How do I get a truck licence in the Northern Territory

The transport industry helps to keep supermarket shelves stocked, while also providing a rewarding array of employment opportunities – none more exciting than behind the wheel.

There is no shortage of incredible scenery in the Northern Territory, from vast ochre deserts to snaking canyons, so what better vantage point than the seat of a truck?

Getting your heavy vehicle licence in the Northern Territory is a three-step process involving driving lessons, a theory test and a practical driving assessment.

The Northern Territory Government oversees the process and a full rundown of requirements can be found on their website.

Any truck with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes is considered a heavy vehicle in the Northern Territory, but it is important to plan ahead and consider what trucks you expect to be driving.

There are heavy vehicle classes starting at Light Rigid (LR) right up to Heavy Rigid (HR) and beyond, and each licence class allows you to drive lower class vehicles (excluding motorcycles).

Light Rigid (LR) – An LR licence allows you to drive a vehicle with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes but no more than eight tonnes. You will need to have a current Northern Territory driver’s licence and have held a class C licence for at least one year to be eligible to apply for an LR licence.

Medium Rigid (MR) – On an MR licence you are permitted to drive a vehicle with a GVM of more than eight tonnes, but it must have no more than two axles. You will need a current Northern Territory driver’s licence and must have held a class C or LR licence for at least one year to be eligible for an MR licence.

Heavy Rigid (HR) – You will be able to drive a truck that weighs more than 8 tonnes, including vehicles with three or more axles on a HR licence. This licence class is typically suitable for drivers wanting to operate heavy rigid truck setups. You must hold a current Northern Territory driver’s licence and have held a class C licence for at least two years, as well as an LR or MR licence for at least one year, to be eligible for a HR licence.

Heavy Combination (HC) – A HC licence is a step up from HR, allowing you to operate a prime mover with a single semi-trailer that has a GVM of more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly. The conditions for this licence category are that you hold a current Northern Territory driver’s licence, have held an MC or HC for at least one year, and you must learn from a driver who holds the same or higher licence (HC or MC).

Multi-Combination (MC) – An MC licence is the holy grail of trucking qualifications, allowing you to drive the famed Aussie B-double, triple road trains and even quad road trains. This licence is for those who plan on operating multi-trailer setups. You must hold a current Northern Territory driver’s licence, have held a heavy rigid or heavy combination licence for at least one year, and you must learn from someone with a current MC licence.

Lastly, you must consider whether you will be required to drive manual, either synchromesh or non-synchromesh, or automatic trucks when applying for a HR, HC or MC licence.

Automatic Transmission (XU licence condition) – Much like a passenger car, heavy vehicles with an automatic transmission will shift for you and are becoming the norm on our roads.

Synchromesh Transmission (B licence condition) – Also similar to the manual gearboxes found in cars, a synchromesh transmission has synchro rings that match road speed and engine speed, allowing the engagement of individual gears.

Non-Synchromesh Transmission (No licence condition) – Often referred to as a constant mesh or ‘crash box’, the non-synchromesh transmission requires drivers to ‘double clutch’ and match engine speed to gearbox speed. The common Eaton Road Ranger 18-speed gearbox is an example of this transmission type, known for being durable but requiring a higher degree of driver finesse.

Much like the weight classes, you will be permitted to drive all gearbox options if you obtain a non-synchromesh transmission licence, however if you have a synchromesh transmission licence condition you can only drive that gearbox or an automatic.

If you obtain only the automatic condition, you will not be permitted to drive any manual heavy vehicles that fall under HR, HC or MC categories.

Once you have decided what heavy vehicle class best suits your trucking aspirations, it is time to go through the licensing process.

Applying for a heavy vehicle licence is a similar process from LR through to HR, and you cannot apply for HC or MC licence classes until you have first obtained a relevant rigid certification.

The process in the Northern Territory is to first learn to drive the type of heavy vehicle you plan on obtaining certification to operate, before being required to pass a heavy vehicle theory test, and lastly you will have to pass a driving assessment in an approved vehicle.

When learning to drive a heavy vehicle, you must be accompanied by an appropriately licensed person in the passenger seat, and you must display a ‘DRIVER UNDER INSTRUCTION’ sign at the rear of the vehicle.

For LR, MC and HC you will be required to pass a knowledge test that involves either a training course with an approved heavy vehicle training provider, or a theory test at a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) office.

Once you have passed your knowledge test, it is time to undertake your driving assessment through either an approved heavy vehicle training provider or with an authorised heavy vehicle driving examiner.

The criteria for the vehicle you must use for your practical test are as follows:

LR - The vehicle must have a GVM of at least 4.5 tonnes but no more than eight tonnes, and must be loaded to at least 75 per cent of the GVM.

MR - The vehicle needs to be a two-axle rigid truck with a GVM greater than eight tonnes, loaded to at least 75 per cent of the GVM.

HR - The vehicle must be a rigid truck with three axles and cannot be an unladen prime mover. The GVM must be at least 15 tonnes and the truck has to be loaded to at least 75 per cent of its GVM.

When applying for MR and HR licence classes, applicants are also required to pass an eyesight test. This can be done by a health professional or at an MVR office. For somebody moving from MR up to HR, who has already done the test, they will not be required to do it again.

Okay, so you’ve met all of the criteria and passed the knowledge and practical assessments, what now? It is time to submit your application to have your licence upgraded.

This can be done in person, by email or by mail, and you must provide one of the following:

To apply in person, visit an MVR office with your supporting documents and pay your licence fee.

If you wish to apply by email, send your supporting documents to mvr@nt.gov.au and pay your licence fee over the phone by calling MVR on 1300 654 628.

Lastly, to apply mail send your supporting documents to Motor Vehicle Registry, GPO Box 530, Darwin NT 0801. You then need to pay your licence fee over the phone by calling MVR on 1300 654 628.

Once your application has been processed, you’re all set to drive and will receive a receipt as your authority to drive, which you must keep with you until you receive your new licence.

Stay safe and keep on truckin’!