Heavy Rigid or Heavy Combination (HR and HC class)

Getting my HR class licence

What you need to do

To apply for your HR class licence, you must:

• Must have held:
  (a) a class C for at least two years or
  (b) a class LR or MR for at least one year
• Be at least 19 years of age

If you hold a current driver's licence and meet the minimum driving experience requirements for the desired licence class, you can drive a motor vehicle of that class without a learner's permit - but only under learner's permit conditions and laws.

If you don't meet the minimum driving experience requirements for the desired licence class, you may be able to obtain a learner's permit for that class by:

• applying for an exemption or restricted licence, or
• passing the first two components of a TILE course.

For all classes of licences, except HC and MC class, you can choose to pass either a practical driving test (a vehicle-on-road test or VORT) or a competency-based training course (CBT) with an authorised driving instructor.

If you have a medical condition that may affect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, eyesight disorder etc, regardless of whether you have previously advised the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of the condition, you may be required  to provide a Certificate of Fitness to confirm that you meet the medical standards needed to hold a heavy vehicle licence.

You may also be required to provide a clearance from a relevant specialist before the heavy vehicle licence is issued.  For further information telephone 13 10 84.

Getting my HC class licence

What you need to do

To apply for your HC class licence, you must:

• Must have held a class MR or HR for at least one year.
• Be at least 19 years of age

If you're applying for an HC class licence and have held a C class licence for at least two years, you can undertake an approved training-in-lieu-of-experience (TILE) course. You must complete the first two components of the TILE course before obtaining a learner's permit. You must have a learner's permit before in-vehicle training can begin.

For more information, phone 13 10 84 or visit a Service SA customer service centre.

If you hold a current driver's licence and meet the minimum driving experience requirements for the desired licence class, you can drive a motor vehicle of that class without a learner's permit - but only under learner's permit conditions and laws.

If you don't meet the minimum driving experience requirements for the desired licence class, you may be able to obtain a learner's permit for that class by:

• applying for an exemption or restricted licence, or
• passing the first two components of a TILE course.

For all classes of licences, except HC and MC class, you can choose to pass either a practical driving test (a vehicle-on-road test or VORT) or a competency-based training course (CBT) with an authorised driving instructor.

Applying for an exemption or a restricted licence

You can apply for an exemption from the minimum requirements to be issued a HR or HC licence if you have special circumstances, such as employment in farming or transporting produce.

There are different types of exemptions and the criteria to be eligible for consideration varies.

Restricted licences for a Primary Producer, Immediate family member or employee of a Primary Producer

An exemption from the minimum driving experience requirements for the issue of a class HR or HC licence may be granted to Primary Producer, Immediate family member or employee of a Primary Producer who require a heavy vehicle licence class to assist in the running of a farm (e.g. transport of produce to a silo).

The applicant must:

• be at least 18 years of age, and
• have held a class C driver's licence for at least 12 months.

In order to apply for an exemption, a MR33 Restricted Licence Application form should be completed and signed by both the applicant and the primary producer.

If the applicant is the primary producer there is no need to sign as both.

The following information must be included on the application form:

• the applicant's name, address, date of birth and relationship to the primary producer operating the property
• the name and address of the primary producer who operates the farming property and the location of the property
• the nature of the agricultural or horticultural pursuits in which the applicant will be engaged
• the details of the truck, or truck and trailer combinations that the applicant will be required to drive ( i.e. number of axles, Gross Vehicle Mass and Gross Combination Mass)

Applications such as these may be submitted at a Service SA Customer Service Centre.

If your application is accepted, you will be issued a restricted learners permit for either class HR or HC. You will then be required to undertake a practical driving test in the class of vehicle you are applying for. This test may be conducted by an authorised/accredited instructor.

Please note – for the issue of a class HC licence you must complete the Competency Based Training and Assessment method.

Once you have successfully completed your practical driving test you must attend a Service SA Customer Service Centre to have your driver's licence issued with the new restricted class.

A fee of $20 will apply for a replacement licence.

Restricted licence for worksite purposes

An exemption from the minimum driving experience or practical driving test requirements for the issue of a restricted class LR, MR, HR or HC licence class may be granted to applicants who, from employment reasons, are required to operate heavy vehicles within a work site or industrial area.

In these cases, the applicant must:

• be at least 18 years of age and have held a class C licence for at least 12 months for the issue of a class LR, MR or HR, or
• be at least 19 years of age and have held a class C licence for at least two years for the issue of a class HC.

In order to apply for an exemption, a MR33 Restricted Licence Application form should be completed and signed by both the applicant and the primary producer.

The following information will need to be included in the application:

• the applicant's name, address, date of birth and licence number
• the name and address of the applicant's employer (the person who owns or manages the worksite) and the location of the property
• a signed declaration from the employer confirming the applicant's employment
• the address and description of the worksite in which the vehicles will be used
• the details of the truck, or truck and trailer combinations that the applicant will be required to drive ( i.e. number of axles, Gross Vehicle Mass and Gross Combination Mass)

These applications may be presented at a Service SA Customer Service Centre.

If your application is approved you will be issued a new licence with a restriction added to it, allowing you to operate these vehicles within a particular worksite or industrial area.

Your class of licence however will not change unless you complete a practical driving test for that class of licence.

A fee of $20 will apply for a replacement licence.

Information on applying for a restricted licence to operate heavy tractors, farm machinery, forklifts and other special purpose vehicles can be found under Restricted licence to operate special purpose vehicles.

Removing a restriction

Once the holder of a restricted licence has held the licence for 12 months, the applicant may apply to have the restriction removed.
The procedure for the removal of the licence restriction is the same for primary producers, employees, and immediate family members of a primary producer who have a restricted licence.

If the original HR or HC practical driving test was conducted by an authorised/accredited instructor, the applicant can apply to have the restriction removed after 12 months without the need to undertake a further practical driving test. The client is then issued with an unrestricted HR or HC licence class.

If the original HR or HC practical driving test was conducted by a police officer in a rural or remote location, the restricted licence holder needs to be re-tested by an authorised/accredited instructor before the restriction can be removed.

A restricted heavy vehicle licence for worksite purposes cannot be upgraded to an unrestricted class of licence unless the person passes a practical driving test for that class of licence.

Restricted licence for Special Purpose Vehicles

If you have a ‘C” class (car) licence you can operate small special purpose vehicles such as farm machines, small tractors and forklifts with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)  not greater the 4.5 tonne.

If you intend to operate a forklift you will also require a high risk work licence. Visit Safework SA for information on forklift operation.

Special Purpose Vehicles with a  GVM greater than 4.5 tonne require a person to hold a class of licence higher than car, with the class being dependent on the GVM of the special purpose vehicle and its number of axles.

If a person doesn’t hold the required class of licence, a restricted licence to operate special purpose vehicles may be granted to them in certain circumstances. Those circumstances include:

• being a primary producer, family member or employee of a primary producer and being required to drive heavy tractors or farm machinery.
• Being an employee of a business, company or organisation and being required to drive heavy special purpose vehicles in the course of employment, such as:
  • Operating special purpose vehicles for other type of primary producers like aquaculture (i.e. fishing or oyster farming).
  • Operating fire trucks within an industrial complex or area.
  • Operating heavy tractors and farm machinery for a dealership or service repairer.
  • Operating heavy forklifts (evidence of a High Risk Work Licence will be required).
  • Operating road maintenance and construction machinery

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and hold a C class licence; a provisional licence is acceptable.

In order to apply for an exemption, a MR33A Restricted Licence to Operate Special Purpose Vehicles form should be completed and signed by both the applicant and the primary producer.

The following information will need to be included in the application:

• The types of special purpose vehicles required to be driven.
• The nature of the operation (i.e. farm, mine site or industrial complex)
• Whether the vehicles will be driven on the road network
• Confirmation that the applicant has been trained and deemed qualified to operate the vehicles.

If your application is approved you will be issued a new licence with a restriction added to it, allowing you to operate these vehicles.

A fee of $20 will apply for a replacement licence.

What can I drive on a HC class licence?

1. A motor vehicle authorised to be driven by a licence of a preceding class.
2. A prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer (whether or not any unladen converter dolly or low loader dolly is also attached).
3. A rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a single trailer with a GVM greater than 9 tonne (whether or not any unladen converter dolly or low loader dolly is also attached).

Driver’s licence card or digital licence must be carried if driving a vehicle over 4.5 tonne GVM