (MC)
Light Rigid Licence (LR)
If you are someone who wants to transition from a passenger vehicle to larger commercial vehicles such as minibuses and small delivery trucks, then the LR licence is the perfect fit. As an entry-level truck licence, it is perfect for individuals who will be driving vehicles that have a gross vehicle mass between 4.5 and 8 tonnes. To be eligible for this licence, you must have held a Class C car licence for at least 12 months prior to applying.
Medium Rigid Licence (MR)
An MR licence can be considered a step up from our previous entry, since it’s ideal for individuals who want to drive vehicles that exceed 8 tonnes. It also comes with the added benefit of allowing licence holders to tow trailers that weigh up to 9 tonnes. This makes it ideal for individuals who are looking for driving jobs in industries such as logistics and public transport. Similar to the LR licence, you must have held a C-class licence for at least 12 months in order to be eligible.
Heavy Rigid Licence (HR)
If you are looking to enter into the trucking, mining, or construction industries, then obtaining an HR licence is a must, as it allows you to operate heavy vehicles that have three or more axes. Vehicles covered under this licence include buses, tipper trucks, and heavy-duty freight vehicles, among others. Like the MR licence, HR licence holders are also allowed to tow trailers up to 9 tonnes. However, unlike the previous licences, in order to be eligible for HR licences, you must have had your class C licence for at least two years.
Heavy Combination Licence (HC)
If you are someone who is looking to transition into long-haul freight transport or specialised logistics operations, then you must get yourself an HC licence. It is very much a licence that caters to mastering complex vehicles such as fuel tankers and semi-trailers. To be eligible for this licence, you must have held an HR or MR licence for at least 12 months, and the training for your HC licence will focus a lot on mastering load distribution and reversing articulated vehicles.
Multi-Combination Licence (MC)
Last, but not least, we come to MC licences, the highest level of truck licence awarded in Australia. To be eligible for this licence, you must have had an HC licence for at least 12 months and have completed your MC training. This high standard is for good reason, as getting this licence allows you to drive some of the largest vehicles in Australia, including road trains and bulk transport vehicles. This makes the HC licence the perfect choice for any drivers looking to work in the mining and agricultural industries.
Conclusion
If you are interested in driving trucks and heavy vehicles in Australia, you will need a heavy vehicle licence, and that means you have a choice to make—which type of licence should you get? Australia has five distinct heavy-vehicle licences, and each has the ability to open doors in a rewarding career path. Therefore, make sure to do some thorough research to select the one that suits you the best.
Once you’ve made your choice, you will need some training to get used to your new vehicle, and if you are looking for a place to get some heavy vehicle training in Melbourne, there is no better place than ADHVT. Give us a call and let’s get your training started.
