How do I get a truck licence in Tasmania?

Tasmania has a thriving transport industry, with loads of jobs on offer across general, logging, fuel and other forms of freight. The best part is, you will be driving in one of Australia’s most scenic locations.

Here is everything you need to know about getting your heavy vehicle licence in Tasmania, from start to finish. More information can be found on the Tasmanian Government’s Transport Services website.

In Tasmania, any vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 4.5 tonnes is considered a heavy vehicle, requiring a special class of licence to drive it.

Heavy vehicle licence classes start at Light Rigid, progressing all the way to the top-tier Multiple Combination class, and each involves unique assessment requirements. It is important to consider what licence class is best suited to your needs, based on the trucks you plan to drive.

Light Rigid (LR) - In Tasmania you must be at least 19 years of age and have held a C class licence for at least one year, before applying to drive LR vehicles. An LR class licence permits you to drive a motor vehicle (excluding motorcycles) with a GVM greater than 4.5 tonnes but no higher than eight tonnes, and you will be permitted to tow a trailer with a GVM up to nine tonnes.

Medium Rigid (MR) - Applying for an MR class licence requires you to be at least 19 years of age and have held a C class licence for at least one year. This licence class will allow you to drive vehicles with a GVM greater than eight tonnes but with no more than two axles, and you will be permitted to tow a trailer with up to a nine tonne GVM.

Heavy Rigid (HR) - You will need to be at least 20 years of age and have held a C class licence for two years or LR/MR licence for at least one year prior to applying for a HR class licence. A HR licence will mean you can drive a vehicle, including an articulated bus, with three or more axles and a GVM greater than eight tonnes. You will still only be permitted to tow a trailer with a GVM up to nine tonnes.

Heavy Combination (HC) - You must be at least 20 years of age and have held a C class licence for at least two years as well as an MR or HR licence for one year, before applying for a HC licence in Tasmania. A HC licence will permit you to drive a prime mover with a single semi-trailer and a dolly, or unladen converter dolly, as well as rigid trucks with a GVM greater than nine tonnes.

Multi-Combination (MC) - To apply for the top licence category, MC, you must be at least 21 years old and have held a HR or HC licence for at least 12 months. An MC licence will allow you to drive any truck and trailer combination, including B-doubles, road trains and other multi-trailer setups.

You will also need to consider what gearbox type you plan on driving, when obtaining your heavy vehicle licence in Tasmania.

If you are tested in a truck equipped with a synchromesh or automatic transmission, you will only be allowed to drive selected gearbox types.

An automatic test will place an A2 condition on your licence, allowing you to drive only automatic trucks. If you complete your assessment in a synchromesh manual truck, you will be given a B condition, meaning you can drive synchromesh manual or automatic transmission vehicles.

If you opt for a non-synchromesh transmission condition, known as a ‘crash box’, you will be allowed to drive all gearbox types. While many modern trucks feature automatic transmissions, older trucks commonly feature 18-speed Road Ranger gearboxes.

The Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Driver’s Handbook outlines licence classes, requirements and conditions in detail, as well as covering relevant heavy vehicle theory.

In Tasmania you are also able to apply for an exemption from the age and experience criteria to drive a heavy vehicle, requiring a letter from your employer, which can be found here.

Now that you have worked out what class of heavy vehicle licence is best suited to your needs, it is time to consider what is required to get licensed up.

In Tasmania, you must first visit Service Tasmania and compete an application form, as well as showing proof of identity in-person.

Next, you will have to pass either a rigid or combination heavy vehicle knowledge test, which is free of charge but requires you to study both the Tasmania Road Rules Handbook and Heavy Vehicle Handbook.

Next you will be subject to an eye test, before paying your learner licence fee and embarking on your driving journey. When learning, you must have a supervisor driver accompanying you who has the same or higher class of heavy vehicle licence. You must also display learner plates at the front and rear of the vehicle and not exceed 90km/h. It goes without saying, but you must also have a zero per cent blood-alcohol level.

The final step to getting your heavy vehicle licence is completing either a Competency Test or Training and Final Competency Assessment with an approved External Service Provider. Both options require you to undertake the practical heavy vehicle assessment in a loaded truck.

For HC and MC classes, you will have to complete the relevant Training and Final Competency Assessment with an approved External Service Provider, of which there are two options in Tasmania.

Congratulations, you are almost ready to start driving heavy vehicles in Tasmania!

The final step to obtaining your heavy vehicle licence involves visiting a Service Tasmania branch, where you will have to complete an application form, undertake an eyesight test, and produce a Certificate of Competency.

Once you have paid the licence extension fee, you will be qualified to drive a truck in Tasmania. Safe driving!