Get your heavy vehicle licence

Heavy Vehicle Drivers' Handbook

The Heavy Vehicle Drivers’ Handbook has information to help you learn about:

  • rules and regulations specific to heavy vehicles
  • the skills you need to drive a heavy vehicle.

You should also read the Road Users’ Handbook and Load Restraint Guide .

Get the complete Heavy Vehicle Drivers’ Handbook PDF (5.5 MB)

Individual sections of the handbook

Instead of downloading the full Heavy Vehicle Drivers' Handbook, you can get individual sections below.


Learn to drive a heavy vehicle

To get your heavy vehicle licence, you must learn to drive a heavy vehicle. This step is part of getting your driver licence.

You can get professional training provided by an approved heavy vehicle training and testing provider or your employer.

If you know someone with a heavy vehicle licence, they can also help with your training.

They must have a current licence for the type of vehicle that you're learning to drive.

Before your training

To prepare for your training, you must read the following:

During the training

Your trainer must sit next to you, or in buses, the closest seat to you.

You must display a 'driver under instruction' sign at the back of the vehicle.

The sign must be:

  • at least 530mm wide and 300mm high
  • with DRIVER UNDER INSTRUCTION in black writing, at least 75mm high on a yellow background.

If driving a vehicle more than 15 tonnes GVM, you must have a zero blood alcohol concentration.


Apply for a light rigid licence

To apply for a light rigid (LR) licence, you must:

  • hold a current Northern Territory (NT) driver licence
  • have held a class C driver licence for at least one year.

Before you apply

You must learn to drive an LR vehicle from a driver who holds the same or higher heavy vehicle (HV) licence.

Find out how to learn to drive a heavy vehicle.

How to apply

Once you've learned to drive a heavy vehicle, follow the steps below.

You must pass one of the following:

Find out how to practise and take the theory test.

You must pass one of the following:

The vehicle you use must:

  • have a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of at least 4.5 tonnes but less than 8 tonnes
  • be loaded to at least 75% of the GVM.

You must show you can safely secure a load.

During your test, a camera will record the front of your vehicle as well as the inside.

Your examiner must keep this recording for 6 months and MVR may request a copy at any time.

You can apply in person, by email or mail.

You must provide one of the following:

  • statement of attainment and final competency test form
  • competency test form.

In person

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents at an MVR office.

Step 2. Pay your licence fee by Mastercard, Visa, cash or EFTPOS.

By email or mail

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents by:

  • email: mvr@nt.gov.au
  • mail: Motor Vehicle Registry, GPO Box 530, Darwin NT 0801.

Step 2. Call MVR on 1300 654 628 to pay your licence fee over the phone using Visa or Mastercard.

After you apply

Once your application has been processed, you will get a receipt as your authority to drive.

You must have this with you when driving until you receive your driver licence card.

It will be mailed to the address shown on your receipt.


Apply for a medium rigid licence

To apply for a medium rigid (MR) licence, you must:

  • hold a current Northern Territory (NT) driver licence
  • have held a class C or a light rigid driver licence for at least one year.

Before you apply

You must learn to drive an MR vehicle from a driver who holds the same or higher heavy vehicle (HV) licence.

Find out how to learn to drive a heavy vehicle.

How to apply

Once you've learned to drive a heavy vehicle, follow the steps below.

You must pass one of the following:

Find out how to practise and take the theory test.

You must pass one of the following:

The vehicle you use must be a 2-axle rigid vehicle:

  • with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) greater than 8 tonnes
  • loaded to at least 75% of the GVM.

You must show you can safely secure a load.

During your test, a camera will record the front of your vehicle as well as the inside.

Your examiner must keep this recording for 6 months and MVR may request a copy at any time.

You must pass an eyesight test at one of the following:

You can apply in person, by email or mail.

You must provide:

  • one of the following:
    • statement of attainment and final competency test form
    • competency test form
  • eyesight test report from a health professional - if applicable.

In person

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents at an MVR office.

Step 2. Pay your licence fee by Mastercard, Visa, cash or EFTPOS.

By email or mail

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents by:

  • email: mvr@nt.gov.au
  • mail: Motor Vehicle Registry, GPO Box 530, Darwin NT 0801.

Step 2. Call MVR on 1300 654 628 to pay your licence fee over the phone using Visa or Mastercard.

After you apply

Once your application has been processed, you will get a receipt as your authority to drive.

You must have this with you when driving until you receive your driver licence card.

It will be mailed to the address shown on your receipt.


Apply for a heavy rigid licence

To apply for a heavy rigid (HR) licence, you must:

  • hold a current Northern Territory (NT) driver licence
  • have held a:
    • class C driver licence for at least 2 years or
    • light or medium rigid (MR) licence for at least one year.

Before you apply

You must learn to drive an HR vehicle from a driver who holds the same or higher heavy vehicle (HV) licence.

Find out how to learn to drive a heavy vehicle.

How to apply

Once you've learned to drive a heavy vehicle, follow the steps below.

You must pass one of the following:

Find out how to practise and take the theory test.

You must pass one of the following:

The vehicle you use must be a rigid vehicle with at least 3 axles and:

  • not being an unladen prime mover
  • a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of at least 15 tonnes
  • be loaded to at least 75% of the GVM.

You must show you can safely secure a load.

During your test, a camera will record the front of your vehicle as well as the inside.

Your examiner must keep this recording for 6 months and MVR may request a copy at any time.

You must pass an eyesight test at one of the following:

This does not apply to you if you have already passed one for an MR licence.

You can apply in person, by email or mail.

You must provide:

  • one of the following:
    • statement of attainment and final competency test form
    • competency test form
  • eyesight test report from a health professional - if applicable.

In person

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents at an MVR office.

Step 2. Pay your licence fee by Mastercard, Visa, cash or EFTPOS.

By email or mail

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents by:

  • email: mvr@nt.gov.au
  • mail: Motor Vehicle Registry, GPO Box 530, Darwin NT 0801.

Step 2. Call MVR on 1300 654 628 to pay your licence fee over the phone using Visa or Mastercard.

After you apply

Once your application has been processed, you will get a receipt as your authority to drive.

You must have this with you when driving until you receive your driver licence card.

It will be mailed to the address shown on your receipt.


Apply for a heavy combination licence

To apply for a heavy combination (HC) licence, you must:

  • hold a current Northern Territory (NT) driver licence
  • have held a medium or heavy rigid licence for at least one year.

Before you apply

You must learn to drive an HC vehicle from a driver who holds the same or higher heavy vehicle (HV) licence.

Find out how to learn to drive a heavy vehicle.

How to apply

Once you've learned to drive a heavy vehicle, follow the steps below.

You must pass an HC training course with an approved HV training provider.

Once you pass, you will receive a statement of attainment.

You must pass a final competency test organised through your approved HV training provider.

The vehicle and trailer combination you use must be loaded to at least 75% of the vehicle's gross combination mass (GCM).

It can be one of the following:

  • a prime mover with:
    • at least 3 axles
    • a single semi-trailer with at least 2 axles
  • a heavy rigid vehicle towing a trailer with:
    • at least 2 axles
    • a gross vehicle mass of at least 12 tonnes.

You must show you can safely:

  • uncouple and re-couple the trailer
  • secure a load.

During your test, a camera will record the front of your vehicle as well as the inside.

Your examiner must keep this recording for 6 months and MVR may request a copy at any time.

Once you pass, you will receive a final competency test form.

You can apply in person, by email or mail.

You must provide your:

  • statement of attainment
  • final competency test form.

In person

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents at an MVR office.

Step 2. Pay your licence fee by Mastercard, Visa, cash or EFTPOS.

By email or mail

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents by:

  • email: mvr@nt.gov.au
  • mail: Motor Vehicle Registry, GPO Box 530, Darwin NT 0801.

Step 2. Call MVR on 1300 654 628 to pay your licence fee over the phone using Visa or Mastercard.

After you apply

Once your application has been processed, you will get a receipt as your authority to drive.

You must have this with you when driving until you receive your driver licence card.

It will be mailed to the address shown on your receipt.


Apply for a multi-combination licence

To apply for a multi-combination (MC) licence, you must:

  • hold a current Northern Territory (NT) driver licence
  • have held a heavy rigid or heavy combination licence for at least one year.

Before you apply

You must learn to drive an MC vehicle from a driver who holds a current MC licence.

Find out how to learn to drive a heavy vehicle.

How to apply

Once you've learned to drive a heavy vehicle, follow the steps below.

You must pass a training course with an approved HV training provider.

Once you pass, you will receive a statement of attainment.

You must pass a final competency test organised through your approved HV training provider.

The vehicle and trailer combination you use must be at least 22m in length and be loaded to at least 75% of the vehicle's gross combination mass (GCM).

It must be a prime mover of at least 3 axles with one of the following:

  • a single semi-trailer of at least 3 axles and a b-double trailer of at least 3 axles
  • a single semi-trailer of a least 3 axles attached to a converter dolly with a second semi-trailer of at least 3 axles.

You will be assessed while driving on a road train route in the NT.

You must show you can safely:

  • uncouple and re-couple the first and second trailer
  • secure a load.

During your test, a camera will record the front of your vehicle as well as the inside.

Your examiner must keep this recording for 6 months and MVR may request a copy at any time.

Once you pass, you will receive a final competency test form.

You can apply in person, by email or mail.

You must provide your:

  • statement of attainment
  • final competency test form.

In person

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents at an MVR office.

Step 2. Pay your licence fee by Mastercard, Visa, cash or EFTPOS.

By email or mail

Step 1. Submit your supporting documents by:

  • email: mvr@nt.gov.au
  • mail: Motor Vehicle Registry, GPO Box 530, Darwin NT 0801.

Step 2. Call MVR on 1300 654 628 to pay your licence fee over the phone using Visa or Mastercard.

After you apply

Once your application has been processed, you will get a receipt as your authority to drive.

You must have this with you when driving until you receive your driver licence card.

It will be mailed to the address shown on your receipt.


Approved heavy vehicle training providers

You will need to complete a training course to apply for the following classes:

  • heavy combination (HC) licence
  • multi-combination (MC) licence.

You must do this through an approved training provider.

Approved heavy vehicle training providers follow the below code:

Code of practice for NT driving instructors and driving examiners PDF (758.8 KB)
Code of practice for NT driving instructors and driving examiners DOCX (656.3 KB).

After the training course

Once you finish your training course, you will need to complete a final competency practical assessment with an authorised heavy vehicle driving examiner.

This should be organised through the approved training provider.

At the end of the practical assessment, the examiner will issue you with a heavy vehicle test sheet to confirm you have completed the final competency assessment.

Your approved training provider will issue your statement of attainment.

To upgrade your licence, you will need to present to the MVR the following:

  • statement of attainment
  • final competency assessment test sheet.

If you don't upgrade your licence within 12 months of these documents being issued, you will be reassessed.

You will need to pay a fee when you upgrade your licence.

Registered training organisations

The below table shows registered training organisations approved by the MVR for heavy vehicle licence training and course assessment.

Registered training organisationPhoneLRMRHRHCMC
Charles Darwin University 1800 061 963 Y Y Y Y Y
Logic Transport Training0408 439 490 Y Y Y Y Y
Northern Territory Training Services 0418 912 414YYYYY

Authorised heavy vehicle driver examiners

Authorised heavy vehicle examiners are approved through the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

They must follow the code of practice:

Code of practice for NT driving instructors and driving examiners PDF (758.8 KB)
Code of practice for NT driving instructors and driving examiners DOCX (656.3 KB).

To book a practical competency test, contact an examiner in or near your region.

Your practical competency test result will remain valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Light, medium and heavy rigid

The below list shows authorised heavy vehicle driver examiners by region for licence classes LR, MR and HR.

NamePhone
Ari Polychronopoulos0439 831 167
Dion Simonsen0419 641 974
Errol Holmes0437 854 035
Ged Ryan0427 817 547
Glen Holmes0417 823 514
Graeme Traill0438 898 582
Guy Field0409 456 422
Jason Hamood08 8946 7689
Jeff Sylva0476 236 976
Jimmy Morton0477 059 493
Raj Jassal0470 292 864
Scott Watts0400 311 755
Stuart McLean08 8946 7321
Sarah Kendall0438 829 806

NamePhone
Adrian Couchman 08 8955 0444
Ari Polychronopoulos 0439 831 167
Craig Pankhurst 08 8955 0444
Craig Whan 08 8955 0444
Dion Simonsen 0419 641 974
Ged Ryan 0427 817 547
Guy Field 0409 456 422
Jason Hamood 08 8946 7689
Jeff Sylva 0476 236 976
Jimmy Morton 0477 059 493
Stuart McLean 08 8946 7321
Sarah Kendall 0438 829 806
Tom Shilling 0417 815 870

NamePhone
Ari Polychronopoulos 0439 831 167
Dion Simonsen 0419 641 974
Ged Ryan 0427 817 547
Guy Field 0409 456 422
Jason Hamood 08 8946 7689
Jimmy Morton 0477 059 493
Sarah Kendall  0438 829 806
Stuart McLean 08 8946 7321
Jeff Sylva 0476 236 976

Heavy and multi-combination

For class HC and class MC licence upgrades, read the list of approved training providers.


Heavy vehicle theory test

To get a heavy vehicle licence, you need to take the heavy vehicle theory test. This is also called the knowledge test.

This step is part of getting your driver licence.

There are 2 heavy vehicle theory tests:

  • heavy vehicle rigid - for class LR, MR and HR
  • heavy vehicle articulated - for class HC and MC.

For licence classes LR, MR and HR, you may need to pass a theory test at an MVR office or through an approved training provider.

For licence classes HC and MC, you must go to an approved training provider to complete your training course. This includes your theory test.

Prepare for the test

To prepare for the theory test, you must read the following:

What you'll be tested on

You will be tested on your knowledge for all of the following:

  • general road rules that apply to all drivers
  • specific rules that apply to heavy vehicle drivers
  • vehicle dimensions that apply to heavy vehicles
  • how to safely secure a load
  • tyres, wheels and axle load limits for standard heavy vehicle configurations
  • rules that apply to heavy vehicle drivers in other jurisdictions. Read more information about specific rules that apply to driving heavy vehicles interstate.

Check if you're ready

Before you take the test, check if you're ready by taking the online heavy vehicle practice test.

You can also practise with the:

About the test

The test has 30 multiple choice questions. They're selected from a pool of more than 250 questions.

You must get at least 26 out of 30 questions correct to pass.

How to take a test at an MVR office

You can take a test at any MVR office up to one hour before the office closes.

To take a test, you should follow these steps:

Step 1. Make sure you're eligible for the relevant heavy vehicle licence.

Step 2. Provide evidence of your ID (your current NT driver licence).

Step 3. Pay the theory test fee before you can begin.

If you pass and you don't want to immediately apply for your licence, the result will remain valid for 12 months.

If you're taking the heavy vehicle licence training and test with an approved training provider, you don't need to do the heavy vehicle theory test with MVR.