A Simple Guide to Understanding Truck Licences

Posted on: 28 August 2020

If you want to become a truck operator, you are required to hold a licence that not only indicates that you have completed a truck driving course, but can also safely drive a truck. What does this mean?

It means that you should know all the driving rules and be capable of driving a truck on busy roads without endangering the lives or safety of other road users and pedestrians. Here's what you need to know about truck licences:

Vehicle Licence Classifications

Different vehicle licensing classifications start with less complicated small vehicles and go all the way to more complicated large vehicles. You may come across:

  • Class C vehicle licences that cover the typical vehicle you use to get to work or the store.
  • Class LR licences for small trucks and buses (LR is an abbreviation for Light Rigid).
  • Class MR licences for medium-sized trucks and buses (MR is an abbreviation for Medium Rigid).
  • Class HR licences for heavy rigid trucks (HR is an abbreviation for Heavy Rigid). Articulated buses are also in this category (the word articulated means that the truck or bus has two or more joint sections).
  • Class HC licences for heavy articulated vehicles (HC is an abbreviation for Heavy Combination).
  • Class MC licences for load trains, prime movers, B-doubles, etc. (MC is an abbreviation for Multi Combination).

Why Is It Important to Know Different Licence Classes?

When you visit a driving school to enquire about how to acquire a licence for the truck you want to work with, you might be informed that there are some requirements.

The four common ones are that you should have proof of identity, be over eighteen years old, have at least held a full class C licence for about two years and have no disability or impairment that would hinder you from operating a truck safely.

The rest of the requirements are based on what truck licence you need:

  • LR, MR and HR licence

You need the four common requirements to enrol for an LR, MR and HR licence course.

  • HC licence

You need to have held an MR or HR licence for at least a year to be allowed to enrol in an HC driving licence course. This also means that you should have met the four common requirements indicated above.

  • MC licence

You need to have held an HR or HC licence for at least a year to be allowed to enrol for an MC driving licence course. Just like the HC licence, it also means that you should have met the four common requirements indicated above.

To learn more about getting a truck licence, contact a company like Australia Wide Forklifts.

Share