Thread: truck license

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

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

Originally Posted by strange_rover1

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.

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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 .

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

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