Heavy Rigid Licence
Heavy Rigid training course:
This training program is designed for people who wish to attain a “Heavy Rigid (HR licence)” Drivers licence. People seek this licence to upgrade their skills from an MR Licence, or as part of a job role as a delivery driver, courier, bus driver, or other commercial roles. Heavy Rigid (HR licence) vehicles are trucks that have three or more axles and a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) over 8 tonnes. These vehicles can be Buses, heavy rigid tray trucks, heavy tip trucks, and Semi-Trailer “Prime Movers (when without a trailer).
A Heavy Rigid ‘Class HR licence’ covers a rigid vehicle with 3 or more axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes. Any towed trailer must not weight more than 9 tonnes GVM. Also includes articulated buses and vehicles in class ‘MR’.
Heavy Rigid (HR licence) vehicles are also commonly equipped with two different types of gearboxes, these are:
- “Automatic/Synchromesh” such as an Eaton Gearbox, which is found to be more often fitted to European Trucks. Drives with manual car license are more easily able to adapt to this style of the gearbox.
- “Manual/Constant Mesh” gearboxes such as the “Roadranger” require the due of the gear changing technique known as “Double declutching” this is questionably more challenging to participants who have no prior experience with this style of the gearbox. The use of the Roadranger is declining as more new European-based trucks enter the market.
We can teach you either.
If you currently have Condition B on your licence and you:
- select the Automatic Gearbox option you will receive a Condition B HR licence endorsement, which will only allow you to drive vehicles fitted with Automatic or Synchromesh gearboxes.
- select the Manual/ Constant Mesh Gearbox option you will receive an Unrestricted HR licence.
To enter into this course, you will need to:
- Already hold a “C” or “MR” class driver’s licence, or be on a “minimum 1-year green P” C class licence.
- You will need to have been to the Road and Maritime Service (RMS), and passed the RMS “HR Knowledge Test”.
- Pass the RMS Eyesight test
- Been issued with an RMS CBA (Competency Based Assessment) Logbook and CBA guidebook.
- When you enrol we will need to check your eligibility with RMS Heavy Vehicle – Competency Online Reporting System (HVCORS).
- Contact Punjab Roadways Truck Driving School and book in for training and assessment please have your Logbook with you when you call, as there are details within the Logbook which we require for processing your booking.
During the course you will learn to:
- Drive the Heavy rigid vehicle
- Monitor traffic and road conditions
- Monitor and maintain vehicle performance
These skills are delivered and assessed over a period of about 8-9 hours (depending upon the gearbox used), each driver learns at a different rate, and thus you may require slightly more or less time.
Most drivers complete the training and assessment in about 1 day; if more than 8/9 hours is required, additional training and assessment time will be charged in hourly increments.
The assessment process consists of:
- You passed the assessment conducted by Punjab Roadways Truck Driving School
- Punjab Roadways Truck Driving School issuing you with a Certificate of Competency and a Statement of Attainment.
- Punjab Roadways Truck Driving School submitting your results to the RMS HVCORS
- You go to your local RMS and pay the Licence upgrade fee.
The unit of competency is nationally recognised and can only be delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that complies with the governing standards of quality control, and quality training and assessment.
Assessment is based on competency i.e. your ability to answer a number of questions about driving, the road rules, the vehicle and then satisfactory driving the vehicle in normal traffic and performing the normal driving tasks such as:
- Braking to a line.
- Maintaining safe buffer zones.
- Selecting when to merge or enter a stream of traffic.
- Observation and use of mirrors.
- Selection of appropriate speed and vehicle position when turning.
- Coordination of gears, clutch, accelerator and other major controls.
- Correct signalling.
- Pre-departure check (all classes).
Manoeuvres:
- Manoeuvre
- Reverse park
- Long Reverse
- Kerbside stop
- Pre-departure check
Due to the requirements of maintaining a safe learning environment, Punjab Roadways Truck Driving School reserves the right to withdraw any participant(s) on the grounds of safety.
Punjab Roadways Truck Driving School is flexible in the format and timing of learning and assessment activities to ensure that we provide every opportunity for participants to demonstrate their skills and abilities. Should you need support or assistance beyond our skills we will refer you to a suitable organisation to assist you further.
Punjab Roadways Truck Driving School offers support to all participants with their learning needs. We can tailor the training and assessment program to assist people with learning issues and, to a more limited degree, personal issues.
Our Participant manual details our complaints and appeal procedure, our discipline policy, and our access and equity policy, including the contact for any Access and Equity issues.