Heavy vehicle licences

Heavy vehicle and forklift licence categories

Find out what type of licence you need to drive a heavy vehicle or forklift in Victoria.

Heavy vehicle licence categories

There are five categories of Victorian heavy vehicle licence. These licences are recognised throughout Australia.

However, if you move interstate, you will need to get a driver licence in that state - it's best to check with the licensing authority interstate to find out how and when you need to do this.

To drive a truck or bus with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 4.5 tonnes or a bus which seats more than 12 adults you will need a Victorian heavy vehicle licence.

Heavy vehicle licences are issued in five different categories:

  • light rigid (LR)
  • medium rigid (MR)
  • heavy rigid (HR)
  • heavy combination (HC)
  • multi combination (MC).

These heavy vehicle licence categories have different eligibility requirements.

The licence categories below display what you can drive and when you are eligible to attempt the assessments for a particular category.

Vehicle descriptionWhat you can driveEligibility

Light rigid (LR) vehicles:

  • have a GVM more than 4.5 tonnes but not more than 8 tonnes
  • seat more than 12 adults (including the driver) and has a GVM not more than 8 tonnes
  • a car
  • a light rigid vehicle
  • a car or light rigid vehicle that is towing a single trailer that has a GVM not more than 9 tonnes
  • a tractor or a tractor that is towing a trailer of any size
To apply for this category you must have held an Australian car driver licence for at least 12 months.

Medium rigid (MR) vehicles have:

  • a GVM more than 8 tonnes
  • no more than 2 axles
  • any vehicle or combination of vehicles the holder of a light; rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drivea medium rigid vehicle
  • a medium rigid vehicle that is towing
  • a single trailer (other than a semi trailer) that has a GVM not more than 9 tonnes
To apply for this category you must have held an Australian car driver licence for at least 12 months.

Heavy rigid (HR) vehicles have:

  • a motor vehicle that has a GVM more than 8 tonnes and has 3 or more axles (whether or not the wheels on those axles are on the road)
  • a bus consisting of more than one rigid section which are connected to one another so as to allow rotary movement and passenger access between the sections
  • any vehicle or combination of vehicles the holder of a medium rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drive
  • a heavy rigid vehicle (this includes a prime mover not towing a trailer)
  • a heavy rigid vehicle that is towing a single trailer (other than a semi trailer) that has a GVM not more than 9 tonnes
To apply for this category you must have held an Australian car driver licence for at least 24 months.

Heavy combination (HC) vehicles have:

  • a prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer that has a GVM more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly, or
  • a rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a trailer that has a GVM more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly.
  • any vehicle or combination of vehicles the holder of a heavy rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drive
  • a heavy combination vehicle
To apply for this category you must have heldan Australian driver licence to drive a Medium Rigid or Heavy Rigid licence for at least 12 months.
Multi combination (MC)
  • any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles other than a motor cycle

To apply for this category you must have held an Australian driver licence to drive a Heavy Combination vehicle or a Heavy Rigid vehicle for a period of at least 12 months.

If you hold a HR licence, you will need to pass the HC assessment before commencing MC training.

Forklift licence

If you operate a forklift, you'll need a forklift licence which is issued by WorkSafe Victoria. Visit WorkSafe Victoria for information about training and testing requirements for this high-risk work licence.

Note: In addition to a forklift licence, you only need a car licence if you wish to drive a forklift on a highway, road or road-related area regardless of its size (GVM).

Definitions

Gross vehicle mass (GVM)

GVM means the maximum loaded mass of the vehicle:

  • as specified by the vehicle's manufacturer, or
  • as specified by VicRoads on the vehicle record if:
    • the manufacturer has not specified the maximum loaded mass
    • the manufacturer cannot be identified, or
    • the vehicle has been modified to the extent that the manufacturer's specification is no longer appropriate.

Gross combination mass (GCM)

GCM means the greatest possible sum of the maximum loaded mass of the motor vehicle and of any vehicles that may lawfully be towed by it at one time, as specified by either the manufacturer of the motor vehicle or by VicRoads.

When specified by the vehicle manufacturer, the GCM will be located on a plate the manufacturer has fixed to the vehicle or in another place.

The GCM will be specified by the VicRoads when:

  • the manufacturer has not specified the sum of the maximum loaded mass, or
  • the manufacturer cannot be identified, or
  • the vehicle has been modified to the extent that the manufacturer's specification is no longer appropriate.

Tare mass

In relation to a trailer, tare mass means its unladen mass when it is in ordinary running condition and not carrying persons or goods.