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When do I need a bus and truck licence?

You need a bus and truck licence to drive trucks with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 4.5 tonnes or buses which seat more than 12 adults.

To get your bus and truck licence, you must meet the requirements of the graduated licensing scheme described in this brochure.
 

What is the graduated licensing scheme?

The graduated licensing scheme requires you to gain experience driving smaller vehicles before you move on to driving larger, more complex vehicles.

As you can see from the diagram below, truck and bus licences are issued in five different categories that represent the various industry requirements.

You can only drive vehicles in the category for which you are licensed or vehicles in lesser categories. For example, when you get your heavy rigid licence you can drive buses and trucks in the light rigid, medium rigid and heavy rigid categories, but you cannot drive vehicles in the heavy combination and multi-combination categories. When you get your multi-combination licence, you can drive any bus or truck, including B-doubles.
 

Is my Victorian licence recognised by other States?

Yes. The categories of Victorian bus and truck licences are. National categories and the licence is recognised throughout
Australia. However, if you move interstate to live, you will need to change your Victorian licence.
 

	Vehicle equal to or less than 4.5 tonnes GVM and seating up to 12 adults including the driver.
	Any rigid vehicle, including bus and truck, greater than 4.5 tonnes MLM, but equal to or less than 8 tonnes GVM or seating more than 12 adults including the driver.  Must have held a driver licence for at least 12 months.
	Any 2-axle rigid vehicle, including bus and truck, greater than 8 tonnes GVM.  Must have held a driver licence for at least 12 months.
	Any rigid vehicle with 3 or more axles, including bus and truck, greater than 8 tonnes GVM.  Must have held a driver licence for at least 24 months.
	Prime mover/single semi-trailer exceeding 9 tonne, or rigid vehicle plus trailer greater than 9 tonnes GVM.  Must have held a driver licence for at least 12 months including an MR or HR licence for at least 12 months
	Heavy Combination vehicle with one or more additional trailers.  Must have held a HC or HR for at least 12 months, plus completion of an approved course.

Note:  Rigid vehicle licence holders may tow trailers less than 9 tonne GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass)

When you are learning to drive a truck or bus, you must always display DRIVER UNDER INSTRUCTION plates at the front and back of the vehicle. These plates must meet the following requirements.
 
 
 

So how do I get my bus and truck licence?

These answers to common questions will help you.

Q.  How do I go about training for a bus and truck licence?

A You must have a current Victorian car driver licence. You can apply for a light rigid (LR) or medium rigid (MR) licence when you have held a car driver licence for 12 months. However, you can start training for your LR or MR licence before the 12 month period is over.
As the first step in your training, read the latest edition of The Victorian Bus and Truck Drivers' Handbook. This is available from VicRoads, the RACV and selected newsagents. Then choose somebody to help you with your training. Professional training can be provided by an accredited training and testing provider; a driving school or your employer. when you have completed your training, an accredited training and testing provider can conduct a licence test on behalf of VicRoads.

The bus industry has its own system for training bus drivers. If you drive trucks and want to be a bus driver, the bus company that employs you will let you know if you need special training. If you drive a bus you may need a Driver's Certificate. You can apply for a Driver's Certificate at VicRoads Registration and Licensing offices or telephone 03 9345 4234, fax 03 9345 4137.

Q. If I have a friend or relative with a bus and truck licence, is that person allowed to help with my training?

A. Yes, as long as the friend or relative has a licence for the type of vehicle in which you are learning.

Q. Who do I contact about getting a truck and bus licence?

General information about truck and bus licences is available from any VicRoads Registration and Licensing office, or you can telephone 131173. VicRoads can also provide information about accredited heavy vehicle training and testing providers.

Accredited testing providers can tell you about training costs, provide training and conduct your licence test on behalf of VicRoads. They are listed in the current edition of The Victorian Bus and Truck Drivers' Handbook.

Your local driving school may also be able to help you with information and training.

Q. What is included in the test?

A First you have to prove your identity. Your trainer/tester can explain what documents you need.

You must then pass a driving test in a vehicle of the category of licence you require.

If you are obtaining a Bus and Truck licence for the first time, you must also pass a written knowledge test based on information in The Victorian Bus and Truck Drivers' Handbook.

To obtain a multi combination (MC) licence, you must have held a heavy combination or heavy rigid licence for at least 12 months and have passed an approved training course.

Q. What sort of vehicle can I drive in the test?

There are restrictions on the type of vehicle you can use for your driving test. When making a test booking, check that the vehicle you intend to use is suitable.

Make sure the test vehicle has the sort of transmission you want to use when you are licensed, because your licence will state that what transmissions you are permitted to use. For further information, refer to the next section of this brochure.

Are there any restrictions after I get my bus and truck licence?

Q. When I get my bus and truck licence, can I drive any bus or truck?

A. No. You can only drive vehicles in the categories shown on your licence and vehicles in lesser categories.

Q. Are there any special laws that apply to bus and truck licences?

A. Yes, if you are driving a bus or truck over 15 tonnes GVM you must:
-     Always carry your licence
-     Have zero blood alcohol (.00 BAC).

Q. When I get my bus and truck licence, can I drive to country Victoria or interstate?

A. Yes, but you must keep a log book and record your hours of driving for any trip that goes further than 100 km from the bus or truck's home base. You can get a log book from any VicRoads Registration and Licensing office.

Q. Are there restrictions on the types of transmission I can use?

A. Yes. Your licence says what kind of vehicle transmission you can use.

If you get your licence in a vehicle fitted with a synchromesh gearbox, the following restrictions apply:

Your licence will show code 'B', which means you can only drive a bus or truck with synchromesh or automatic transmission.

If you wish to drive non-synchromesh vehicles (commonly known as crash boxes, constant-mesh or 'Road Ranger' gears) you will have to be retested in a vehicle fitted with that type of transmission.

If you get your licence in a vehicle fitted with automatic transmission, the following restrictions apply:

If you get your bus and truck licence while still on a probationary automatic car driver licence, you can only drive automatic vehicles for the remaining part of your probation period. The licence will then convert to a synchromesh ('B' code) classification.
If you get your bus and truck driver licence while on a full car driver licence, the synchromesh ('B' code) classification will apply immediately.

Q Can rigid category licence holders tow trailers?

A LR, MR and HR licence holders can tow trailers up to 9 tonnes (GVM). However, national load and mass limits apply. For further information, contact Tel: 13 11 71.