How Long Does It Take to Become A Truck Driver?

Are you planning to apply for a commercial driving license and start driving a truck? You will need about seven weeks to get the driving license when you attend full-time training at a reputed truck driving school.

There are plenty of truck driving opportunities these days and truck drivers work majorly on jobs involving carrying cargo from one place to another. In Australia, some truck drivers work independently while the majority work for trucking companies.

How to get a truck driving license?

Here are some pointers on how you can get set to have your truck driving license:

• Hold a car driver’s license for at least 12 months
• If you are on certain medications, get a clearance from the concerned authority
• Enrol in a truck driving school
• Clear the assessment that includes knowledge tests, eyesight test, on-road driving test and off-road skill assessment
• Get your certificate of competence for the license category
• Within 12 months, get your license endorsed. This is mandatory to be able to operate a heavy vehicle.

How long does it take to get a commercial driver’s license?

The time taken to get a CDL or commercial driver’s license depends on multiple factors. In some cases, it takes just three weeks, while others may take six months or more. Here are some factors that commonly determine the time taken to get a truck driving license.

1. Type of license: There are three major classifications of licenses, Class A, B and C. Class A is the most commonly used license type that allows drivers to drive vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds.
2. Type of program: Learning truck driving is a mandatory step towards getting a license. You will have two options, either to take up a full-time or a part-time program. You can enrol in a truck driving school or a community college. Consider how much time you will be able to devote to learning. Choose a program that best suits your lifestyle and you get enough time to absorb and understand truck driving.
3. Classroom duration: Classroom instructors prepare you by offering essential knowledge to be qualified as an entry-level truck driver. The program duration usually ranges from 30 to 80 hours.
4. Learning ability: Every person has a different learning curve. The easier it is for one to master the tasks the sooner they will be ready to drive on the road.
5. Driving hours: Truck driving schools offer programs with driving hours. You must select a school that offers generous driving hours so that you become comfortable with driving on the road and set yourself up for success.
6. Availability of slots for testing: It is best to check the testing schedule and book available slots well beforehand.
7. Type of truck: Although the classroom program for both automatic and manual trucks is the same. The amount of practice needed on both might be different. However, this depends on every individual’s learning agility too.

For those of you who want to become a professional truck driver and want to get your driving license, ALLTRUCK DRIVER TRAINING is the perfect choice for you.

ALLTRUCK DRIVER TRAINING is a truck driving school recognised by Roads and Maritime Services as a provider of heavy vehicle training and assessments for drivers wishing to obtain heavy vehicle driver licences.

We provide training and assessment for licence classes Medium Rigid (MR), Heavy Rigid (HR) and Heavy Combination (HC), in both constant-mesh Road ranger and automatics/automated transmissions.

Contact us at 1300 521 289 for more information!