Frequently Asked Questions

Class MC Multi-Combination Licence in NSW

MC vehicles include:

• B-doubles
• Prime mover, low loader dolly and low loader trailer combinations
• Road trains.

To apply for an MC licence, you must:

• Have held a Class HR or HC licence or equivalent for at least one year. Any time you’ve spent on a P2 HR licence counts, but you can’t practice to drive an MC vehicle, or upgrade to an MC licence until you hold a full class HR or HC licence
• Pass an MC knowledge test
• Pass an eyesight test
• Successfully complete HVCBA. If you hold an HR licence, you’ll need to pass an HC assessment before you can start MC training
• Pass a medical examination.

Class HC Heavy Combination Licence in NSW

HC vehicles include:

• Articulated vehicles with three or more axles
• Heavy rigid vehicle trailer combinations including unladen dolly, with three or more axles
• Any towed trailer with a GVM more than nine tonnes.

To apply for an HC licence, you must:

• Have held a class MR or HR licence or equivalent for one year or more. Any time you’ve spent on a P2 MR or HR licence counts, but you can’t practice to drive an HC vehicle, or upgrade to an HC licence until you hold a full class MR or HR licence
• Pass the HC knowledge test
• Pass an eyesight test
• Successfully complete HVCBA, or pass a Roads and Maritime driving test.

Class HR Heavy Rigid Licence in NSW

HR vehicles include:

• Trucks and buses with a GVM more than eight tonnes, and three or more axles
• Any towed trailer must not weigh more than nine tonnes GVM
• Bendy buses. Even though these vehicles are articulated, they’re treated as rigid vehicles.

To apply for an HR licence, you must:

• Have held a class C licence, (except a learner licence) or equivalent for two years or more. Any time you’ve spent on a P1 licence counts, but you can’t practice to drive an HR vehicle, or upgrade to an HR licence until you hold a P2 or full class C licence
• Pass the HR knowledge test
• Pass an eyesight test
• Successfully complete HVCBA, or pass a Roads and Maritime driving test.

Class MR Medium Rigid Licence in NSW

MR vehicles include:

• Trucks and buses with a GVM more than eight tonnes and two axles
• Any towed trailer must not weigh more than nine tonnes GVM.

To apply for an MR licence, you must:

• Have held a class C licence, (except a learner licence) or equivalent for one year or more. Any time you’ve spent on a P1 licence counts, but you can’t practice to drive an MR vehicle, or upgrade to an MR licence until you hold a P2 or full class C licence
• Pass the MR knowledge test
• Pass an eyesight test
• Successfully complete HVCBA, or pass a Roads and Maritime driving test.

Class LR Light Rigid Licence in NSW

LR vehicles include:

• Small trucks with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) up to 8 tonnes. Any towed trailer must not weigh more than nine tonnes GVM
• Buses that seat more than 12 adults including the driver and a GVM up to 8 tonnes

To apply for an LR licence, you must:

• Have held a class C licence, (except a learner licence) or equivalent for one year or more. Any time you’ve spent on a P1 licence counts, but you can’t practice to drive an LR vehicle, or upgrade to an LR licence until you hold a P2 or full class C licence
• Pass the LR knowledge test
• Pass an eyesight test
• Successfully complete HVCBA, or pass a Roads and Maritime driving test.

Condition B licence

A licence holder applying for a higher class of licence and passing the driving test or HVCBA assessment in a vehicle with an automatic or synchromesh gearbox will have the licence for the higher class endorsed. In both circumstances the licence will be endorsed with a condition ‘B’:

“may only drive a heavy vehicle fitted with an automatic or synchromesh gear box”.

This condition applies to licence classes MR, HR, HC and MC. It does not apply to licence classes C or LR.

There is no licence endorsement if:

• the assessment is passed in a truck fitted with a constant mesh (crash) gear box
• the driver already holds a class MR or higher that is not endorsed with the synchromesh condition
• under HVCBA all criteria have been passed in a vehicle with a constant mesh (crash) gearbox.

Removal of Condition B

Heavy vehicle drivers who wish to have a ‘B’ condition removed from their licences can do so by:

• undergoing an RMS driving test in a vehicle which is fitted with a crash gear box; or
• undertaking a Competency Test (CT).

This test vehicle can be any vehicle type authorised by a class MR or higher. For example, a driver with a class HR licence endorsed with a condition ‘B’ can have the condition removed by passing a short test in a vehicle covered by a class MR, HR licence.

Extract from:

HVCBA Assessment Standards and Requirements, Version: 1.0, Page 7 of 11, Publication number: RMS 14.417, Effective date: 15/09/2014

Latest information for heavy vehicle drivers

https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/licence/heavy-vehicle-driver-handbook.pdf