A focus on licence class: Heavy Rigid (HR)

A Heavy Rigid licence, also known as an HR licence is the most popular heavy vehicle licence upgrade in Sydney and probably all of New South Sales.

The reason for this is simple; candidates can enrol in training and assessment, and upgrade to an HR license straight from a class ‘C’ licence.

This process of going straight to HR from class ‘C’ represents better value compared with a Light Rigid (LR) or Medium Rigid (MR) upgrade, as the HR licence upgrade provides a licence class that covers vehicles of the lower classes (with exception to class ‘R’).

There are two common licence class endorsements; unrestricted (allowing the driver to drive vehicles fitted with any transmission), and condition ‘B’ (prohibiting the driver from driving vehicles fitted with a Constant-mesh/RoadRanger transmission)

Heavy Rigid vehicles include:

• Trucks and buses with a GVM more than 8 tonnes, and 3 or more axles;
• Any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 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 (not a learner or P1) or equivalent for at least 2 years
• Pass the ‘Rigid’ knowledge test at Roads and Maritime or Service NSW;
• Pass an eyesight test;
• Successfully complete HVCBA, or pass a Roads and Maritime driving test (Roads and Maritime driving test not available in Sydney).

Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment or HVCBA is a heavy vehicle licensing assessment scheme, where RMS approved Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) provided training and assessment services to the public.

The scheme provides the public great flexibility regarding program delivery, including weekend and after hour options for licence courses.

There are many configurations of Heavy Rigid (HR) vehicles.

• Transmissions fitted to Heavy Rigid vehicles vary from Constant-mesh (RoadRanger), Synchromesh, Automatic, and the increasingly popular Automated Manual (computerised robotic manuals).
• Vehicle bodies fitted to HR vehicles are diverse, ranging from Table-top, Tautliner, Pantech, Tipper, Tanker, Agitator (concrete), Compactor (waste), and a range of specialised vehicle bodies suited to industry such as Fire and Rescue and many others.

Alltruck Driver Training is an RMS approved Registered Training Organisation (RTO), who provides service under the HVCBA scheme.  Heavy Rigid license training and assessment is our most popular product.  We offer both the unrestricted and condition ‘B’ pathways.  Courses are available 7 days a week.

Alltruck Driver Trainings’ 2010 Hino FM500 2630.  Our second Hino FM500 2630 is due for delivery early 2015.