If you’re thinking about getting your Melbourne truck licence, there are a few regulations you need to meet before you can take to the road. Truck licences in Melbourne are issued by VicRoads and fall under the category of heavy vehicle licences, further broken down into five categories depending on industry requirements.
Read on to find out what what’s involved in getting licenced. But first, let’s break down the types of licences and what the type of vehicles they permit you to drive.
Types of licences
Light Rigid (LR) licence
Light Rigid vehicles are vehicles that seat more than 12 adults (including the driver) and have a gross vehicle mass (GVM) more than 4.5 tonnes but not more than 8 tonnes.
Requirements: For this type of licence you must have had your car driver’s licence for at least 2 months.
Medium Rigid (MR) licence
Medium Rigid vehicles have a GVM of more than 8 tonnes, but no more than 2 axles.
Requirements: For this type of licence you must have had your car driver’s licence for at least 2 months.
Heavy Rigid (HR) licence
A Heavy Rigid (HR) vehicle has a GVM of more than 8 tonnes and 3 or more axles (whether or not the wheels on those axles are on the road). These include busses consisting of sections which are connected to one another to allow rotary movement and passenger access between the sections.
Requirements: To apply you must have held an Australian car driver licence for at least 24 months.
Heavy Combination (HC) licence
HC trucks consist of the prime mover with a single semi-trailer attached that has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly, or a rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a trailer that has a GVM more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly.
Requirements: To apply you must have held an Australian car driver licence for at least 24 months, an MR or HR licence for at least 12 months, and have completed a driver training course approved by VicRoads.
Multi Combination (MC) licence
As with HC trucks, but with more one single semi-trailer attached.
Requirements: To apply you must have completed a VicRoads approved driver training course, and have held an Australian driver licence to drive a HC or HR vehicle for at least 12 months.
Steps to Getting Your Truck Licence
To attain your heavy vehicle licence permitting you to drive a vehicle with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes you must have met the requirements outlined above, and also meet the following:
- pass an eye test
- pass a heavy vehicle knowledge test
- pass an on-road heavy vehicle driving assessment and an off-road heavy vehicle skills assessment
- complete a formal training course (heavy combination and multi-combination applicants only)
- meet national medical standards for private and commercial vehicle drivers
- and pay the licence variation fee.
Once these conditions are satisfied, your next step will be to familiarise yourself with the most current edition of The Victorian Bus and Truck Drivers’ Handbook.
When you’re familiar with the handbook, you can then undertake instructed lessons through accredited providers such as Yugo Driving School. Each of our truck driving courses are VicRoads approved, meeting the VicRoads requirements to offer expert instruction and get you on the road.
Book Your Truck Licence Course With Yugo
If you’re thinking of going for your truck license, regardless of what category it falls into, Yugo has the course to help you pass.
Visit our Training Courses page to find the right course for you.