25 Sep What will you learn during your heavy rigid training
A Heavy Rigid truck licence will allow you to drive trucks and vehicles with 3 or more than 3 axles and over 8T GVM vehicles or bendy buses
What are the conditions to gain a Heavy Rigid Licence?
You must have your Provisional or Open C Class (Car) Licence for a period of at least 2 years and;
- Pay the applicable fee and pass the Heavy Vehicle Knowledge Test with a Transport company. (This is not a requirement if you already hold a Heavy Vehicle Licence).
- Pay the applicable fee and pass the practical Heavy Vehicle Driving Test with a Transport company. (The vehicle for this test must have a GVM that is greater than 15 Tonnes at least).
How many lessons will I require to get my Heavy Rigid HR licence?
The number of lessons you will need depends on the type of vehicle you plan to conduct your HR Licence requirement test in
The expected time frames are
- Heavy Rigid license automatic.
Around 3 to 4 lessons are required to enable you to pass the practical Heavy Vehicle Driving Test in this vehicle.
2. Heavy Rigid Synchromesh Manual
4 to 5 Lessons are generally required to help you to pass the practical Heavy Vehicle Driving Test
Heavy Rigid Road Ranger Manual (Open Licence)
8 to 10 Lessons are commonly required to help you to pass the practical Heavy Vehicle Driving Test.
HR condition B removal
The HR condition B removal course is for participants who got their HR licence in an automatic or synchromesh vehicle, and now they are looking to upgrade their licence to an unrestricted HR licence – i.e. want to be able to steer a road ranger. Upon proper completion the student will be able to have the condition ‘B’ extracted from their heavy vehicle licence and be able to drive HR trucks with any transmission type (auto, synchromesh, or constant mesh transmission). Training and assessment take place in a vehicle that uses a nine (9) speed Road Ranger constant mesh transmission.
About training for HR Condition B removal
In the course students will benefit from training with their instructors to gain the understanding and skills necessary to safely drive a heavy vehicle fitted with a road ranger (constant-mesh) gearbox.
During the course students will be instructed and assessed in the accurate use of a road ranger gearbox with the final competency assessment (FCA) to be undertaken at the end of the course. Upon the proper completion students will be able to have condition B removed from their current licence, which will permit them to drive hefty vehicles fitted with any transmission type.
What will you be taught during your Heavy Rigid training?
- Vehicle control and smooth vehicle operation
HR vehicles are heavy vehicles so it is important to teach you grip on your vehicle. Maintaining control of your vehicle is crucial to driving a truck safely and during the course of your training.
2. Vehicle size and lane positioning
Getting used to the altitude of the vehicle size is an important part of the training. You learn how to position the vehicle on the road to make sure you don’t hit other vehicles or cut a corner. Also, a Heavy Rigid truck is a lot broader than a car you may have to concentrate more on keeping the truck within your lane.
The use of your mirrors is an essential part of assuring you maintain your vehicle in a suitable position on the road.
3. Controls and their Operation
We will accustom you to the controls of the vehicle you are driving. While they are identical to a car’s every, vehicles controls are distinct and it is expected you know how to operate all the controls from lights to demisting the windscreen. Also, a couple of the controls in the HR trucks operate a little differently from a car.
4. Safe driving techniques
Surveying the road ahead and scheming your course of action is an important part of safe driving. You don’t want any surprises when driving a vehicle over 10 or 15 tonne. Keep an eye out for the other road users as everyone is most likely to make mistakes.
Types of information and conjectures you should be looking for:
- Is it slowing the traffic ahead or maintaining speed.
- Safe following distance
- Safe stopping distance
- Scanning intersections
- The shift in road conditions ie a corner or hill
- Green lights as they are going to go red soon.
- Ascending and Descending hills in a truck
7. Around the corner reverse
You will be required to reverse around a corner to the left while being no more than 1 meter off the kerb while only using your mirrors.
