How do I get a truck licence in Victoria?
Want to learn how to drive a truck in Victoria? Here’s how to go about it…To drive a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of greater than 4.5 tonnes in Victoria, or a bus which seats more than 12 adults (including the driver), you will need a heavy vehicle licence. In this article we dive into the types of licences available and the steps you need to take to achieve them.
What are the heavy vehicle licence categories in Victoria?
There are five heavy vehicle licence categories in Victoria, which are as follows:
- Light Rigid (LR)
- Medium Rigid (MR)
- Heavy Rigid (HR)
- Heavy Combination (HC)
- Multi Combination (MC)
What can I drive on each heavy vehicle licence in Victoria?
- A Light Rigid licence allows you to drive a vehicle with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes but less than 8 tonnes, including a bus with a capacity of more than 12 people (including the driver). It also allows you to drive a car or a light rigid vehicle towing a single trailer where the vehicle has a GVM not exceeding 9 tonnes, as well as a tractor or a tractor towing a trailer of any size.
- A Medium Rigid licence allows you to drive a vehicle with a GVM of more than 8 tonnes but no more than two axles, as well as any vehicle you are permitted to drive with a Light Rigid licence (see above). You may also drive a medium rigid vehicle towing a single trailer (provided it’s not a semi-trailer) provided the vehicle’s GVM does not exceed 9 tonnes.
- A Heavy Rigid licence allows you to drive a vehicle with a GVM of more than 8 tonnes with three or more axles, along with a bus with more than one rigid section, where passengers have access to move freely from one section to the other. You may also drive any vehicle permitted under the Light Rigid and Medium Rigid licence categories, as well as a heavy rigid vehicle towing a single trailer where the vehicle’s GVM does not exceed 9 tonnes. A prime mover without a trailer (ie ‘bobtail’) may also be driven on a Heavy Rigid licence.
- A Heavy Combination licence allows you to drive a rigid vehicle with a single trailer where the vehicle has a GVM of more than 9 tonnes, as well as a prime mover which is attached to a single semi-trailer where the gross vehicle mass is over 9 tonnes. The holder of a Heavy Combination licence may also drive any vehicles permitted under the Light Rigid, Medium Rigid and Heavy Rigid licence categories.
- A Multi Combination licence allows you to drive any vehicle or combination other than a motorcycle (ie including prime movers attached to two or more trailers, such as B-Doubles and road trains.
Related: How do I get a truck licence in NSW?
Related: How do I get a truck licence in Victoria?
Related: How do I get a truck licence in Queensland?
Related: How do I get a truck licence in South Australia?
Related: How do I get a truck licence in the Northern Territory?
Related: How do I get a truck licence in Western Australia?
Related: How do I get a truck licence in Tasmania?
Related: How do I get a truck licence in the ACT?
What is the eligibility criteria for a heavy vehicle licence in Victoria?
There is a range eligibility criteria you must first meet before applying for a heavy vehicle licence in Victoria. You must have held a car driver’s licence for at least 12 months before applying for a Light Rigid or Medium Rigid licence, increasing to 24 months before applying for a Heavy Rigid licence.
Before applying for a Heavy Combination licence you must have held a car licence for at least 24 months and a Medium Rigid or Heavy Rigid licence for at least 12 months.
And to apply for a Multi Combination licence, you must have held a Heavy Rigid or Heavy Combination licence for at least 12 months.
In addition to the above, you must also meet the following obligations:
- Pass an eyesight test
- Pass a heavy vehicle knowledge test
- Pass an on-road heavy vehicle driving assessment
- Pass an off-road (ie on a training range) heavy vehicle skills assessment
- Complete a formal training course (HC and MC applicants only)
- Meet national medical standards for private and commercial vehicle drivers
- Pay the require licence fee
The assessments must be carried out by VicRoads accredited providers.
How do I learn to drive a heavy vehicle in Victoria?
The first step of learning to drive a heavy vehicle in Victoria is to download and read the Victorian Truck and Bus Drivers’ Handbook, which is available through VicRoads. This contains all the information you will need to pass the knowledge test applicable to each heavy vehicle licence category.
Learning to drive a heavy vehicle can be carried out through an accredited heavy vehicle training and testing organisation, your employer, or by anyone with a current and valid Australian licence for the type of vehicle you are learning to drive, provided approved ‘driver under instruction’ plates are displayed on both the front and back of the truck or combination.
How do I get a bus licence in Victoria?
Driving a bus with more than 12 people (including the driver) requires a Commercial Passenger Vehicle and Bus Driver Accreditation. If you already drive a truck and wish to become a bus driver, speak to the bus company you intend to join for further information, or visit Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria.
Heavy vehicle assessments in Victoria
Once you feel you’ve had sufficient training, it’s time to organise your heavy vehicle assessments, which must be carried out by VicRoads accredited providers.
You must inform the assessment provider of any of a range of circumstances that may impact your eligibility for a heavy vehicle licence, namely…
- If you are currently disqualified from driving in Australia
- If you are currently subject to a Fines Victoria sanction
- If you have ever been disqualified from driving or refused a driver licence or learner permit in Australia
- If you have ever had your driver’s licence or learner permit cancelled or suspended
- If you wear corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses), have a hearing aid, or have any medical condition or physical disability that may affect your fitness to drive
- If you take any prescribed medications
Assessment and training providers will charge fees for their tuition and assessments. Speak to your chosen provider for a rundown on the specifics.
Okay, then what?
Once you’ve passed your heavy vehicle assessments, you will be issued with a Certificate of Competence, which remains valid for 12 months. Head to your nearest VicRoads Customer Service Centre and present this certificate, along with your driver’s licence or other proof of identity and the completed licence application form, pay the fee, and that’s it – you’ll be given a receipt and your new heavy vehicle licence will arrive in the post in approximately seven to 10 working days.
Anything else I should know?
Yes, a few things. Firstly, whenever you drive a heavy vehicle (or a light vehicle towing a heavy trailer) you must have zero blood alcohol content. This also means you should drink only a small amount of alcohol, or preferably none at all, the night before driving a heavy vehicle the next morning.
Furthermore, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator stipulates that, under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, drivers of fatigue-related heavy vehicles must carry and complete an NHVR Work Diary whenever they drive further than 100km from their base.
Fatigue-related heavy vehicles include trucks with a GVM of more than 12 tonnes and buses with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes that carry more than 12 people (including the driver). See the NHVR website for more information on the driver fatigue framework for heavy vehicles, which spans standard hours, basic fatigue management and advanced fatigue management.
And to obtain an unrestricted heavy vehicle licence, you will need to pass your assessments in a truck with a non-synchromesh transmission (commonly known as a Roadranger or crash 'box). If you pass your assessments in a truck with a synchromesh manual, automated manual, or automatic transmission, your licence will come with a ‘B’ exclusion, which means you won’t legally be able to drive a truck with a non-synchromesh gearbox. See our advice article, How to drive an 18-speed Roadranger, for more information.
For more information on getting your heavy vehicle licence in Victoria, head to VicRoads.
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