truck license

[Fusion]

Do we have any truck drivers on the site ? if so could you tell me whats involved in getting a semi license and how much of a house loan i need to get to pay for it ? thanks ;)

[rangieman]

Do we have any truck drivers on the site ? if so could you tell me whats involved in getting a semi license and how much of a house loan i need to get to pay for it ? thanks ;)
If your unemployed the goverment will pay for it ;)
Apart from that sorry its over 20 years:eek: since i got my HA licence:D

[brad3000]

Hey there Mick,iv been driving for about 10 years now so its been a while since i got mine,but i started out with my meduim ridged which was about the $500 mark i held that for 12 months then went for my heavy combination which i think with 3 lessons,the test and licence fees was about $700,then when i did my multie combination all i had to do was clock up 50 hrs in a road train or b-double.again it was a many,many km,s ago now,hope this helps:D
Brad'O

[Bigbjorn]

Accumulated mine between 1958 and 1962. You only had to pay for the learner's permits then.

[Redback]

It's different in most states, for NSW, it's will take a couple of year, you first need to get your MR (medium ridged, 1 rear axle), then HR (heavy ridged, 2 rear axles) then you can go for the HC (heavy combination) from here on it's a matter of hours logged to increase the trailer axles and multiple trailers (ie) B double/roadtrain.

Each will have too be held for a minimum of 12mths BEFORE going to the next license grade.

Yes it will cost a lot.

Baz.

[Loaded]

In QLD you can go for your H/R from the start, once you have held that for 12 months you can then go to Major Training and go straight for a B-Double licence.
I was going to continue on from my H/R but I have found a great job driving a 7000Ltr tanker and I am home every night so I will stay in the job im in for a long time as I have found it very rewarding.
It was around $500.00 to get the H/R from memory and if you want to go for the big one 12 month after it would be a weeks course and 2000.00.

[LandyAndy]

The rules are now "national"
You need to hold a Heavy Rigid licence for a minimum of 12months before getting you Heavy combination.
I was reading an article the other day about the new national rules,1 item was you no longer need a learners permit to go up a class in your licence.We are looking into this as we have a couple of guys looking to get their HC.
Its actually an item to be addresed at our toolbox meeting tommorow Im holding tommorow.
Will let you know once I get some answers.
Andrew

[PeterM]

Ok, if you've held your open car license for a few years you can go straight to a HR. This will involve you doing some lessons, getting tested and once you pass you will need to hold that for 12 months before you can go for your HC (semi). As with the HR, do your lessons then test and away you go. If you plan on hanging around in the industry you can then do your MC (b-double) endorsement. This is usually a course and you can start it the day after you get your HC.

Prices vary quite a bit, it depends on who you go to see. Make sure you do your lesons and test in an unsynchronised truck (Road Ranger box usually) as that means you can drive any transmission. If you do your test in a synchro truck you can only drive autos and synchro.

For your first job, concrete companies are a good place to start, they usually have a steady turnover of staff and you should be able to find a place that has their own trucks. Build up a bit of experience and then move on from there, also handy to get onto the books of an agency as this will only increase your exposure to different trucks, loads and environments.

[Fusion]

Going to call into vic roads tomorrow and get the scoop on how i go about it . Hoping i can go straight for the HR license so i can get in a tipper or as said before concrete truck .

[LandyAndy]

Hi Mick
In most cases your employer will wear the costs of the licence,it comes under the % of wages paid that they must invest in training.
ASK THE QUESTION!!!!
Andrew

[BigJon]

When I got my HC in SA about 5 years ago I did a course which allowed me to go from Car to HC without any rigid licenses in between. Cost was about $1300 from memory. Two days of theory and 15 hours of logbook driver training.

[strange_rover1]

As Andy said, I am sure it is a national system now. You have to hold HR for atleast a year, then you can move straight up to MC if you want. Another consideration is whether you want to get a restricted (synchro box) license or unrestricted (non-synchro, road rangere etc..). If you just get restricted you cannot drive an unrestricted truck. I did my MC last year and it cost $140 per hour lesson, I had never driven a Road Ranger before and I had 10 lessons then a triple lesson to do my test on. Definitely check it out per state as my father in law did his test in SA last year and he reckons it was quite difficult over there.
Shano

[LandyAndy]

I found out that a learners permit is no longer required as such to learn,but it is still part of getting the licence.
So using our bloke as an example,he cant get his HC till he has held the HR for 12 months(4 months to go).He can drive the semi,provided a licenced HC driver is in with him before the 12 months is up.He dosent need to apply for a learners permit to do so,but will when he actually applys for the driving test.
The licencing girl at work phoned Planning and Infrastructure for the information.
Andrew

[Bigbjorn]

Another consideration is whether you want to get a restricted (synchro box) license or unrestricted (non-synchro, road rangere etc..). If you just get restricted you cannot drive an unrestricted truck. I did my MC last year and it cost $140 per hour lesson, I had never driven a Road Ranger before and I had 10 lessons then a triple lesson to do my test on.

If you can't handle a Road Ranger within 5 minutes you should not even be driving nails. They are dead easy, and can be shifted single, double, or no clutch. you really only have to memorise the difference in up and down split shifting on the splitter versions, the 13 & 18 speeds. Spicer 1214 & 1420's are a bit more difficult and require a little finesse. Twin stick transmissions are another country but very rarely seen nowadays.

[Blknight.aus]

you must be off your P's by 12 months before attempting HR
you must then hold HR for 12 months before attempting HC
you must hold HC for 12 months before attempting MC.

(thats been covered)

there are some training schools that can get around the HR-HC limitation BUT you will pay through the nose for it and it takes about 3 months of kept book driving under instruction during which time you not only pay for the instruction but part of the running cost of the vehicles (but you can do some Freelance work if you want to)

The simplest way to work out if you can drive a crash box is ask someone whose got a series I II or IIA if you can take their rover for a drive in some close streets where you will be up and down from first gear on a regular basis. IF you go close to getting that right your in with a chance, Most new trucks are easier than a series to drive and turn in about the same circle as LWB.

[Fusion]

you must be off your P's by 12 months before attempting HR
you must then hold HR for 12 months before attempting HC
you must hold HC for 12 months before attempting MC.

(thats been covered)

there are some training schools that can get around the HR-HC limitation BUT you will pay through the nose for it and it takes about 3 months of kept book driving under instruction during which time you not only pay for the instruction but part of the running cost of the vehicles (but you can do some Freelance work if you want to)

The simplest way to work out if you can drive a crash box is ask someone whose got a series I II or IIA if you can take their rover for a drive in some close streets where you will be up and down from first gear on a regular basis. IF you go close to getting that right your in with a chance, Most new trucks are easier than a series to drive and turn in about the same circle as LWB.

Thanks Dave , I can drive a series 2a easy enough . I have been around trucks since i was 15 so driving isn't the hard part . I just wasn't sure how to go about getting a license .

[Michael96130]

I'm lucky enough to have had my MC license for about 15 years,so I can't tell you of any of the costs or hoops you may have to jump threw now. But 6 months ago the company I work for sent all of its MC,HC and HR drivers regardless of there driving experience on a deca driving course. It was a real eye opener and would recommend this company to any body or any license class. Being from Perth and also lucky enough to do all my professional driving with in this state, so driving though Melbourne and the hills in the north of Victoria, east of Shepperton very different to what I would usually see. Also something about having a semi on a skid pan getting all out of shape long enough to get dizzy was great fun. But a lot different from the nice quiet country/city driving you get over here.

Good luck to you.:)

Michael.

DECA Training (http://www.deca.com.au/)

[blitz]

I'm in the process of getting my HR license, you need a heavy ridgid truck they wont supply one, do the theory and then do the prac.

Thats how it works in the NT. Your best bet I think would be to talk to your local TAFE and do a Cert III in road transport which includes the HR license.

Once you have had that for a year then you can look at getting your semi license.

As for the cost buy the trade a truck mag they range in cost from Oh MY God down to 20 year old 5k ones that are at the end of their working life.

Cheers Blythe

[V8Ian]

If you can't handle a Road Ranger within 5 minutes you should not even be driving nails. They are dead easy, and can be shifted single, double, or no clutch. .

I've been a pro driver for over 30 years & still remember how daunting RR boxes were. Once mastered they can't be bettered so hang in & persevere with it.

In Qld you used to be able to upgrade from HR to HA/MC with 50 hrs in your log book with a licenced driver.

FOR SALE: R;MC;RU I'm over it :D

WANTED: Slow caravan, must be capable of holding up trucks :wasntme: