Tips for passing truck licence assessment in a Medium Rigid, Heavy Rigid or Heavy Combination

Change of direction signals

In an HVCBA licence course for Medium Rigid, Heavy Rigid, or Heavy Combination, non-compliance with the rules requiring signalling/indicating are recorded as errors under section D of the HVCBA scoring provisions. Section D does not allow any errors; hence, knowledge of the rules is critical to candidates’ success in truck licence assessments. A non-exhaustive list of some of the rules are as follows:

‘The driver must give the change of direction signal for long enough to give sufficient warning to other drivers and pedestrians’: Road Rules 2014 (NSW) (‘Road Rule/s’) ss 46(2), 48(2).

‘If the driver is about to change direction by moving from a stationary position at the side of the road or in a median strip parking area, the driver must give the change of direction signal for at least 5 seconds before the driver changes direction’: Road Rules s 46(3).

‘The driver must stop giving the change of direction signal as soon as the driver completes the change of direction’: Road Rules s 46(4).

‘If practicable, a driver driving in a roundabout must give a left change of direction signal when leaving the roundabout’: Road Rules s 118(1).

Stop signs

Stop means stop! It means fully stop near, but before reaching, the line. A suggestion is that driver stops and counts to three, then proceeds if safe to do so. Another suggestion is that the primary focus on approach is stopping, rather than looking for a safe gap, as you’re required to stop anyway.

‘A driver at an intersection with a stop sign or stop line, but without traffic lights, must stop and give way in accordance with this rule’: Road Rules s 67(1).

Speed limits

This is an easy one; don’t exceed the speed limit. A couple of things to note: assessors do not rely on GPS for evidentiary purposes, and when looking at speedometers, they must allow for parallax error due to their seating position. Another rule is that they are not permitted to ask you what speed you are travelling at as to trap you into an admission of breach. The expectation is that you to drive to the conditions. One condition is that the context is an unlicensed driver driving under supervision, and thus, assessors tolerate, in some conditions, a slightly milder pace of drive. This said, assessors expect a confident drive that may reach the speed limit at times. Keep in mind that there are times where keeping up with the traffic is expected, for example some lane changes. Remember, the speed limit is a limit and not a challenge, so watch the lead footed driving. A fair allowance is that if you’re not sure of the speed zone you’re in, you are permitted to ask the assessor and he or she will answer. Speeding in a Medium Rigid, Heavy Rigid or Heavy Combination vehicle or any truck, especially around the business Sydney suburbs like Wetherill Park, Eastern Creek, Liverpool, Bankstown and Parramatta, is highly dangerous.

‘A driver must not drive at a speed over the speed limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the driver is driving’: Road Rules s 20

For more tips or to book a Medium Rigid, Heavy Rigid, or Heavy Combination license course in Sydney, call our team today on 1300521289 or email us info@adt.nsw.edu.au

Disclaimer: This article must not be relied upon for legal purposes.