Perhaps you feel as though you have mastered the driving art of small buses and trucks and might be ready to move up to a vehicle with a higher Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). If this is how you feel then pursuing a HR licence could be your next challenge. A HR Licence can be specific with the types of trucks you can operate. For example you could operate a Medium Rigid (MR) and Light Rigid (LR) but it provides you also with a bit more versatility as to what you can operate. Beyond a HR Licence you could also ultimately aim for a Multi-Combination (MC) Truck Licence once you exhaust your abilities with a HR Licence. The HR licence allows you to operate trucks and buses with a GVM of more than eight tonnes and with three or more axles and bendy (articulated) vehicles. The HR licence provides the added ability to drive a vehicle with a towed trailer of no more than nine tonnes GVM. There are fifteen items of criteria for the HR Truck licence and you gain one-on-one training that is comprehensive on theoretical and practical components. After bearing all the above in mind you might have some concerns around the defensive driving techniques in which case you will be glad to know we have you covered and will teach you the optimum way for defensive driving over aggressive driver behaviour. You will complete the final competency test with us as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in New South Wales. As a compliant provider with the Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (HVCBA) regulations and requirements, you can enjoy the benefit of our accredited courses.
Importance of a Quality Trainer
Like anything in life, if you don’t learn something correctly the first time as you begin to learn a new skill or technique, it will become difficult to correct after you’ve hard wired it into your brain. This is why we take the quality of our training and trainers very seriously by ensuring you learn the best way the first time around. While it can be found that some providers might boast about the ease in gaining a licence or qualification, if the training is not quality, it can lead to problems later in your career if you’re not performing best practise. This is especially important when it comes to gaining an MR Licence (Medium Rigid) or HR Licence (Heavy Rigid). Attaining such licences can provide endless possibilities to your career, however if your training is lacking this could stagnate your career by not being up to scratch in some areas that other employers or jobs require. As you can appreciate, handling vehicles that come under a MR Licence or HR Licence is by no means an easy task so once you have been employed to drive them, it is an vital that you have the upmost confidence in being able to operate them. A lack of knowledge, confidence or inexperience can lead to major issues, especially regarding the health and safety of you as a driver and those around you on the roads. For these reasons it is essential you pick a training provider that not just helps you pass the assessment but will make sure you leave with a licence and the confidence and skills to operate a range of vehicles that come under the MR Licence and HR Licence.
The Braking System
As common knowledge, everyone knows a braking system is vital in the operation of any vehicle and even more so with a truck as there is added length and weight to take into account. We expect that you don’t need a HR licence to have an appreciation for a braking system. Maintaining and have having an appreciation for your braking system is important for the safety of your and everyone around you on and even off the road. The impact of when a truck is involved in an accident can be catastrophic so ensuring that your braking system is well maintained is just one of the ways to avoid any accidents. One of the most commonly used systems is the air braking system therefore having an understanding the mechanics, like the role of the air compressor and ensuring that the oil and belt or gear is well maintained is vital to ensuring the safe operation. Another type of brake is the exhaust brake, which is a great brake for trucks that are driving at night, especially around residential areas, as they tend to be quieter. The Jake’s brake which is also another type of useful braking system is especially suitable for when you are travelling through hilly and mountainous regions, as the stopping power prevents a lot of wear and tear on the braking system. Regardless of what type of system your truck has, the message remains the same in that you should understand your system and keep it maintained which is something you will learn when obtaining your HR licence (Heavy Rigid).