Heavy Combination (HC) Licence Courses Newcastle - Ellis Driving School

Anyone with a Ellis Driving HR license can drive trucks and buses over 8 tonne GVM with three or more axles and a maximum towing weight of 9 tonnes.

Driving a heavy combination Vehicle or an HC vehicle is a dream of many truck drivers in Sydney. Being a lucrative career, many want to train to drive these vehicles. Ellis Driving School strives to fulfill the dreams of many of these drivers, by providing assistance in helping them to drive these vehicles.

HEAVY COMBINATION VEHICLE (HC) LICENSE | HC Licence Newcastle, Sydney

HC Licence Courses in Sydney, New South Wales inlcuding Wollongong, Midagong, Gosford, Penrith, Bankstown and Newcastle.       

The Heavy Rigid (HR) Class Licence allows you to drive:

    Any prime mover attached to a semi-trailer or a rigid vehicle towing a trailer with a GVM of more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly.

    Also includes vehicles in Class HR.

Driving a heavy combination vehicle or an HC vehicle is a dream of many truck drivers in Sydney. Being a lucrative career, many want to train to drive these vehicles.

Ellis Driving School strives to fulfill the dreams of many of these drivers, by providing assistance in helping them to drive these vehicles.

According to the RMS, a heavy combination vehicle is one which is a prime mover, with a semi-trailer attached to it, or rigid vehicle towing a trailer with a GVM of more than 9 tonnes. A person applying for an HC licence should have possessed an MR or HR licence for at least one full year.

We are one of the best HC driving schools in Sydney, equipped with excellent vehicles to practise and also expert and experienced tutors to help in your training process. Once you finish your training, you can immediately obtain your HC licence, by submitting our certificate of competence and also by following the procedures like clearing the DKT test, filling up the application form with identity proof and getting your eyesight tested by an approved optician.

To facilitate speedy process, we offer a one-day crash course or two day course, to make you earn all intricacies of driving an HC truck.

A Heavy Combination (HC) licence is generally required for the following driving roles:

•     Container Transport

•     Refrigerated Transport

•     Road Construction & Quarry Driver

•     Bulk Garden Supplies

•     Heavy General Freight

•     Tanker Driver

What is a HC Licence?

Are you considering getting an HC Licence? This article will teach you everything you need to know about getting an HC Licence, including how much it costs, what you can drive with one, and if you can upgrade.

What is a HC driver?

A heavy combination (HC) truck driver is an someone who handles and drives:

    trucks or prime movers attached to a single semi - trailer or;

    heavy rigid vehicle trailer combinations including an unladen converter dolly with three or more axles or;

    any towed trailer with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) more than 9 tonnes.

    HC trucks are articulated vehicles which means they have a pivot point that sits either behind the prime mover or the HR vehicle. This is different to rigid vehicles which move as one, straight body.

Heavy combination vehicle drivers work in industries including agriculture, construction, and warehouse transportation. Many HC drivers work in shift and driver interstate routes which means they might spend days on the road.

HC driver job includes:

    Loading and unloading items on the truck, restraining goods according NHVR guidelines, and safely delivering goods to customers.

    Conducting basic truck inspections and maintenance

    Manoeuvering vehicles safely and maintaining a work diary as required.

What is a HC licence?

A heavy combination (HC) licence is required to operate a heavy combination motor vehicle. A HC licence is part of the larger category of heavy vehicle licences, which also includes LR, MR, HR, and MC.

A NSW HC licence is recognised throughout the country, despite the fact that each state and territory has its own regulatory body. A HC licence is issued by the Road and Maritime Service (RMS), formerly the RTA, in New South Wales. An RMS-accredited Registered Training Organization provides the practical training (RTO). We provide nationally recognised training courses for all heavy vehicles, including HC trucks, at Ellis Driving School.

Do I need a road ranger HC licence?

We provide training for both unrestricted (road ranger) and automatic/synchromesh licences. You can drive trucks with a road ranger gearbox if you have an unrestricted licence.

The most important thing to understand is that driving a road ranger is extremely difficult. It's not like driving a manual car, and if you don't keep up your skills, you'll lose them surprisingly quickly. We recommend that you only get an unrestricted licence if you already have a job that requires it. The majority of jobs will only require an automatic licence. If you decide you need an unrestricted licence, be prepared to devote a significant amount of time and energy to learning.

HC Licence Requirements

Applicants must have held a class MR or HR licence or equivalent for at least 12 months in order to upgrade to a class HC licence.

Any time spent on a P2 MR or HR licence counts, but you can't drive an HC truck or upgrade to an HC licence until you have a full class MR or HR licence.

This 12-month period had to have occurred within the last five years.

If you meet the driving experience requirements, please contact us and we will gladly assist you. If you get an MR or HR licence now, we can help you upgrade to an HC licence in a year. The only eligibility requirement for an MR or HR licence is to have held a class c licence for at least 1 year.

How to get a HC licence in NSW

Once you've met the above-mentioned driving experience requirements, the first step is to pass the RMS's heavy combination knowledge test and eyesight test. If you need assistance preparing for the HC driver knowledge test, please contact us and we will send you some helpful links and materials. You will also need to have a medical exam with your doctor to prove that you are medically fit to drive this type of vehicle. If you have a medical condition (e.g., diabetes, epilepsy, vision impairment, etc.) that may impair your ability to drive safely, you may be required to provide a medical certificate from your doctor stating that you are medically fit to drive.

Once you've done those two steps, you can apply for a Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (HVCBA) Learners Logbook. Then, give us a call to book into the next practical driving course and competency assessment with our authorised heavy vehicle driving examiners. Upon successful completion of the HC driver training and competency assessment, you will be able to upgrade your licence from MR or HR to HC. Heavy vehicle drivers can also drive any class of vehicle below your licence class, except motorcycles and motor trikes.