Truck licence reversing criteria for HVCBA

If you’re considering completing a truck licence course, you might be interested in learning the reversing criteria that you will be required to perform.

A Long reverse is required for all licence classes and in addition to that either a Loading dock Simulation or a Reverse parallel park (for rigid classes). In the interest of safety, the assessment must be conducted in a non-traffic or low level traffic area and may be an off-road location.

Long reverse (for all vehicle types)

The applicant must:

• Activate the hazard lights. 

• For LR, MR, HR – demonstrate a full reverse. (4 vehicle lengths) 

• For HC and MC – demonstrate a 70 metre straight line reverse. (If the vehicle is a pocket road train or a double road train, reverse one trailer length.) 

• Maintain observation for traffic. 

• Not have any wheel cross the edge line (or seal edge, or kerb). 

• Not have any wheel more than one metre (as a guide) from the edge line (or seal edge, or kerb. 

• Not make any forward adjustment (HC may make one forward adjustment and two for MC). 

• Secure the vehicle at the end of the exercise.
• Switch off hazard lights.

Loading dock simulation (All vehicle types except MC)

The applicant must:

• Operate the hazard lights. 

• Stop beyond the driveway and reverse to a position that is central and parallel in the loading bay/driveway and, if possible, fully into the driveway. 
• Not exceed one forward correction. 

• Competently operate the controls throughout. 

• Pay due regard to the traffic on the road and driveway. 

• Drive with the doors shut. 

• Not mount the kerb or strike any object. 

Reverse parallel park (Rigid Vehicles only)

The applicant must:

• Check the mirrors. 

• Operate the left indicator for an adequate time to alert other road users. 

• Operate the hazard lights. 

• Make no more than four direction changes. 

• Achieve final position:
  • behind the forward parking pole. 

  • (as a guide 1 to 2 metres behind) 
  • wheels close to the kerb (as a guide within 500mm from the kerb)
  • body of vehicle parallel to the kerb
• Not touch the kerb, any vehicles or parking poles. 

• Competently operate the controls throughout. 

• Switch off hazard lights. 


Note: This manoeuvre may be assessed using a simulated environment in an off road location (e.g. using bollards or parking poles). 


Criteria valid at time of writing.