How Should You Prepare for Your Truck Licence Exam in Melbourne? ADHVT Explains

Just like every other exam you’ve successfully completed, passing your truck licence exam in Melbourne also requires a good deal of planning and preparation. As a centre for heavy vehicle training in Melbourne, we at ADHVT have seen firsthand how proper preparations have helped countless students obtain their truck licences in record time. At the same time, we’ve also seen how those who have failed to prepare inevitably fall short of their goals. As such, in this blog, we’ll be giving a guide on the best way to prepare for and ace your upcoming truck licence exam in Melbourne.

What are the eligibility requirements to obtain a heavy-vehicle licence in Victoria?

Before preparing to take your truck licence exams, you must see whether you are eligible to do so. According to VicRoads, to be eligible to obtain your heavy vehicle licence, you must:

• Be a current holder of a Victorian car licence 
• Be a holder or have held an Australian car licence (including P1 and P2 probationary licences) or a low heavy vehicle licence for the prescribed minimum time. 
• Pass an eyesight test 
• Pass a heavy vehicle knowledge test 
• Pass the on-road heavy vehicle driving test
• Pass the off-road heavy vehicle driving test
• Complete a formal training course (if you are applying for heavy combination and multi-combination licences only)
• Meet the national medical standard for private and commercial drivers 
• Ensure that you do not have an active Fines Victoria sanction while taking the assessment. 
• Pay the licence variation fee.

How long does it usually take to prepare for a truck licence exam?

The average time learners need to prepare for their truck licence exams is around 2 – 6 weeks. However, this time frame can change based on factors such as your schedule, previous experience, and the type of licence you are hoping to obtain. 

What should you do before your truck licence exam? 

Identify the type of licence you need.

In Australia, there are five main classes of heavy vehicle licences. They are Light Rigid (LR), Medium Rigid (MR), Heavy Rigid (HR), Heavy Combination (HC), and Multi-combination (MC). Since each class represents a different vehicle, you need to first gain a thorough understanding about the vehicle you are looking to drive, what you want to do with your vehicle, and what class it belongs to. If you are unsure about what licence you need to go for, you can always ask one of us at ADHVT.

Choose the right truck licence training provider. 

Enrolling yourself in a certified truck driving school is the most effective way to learn and prepare for your test. At ADHVT, as an RTO, we offer highly rated training programmes for all heavy vehicle licence classes. These courses offer both theoretical learning and practical experience, allowing you to be more confident than ever and ace your exam. 

Study the Victoria Bus and Truck Driver Handbook.

As the name suggests, this handbook is provided by the Victorian Government and is an indispensable resource when preparing for your heavy-vehicle licence exam. It covers a wide range of topics such as vehicle dimensions and mass limits, fatigue management, load restrictions, and hazard perceptions, areas where you would undoubtedly be put to the test during the exam. 

Familiarise yourself with road rules.

Knowing all the relevant road rules is important for both the theoretical and practical exams. We recommend that you particularly focus on the rules that discuss the speed limits, overtaking rules, safe following distances, and emergency braking rules associated with heavy vehicles. 

Practice more reversing. 

An aspect of the practical test many struggle with is reversing the vehicle. Therefore, we think it’s a good call to spend some extra time practicing reversing and understanding how to properly use the vehicle’s mirrors.

Conclusion 

If you are someone who is looking to get their truck licence in Australia, always remember that preparation is key. Among the many things you can do to prepare, a key step is enrolling in a nationally recognised training course, such as the ones offered by ADHVT. If you are ready to get your truck licence, contact us today and we will help you prepare.