09 Feb Upgrading Your NSW Truck Licence to a Higher Class
Are looking to upgrade your existing truck licence to a higher class….Keep reading!
If you have a NSW provisional (Red or Green Plates) or NSW open licence, you can learn to drive the next highest vehicle class.
First year Green plates (12 months) you can upgrade to Medium Rigid Truck (MR) and second year Green plates (24 months) you can up grade to Heavy Rigid Truck (HR)
If your provisional or open licence only authorises you to drive a class of motor vehicle fitted with an automatic transmission, you are also authorised to learn to drive or ride the same or higher class of motor vehicle fitted with a manual transmission.
Learning to Drive a Higher Class Truck
When learning to drive in a higher truck licence class, you must:
- be accompanied by a supervisor who
- holds an Australian open licence in the licence class you are learning to drive in
- has held that licence class for at least 1 year
- clearly display L plates at the front and rear of the vehicle (back only for motorcycles)
- show your provisional or open licence to a police officer if required
- obey a zero alcohol limit
- not be under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs
- obey any conditions stated on your licence.
- Unaccompanied learner drivers will get 4 demerit points and a fine.
The maximum court-imposed penalty for this offence is more than $2,400.
Moving to a Higher Trucking Class
You must hold your current licence for a set period to apply for the next higher class.
This period:
- It must have taken place in the last 5 years,
- Different individual lengths of time can be continuous or made up of different (excluding any time that your licence was suspended, surrendered, cancelled or expired).
- The Light Rigid (LR) car license (Australian Open Licence or Provisional Licence is Acceptable) must be held for a continuous period of 12 months.
- The Medium Rigid (MR) vehicle license (Australian Open Licence or Provisional Licence is Acceptable) must be held for a continuous period of 12 months.
- For a continuous period of 24 months or more, Heavy Rigid (HR) must hold a vehicle license (Australian Open Licence or Provisional Licence is Acceptable).
- Heavy Combination (HC) must hold, for a continuous period of 12 months, an MR or HR licence.
- For a continuous period of 12 months, the Multi Combination (MC) must be held by HR or HC
How to Submit an Application for Higher Truck License Class
You must: In order to apply for the next higher license class.
For the requested period, you had your current licence class (see the table above)
Fill out the application for a heavy vehicle licence
Provide your license or other proof of identity if your license has been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Declaring that you are medically fit to drive the vehicle class (You may need to provide a medical certificate that states that you are medically fit to drive)
Book in with Payless Truck Driving School for a truck course and pass.
Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for the new class to be re-issued with your current license.
