Do you know that Australia is running short of eligible truck drivers and the sharp decline of the industry is said to last through at least the decade? With more and more truck drivers opting for retirement in the industry, and yet more truck freights operating on the road, trucking has become a legitimate niche that can result in sustainable employment in the near future.
Breaking into the industry is a bit daunting as well as time-consuming, but the elbow grease will be well worth the reward of a new secure job.
The Licensing Criteria
Having at least a Light Rigid Driver’s licence is required to be eligible to drive most commercial trucks in the Aussie land. However, if you want to upgrade to the next licence class, you will have to go through the eligibility criteria for each state as they vary widely. In case you are looking to obtain an MR, LR or HR licence in Parramatta, you have to hold at least a P2 licence. In the case of HR licence, you have to hold it for at least two years to meet the eligibility criteria. To upgrade to an HC licence, you need to maintain an MR or HR clearance for at least a year.
The bottom line is that the process is time-consuming and it will take at least four years to climb up the licensing ladder, from having none to a professional HC licence.
Types of Licence
The difference in the licence is directly related to the weight that the vehicle can carry as well as the axle numbers.
- Light Rigid: The GVM bar for LR licence is 8 tonnes, and the towed truck must not weigh more than GVM 9 tonnes.
- Medium Rigid: The GVM is not specified, but you can only drive two-axle trucks. Moreover, you will not be allowed to tow a vehicle weighing more than 9 tonnes.
- Heavy Rigid: Neither GVM restriction nor limitation of axles, but the towing limit is still 9 tonnes.
- Heavy Combination: The only limitation on this level is you can’t tow more than one vehicle at a time.
- Multi Combination: This licence gives you the freedom of free operation on the road.
There are over 500 schools enlisted in the ADTA (Australian Driver Trainer Association) and finding one in your proximity is not a problem. Moreover, it is not difficult to obtain a truck licence in Parramatta, given you meet all the necessary criteria beforehand. You will have to go through three tests.
- A theory test that assesses your general truck-driving knowledge.
- A road and maritime driving test that assesses your practical driving knowledge. If you already have a licence which you’re upgrading, you need to undertake HVCBA.
- An eye test which is the highlight of a thorough medical examination, to ensure you are fit enough to be on the road.
A driving school will come to rescue by training as well as assessing your driving skills, except if you are in NSW. If you are opting for a private instructor in place of a school, you will have to spend a significant amount of hard cash. Now that you know all the necessary things that you need to obtain your truck driving licence, we wish you all the luck to ace the tests.
