Heavy vehicle driver requirements
Licensing
The first step in a career as a truck driver is getting a heavy vehicle licence.
While some truck companies offer training for new employees to help them get or upgrade their licence, getting a heavy licence is something you can do yourself.
Before you can start to learn to drive any truck, you need to have between one and two years’ experience on a car licence. This can include time on a Provisional Licence – but time spent on a Learner Licence does not count.
There are five classes of heavy vehicle licence.
LR – Light Rigid licence
Commonly used for deliveries in urban areas, often to residential addresses or small shops – food, whitegoods, removalists.
MR – Medium Rigid licence
Similar applications to LR, though more common for business deliveries and retail shops. Also very common for route and school buses.
HR – Heavy Rigid licence
Used for larger urban deliveries, often for larger shops retail centres and business/industrial sites. Also very common for specialist applications such as concrete agitators, refuse trucks and tippers.
HC – Heavy Combination Licence
Common across a broader range of urban, regional and long distance work. Everything from supermarket deliveries to petrol tankers and container haulage.
MC – Multi Combination Licence
Mostly used for longer distance work across a broader range of applications, including express freight, general freight, fresh produce, livestock. Also used in more specialised urban work, such as container haulage.
To drive larger and heavier vehicles, you need a higher class of licence. Heavy vehicle licensing is also progressive, which means you need to spend time driving smaller vehicles before you can upgrade your licence.
This is to ensure you develop the skills and experience driving on roads shared with other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians before moving into larger and heavier vehicles.
To get a heavy vehicle licence, you will first need to pass a knowledge test and then complete competency-based training and assessment. This training is provided by Registered Training Organisations.
A qualified instructor will help you develop the skills and competencies you need and assess your ability to drive a heavy vehicle.
More detailed information on licence classes and requirements, as well as a list of the Transport-accredited Registered Training Organisations, can be found on the NSW Government Heavy Vehicle Licencing page.
Training
There are many different types of truck driving jobs – from general freight to livestock transport, fresh food and produce to fuel haulage.
Each needs a different set of skills in addition to driving to do the job safely and well.
Most trucking companies will provide the job training needed for the work that they do.
It is important, especially if you are new to the industry, to find an employer that is willing to invest in the training and development of its drivers.
Workplace training is also available through Vocational Education and Training (VET). While not mandatory, this can be a helpful way to build the skills and knowledge needed to work in the industry, and to work in specific types of truck driving roles.
The NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled program provides subsidised training to eligible people to help them find a job and advance their career.
More information on government support for training is available at Smart and Skilled, and on truck driving courses at Skills NSW.
There are some truck driving jobs that involve higher risk activities and need additional training or qualifications.
These include driving fuel tankers, explosives or other dangerous goods, or operating vehicles fitted with lifting equipment.
Employers often help their drivers obtain these qualifications or training – generally these types of roles are for experienced drivers.