The Driving School offers NSW truck licence training and assessment from our Gold Coast location at Arundel. You must hold a current NSW driver’s licence to gain your NSW truck license. Our experienced team can train and assess you; there is no need to wait for a Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) booking. This process can be completed quickly as the training and assessment requirements can be condensed.
With the NSW training we deliver, you can opt to just obtain a truck licence under Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment, or we can provide a full TLI unit of competency for you, should you need it to complete a qualification or for a specific job requirement etc.
We Provide The Below NSW Truck Licences
TLILIC2014 – Licence to drive a light rigid vehicle
An LR vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass of over 4.5 tonnes to a maximum of 8 tonnes (no axle limit) — or any vehicle that seats more than 12 passengers (including the driver) to a maximum of 8 tonnes.
The light rigid licence is a relatively easy licence to obtain. It covers you to drive small trucks (up to 8-tonne GVM) and mini-buses, such as Toyota Commuters, Coasters, Mitsubishi Rosas and most small motorhomes.
Click here to Learn More About Our LR Licence NSW.
Note: Even though you need an LR licence if you’re driving a vehicle carrying more than 12 people (including the driver), for testing purposes, you can’t use a vehicle under 4.5-tonne GVM, such as a Toyota Commuter.
TLILIC2015 – Licence to drive a medium rigid vehicle
An MR driver’s licence covers you to drive any vehicle with 2 axles (1 steer and 1 drive). This includes motorhomes, buses, certain types of trucks, tow trucks and local freight vehicles.
Here are some of the vehicles you’re permitted to drive with a medium rigid truck licence:
- A Light Rigid (LR class) vehicle
- A bus or truck (including a prime mover or a mobile crane) over 8t GVM with a maximum of 2 axles
- A Medium Rigid (MR class) motor vehicle towing one trailer (not a semi-trailer) that has a GVM not exceeding 9 tonnes and no other type of trailer.
TLILIC2016 – Licence to drive a heavy rigid vehicle
An HR vehicle is a bus or truck (including a prime mover or mobile crane) with over 8 tonnes of Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) with 3 or more axles.
The HR Unconditional Licence (no gearbox conditions) will give you the broadest range of employment prospects as you can drive any HR vehicle (road rangers, manual and automatic gearboxes). Another benefit to holding an hr licence is that it’s also easier to upgrade to an HC or MC Licence in the future if you already hold an Unconditional heavy rigid truck licence.
TLILIC3017 – Licence to drive a heavy combination vehicle
A class HC vehicle is a truck, prime mover or mobile crane with a trailer of more than 9 tonnes of Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). An HC licence covers you to drive trucks with a single trailer (commonly known as semi-trailers). This includes prime movers, trucks and dogs, pig trailers, floats and low loaders.
Take Advantage Of Our Wide Range Of Trucks
We have a fleet of trucks with different types of gearboxes — automatic, synchromesh and non-synchromesh. This means we can offer you the best and most economical way to get your truck driver’s licence as quickly as possible.
For instance, you may be able to use an automatic truck to obtain a manual licence.
Here Are Some Examples:
If you have an automatic car licence, you do not have to use a truck with a synchromesh gearbox in order to obtain a manual B Condition licence.
Simply take our automatic truck, and you will end up with a truck licence with a manual B Condition licence.
If you have an unconditional truck licence of a lower class, you can do your truck driver’s test in an automatic vehicle and end up with an unconditional manual licence. This is a popular method for HC (Heavy Combination) and MC (Multi Combination) licences as you can concentrate on learning all the necessary trailer craft, etc., rather than having to deal with an unfamiliar gearbox.
Steps to obtain your NSW Truck Licence
Step 1
Please call 07 5537 8101, and we will run through some questions with you on the phone to make sure the training chosen is suitable. We will arrange dates and issue you with your course confirmation.
In the meantime, you need to go into a Transport for New South Wales Customer Service Centre (TfNSW) and
- Pass the driver knowledge test (DKT) for the Heavy Vehicle Licence Class you will be obtaining.
- Pass an eyesight test
We suggest studying the following documents before you take the test.
- Driver Knowledge Test Questions.
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/gettitestsdrivedrive_dl3.html- The “Rigid Learner Questions” cover the classes of LR, MR, HR
- The “Combination Learner Questions” covers HC
- Road User’s Handbook NSW
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/road_users_handbook.pdf - Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/heavy_vehicle_driver_handbook.pdf - Load Restraint Guide
https://www.ntc.gov.au/codes-and-guidelines/load-restraint-guide
Contact details for Transport for New South Wales:
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/heavy-vehicles/index.html
Tel: 132 213
When the driver knowledge test (DKT) has been completed, you must obtain your logbook, which is required to record the training and assessment, plus a Guide to Heavy Vehicle Competency Assessment, which tells you what you are required to do during your training.
We only recommend undertaking lessons once this has been done, as they cannot be recorded in your logbook.
Step 2
Complete theory and practical training and assessment with us.
Please note: If you opt to complete the full TLI unit of competency with us, in order for us to issue you with a Statement of Attainment for the unit, there will be an additional short theory assessment to bridge the gap between the theory undertaken at Transport for NSW Customer Service Centre and the requirements of the Training Package.
We recommend doing a couple of hours at a time or condensed training. You will quickly tick off the competencies needed to record in your logbook. Training is normally conducted from our location at Arundel or Tweed Heads.
We can come on-site; this will incur travelling costs. We run on Queensland time.
Step 3
After you have completed your NSW Practical training and assessment, we will issue you with a Certificate of Competency. You will need to take this to TfNSW and lodge the application for upgrading your licence. There is a Government fee of approximately $30 for this service.
Costs for NSW driver training and assessment
Please see the table below for prices and training course duration
Please note that;
- There are minimum training course times (compulsory hours) required by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW). (Excluding the final competency assessment (FCA)
- How many hours you will need for training depends on your ability and how quickly you can learn.
- Training Course Cost Includes the cost of your Final Competency Assessment.
- A free reassessment is offered if you do not pass the first assessment.
- Additional training will be charged at our standard hourly rate for that class of vehicle.
- For MC Licence enquiries students will need to contact the office at 07 5537 8101
Licence Class Training Course Hours
| Licence Class | Training Course hours | Training Course Cost |
|---|---|---|
| LR – B condition (Automatic and Synchromesh gearboxes only) | 6 | $1200 |
| MR – B condition (Automatic and Synchromesh gearboxes only) | 6 | $1350 |
| HR – B condition (Automatic and Synchromesh gearboxes only) | 6 | $1550 |
| HR Manual (Non-Synchromesh gearbox) | 12 | $2300 |
| HC – B condition (Automatic and Synchromesh gearboxes only) | 7 | $1750 |
| HC Manual (Non-Synchromesh gearbox) | 12 | $2400 |
Within the New South Wales Training System, there is also a pathway for a competency test only (CT) (no training) for the classes of LR – HR. This pathway can also be used if you need to lift a gearbox restriction off your Licence. If you would like to know more about this option, please call us.
Please click here to see our Terms and Conditions for delivery of NSW Heavy Vehicle Licensing.
A copy of our Student Handbook can also be viewed here.
Steps To Obtain Your NSW Truck Licence
Step 1
Please call 07 5537 8101, and we will run through some questions with you on the phone to make sure the training chosen is suitable. We will arrange dates and issue you with your course confirmation.
In the meantime, you need to go into a Transport for New South Wales Customer Service Centre (TfNSW) and
- Pass the driver knowledge test (DKT) for the Heavy Vehicle Licence Class you will be obtaining.
- Pass an eyesight test
We suggest studying the following documents before you take the test.
- Driver Knowledge Test Questions.
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/gettitestsdrivedrive_dl3.html- The “Rigid Learner Questions” cover the classes of LR, MR, HR
- The “Combination Learner Questions” covers HC
- Road User’s Handbook NSW
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/road_users_handbook.pdf - Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/heavy_vehicle_driver_handbook.pdf - Load Restraint Guide
https://www.ntc.gov.au/codes-and-guidelines/load-restraint-guide
Contact details for Transport for New South Wales:
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/heavy-vehicles/index.html
Tel: 132 213
When the driver knowledge test (DKT) has been completed, you must obtain your logbook, which is required to record the training and assessment, plus a Guide to Heavy Vehicle Competency Assessment, which tells you what you are required to do during your training.
We only recommend undertaking lessons once this has been done, as they cannot be recorded in your logbook.
Step 2
Complete theory and practical training and assessment with us.
Please note: If you opt to complete the full TLI unit of competency with us, in order for us to issue you with a Statement of Attainment for the unit, there will be an additional short theory assessment to bridge the gap between the theory undertaken at Transport for NSW Customer Service Centre and the requirements of the Training Package.
We recommend doing a couple of hours at a time or condensed training. You will quickly tick off the competencies needed to record in your logbook. Training is normally conducted from our location at Arundel or Tweed Heads.
We can come on-site; this will incur travelling costs. We run on Queensland time.
Step 3
After you have completed your NSW Practical training and assessment, we will issue you with a Certificate of Competency. You will need to take this to TfNSW and lodge the application for upgrading your licence. There is a Government fee of approximately $30 for this service.
Costs for NSW driver training and assessment
Please see the table below for prices and training course duration
Please note that;
- There are minimum training course times (compulsory hours) required by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW). (Excluding the final competency assessment (FCA)
- How many hours you will need for training depends on your ability and how quickly you can learn.
- Training Course Cost Includes the cost of your Final Competency Assessment.
- A free reassessment is offered if you do not pass the first assessment.
- Additional training will be charged at our standard hourly rate for that class of vehicle.
- For MC Licence enquiries students will need to contact the office at 07 5537 8101
Licence Class Training Course Hours
| Licence Class | Training Course hours | Training Course Cost |
|---|---|---|
| LR – B condition (Automatic and Synchromesh gearboxes only) | 6 | $1200 |
| MR – B condition (Automatic and Synchromesh gearboxes only) | 6 | $1350 |
| HR – B condition (Automatic and Synchromesh gearboxes only) | 6 | $1550 |
| HR Manual (Non-Synchromesh gearbox) | 12 | $2300 |
| HC – B condition (Automatic and Synchromesh gearboxes only) | 7 | $1750 |
| HC Manual (Non-Synchromesh gearbox) | 12 | $2400 |
Within the New South Wales Training System, there is also a pathway for a competency test only (CT) (no training) for the classes of LR – HR. This pathway can also be used if you need to lift a gearbox restriction off your Licence. If you would like to know more about this option, please call us.
Please click here to see our Terms and Conditions for delivery of NSW Heavy Vehicle Licensing.
A copy of our Student Handbook can also be viewed here.
