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There are two ways of obtaining a heavy vehicle driver’s licence.

  1. Undertake a Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (CBA) with an RTA accredited assessor.
  2. Undertake an RTA heavy vehicle driving test at the motor registry.

The two ways of obtaining a heavy vehicle driver’s licence are offered to enable applicants options which best suit their personal circumstances.

The CBA system is administered by licensed driving instructors who are accredited by the RTA as CBA assessors. The RTA heavy vehicle driving test is administered by RTA testing officers.

Both the RTA heavy vehicle driving test and CBA are conducted in loaded vehicles.

The RTA heavy vehicle driving test and CBA system apply to all heavy vehicle licence classes from light rigid (LR) to heavy combination (HC).

What do I need to do to get my licence under CBA?

You need to go to an RTA motor registry and:

How does CBA work?

If you choose to obtain your licence under CBA, you will have to pay the appropriate fee and you will be given two books:

  1. A Guide to Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment.
  2. A Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment Learner’s Log Book.

The Guide outlines the requirements to pass the assessments as well as the tasks you need to perform to complete each competency. The log book is the official record of your progress.

Under the CBA system you are assessed under a wide range of driving conditions by an RTA accredited assessor. When you have demonstrated that you can perform certain skills (called competencies), these are progressively recorded in your log book. Once all competencies are successfully completed and reported to the RTA by the assessor you can go to any RTA motor registry to upgrade your licence.

Assessors

Under CBA, you can learn to drive either with a licensed driving instructor or with an appropriate NSW licence holder. You can only be assessed by an accredited assessor. All assessors are licensed driving instructors so they can assess and train you at the same time.

You can change assessors at any time, just as you can change driving instructors.

Remember, you must keep your log book.

Can I use my own vehicle to be assessed or tested?

You can learn and be assessed or tested in your own vehicle, as long as it is registered and roadworthy and meets the following vehicle and load requirements.

Vehicle requirements

The vehicle that you use for CBA must be the right type for the class of licence for which you are applying.

If you are applying for a heavy rigid (HR) or heavy combination (HC) licence, there are additional minimum standards for vehicles which can be used. For more information see the Heavy Vehicle Drivers’ Handbook.

Load requirements

All heavy vehicles (except buses) presented for the heavy vehicle driving test must be loaded to at least 75% of the maximum mass allowable for the vehicle to be driven on public roads. This is at least 75% of either the “legal mass limit”, Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) for rigid vehicles or Gross Combination Mass (GCM) for articulated or heavy trailer combinations, whichever is the lowest.

There must be a lap-sash retractable seat belt fitted to the front passenger seat of the vehicle for the testing officer (MR and HR buses excepted).

The following vehicles must not be used for a driving test:

Heavy vehicle licence conditions

If you undertake CBA in a heavy vehicle fitted with an automatic or synchromesh gearbox, a condition will be added to your licence which will only allow you to drive heavy vehicles with a similar transmission. To have the condition removed you need to pass a shortened version of the RTA test in a vehicle fitted with a constant mesh gearbox.

Special test tips

When you undertake the test an RTA testing officer will assess your driving skills around a specified test course.

What do I need to do to undertake the driving test?

You will need to:

Once you have passed the driving test you should pay the appropriate fee to upgrade your licence.

Test Scoring

The test gives the driver credit for good performance.

The testing officer will mark the test sheet with either a ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ for each check made. You require a score of 95% and no fail items to pass the test.

What do testing officers look for during the test?

The testing officer scores most performance checks at specific locations on a test route. Some checks, such as the ability to use the vehicle controls, are assessed continuously during the test.

Here are some other examples of checks which will be made during the test:

As part of the test you must describe to the assessor, the process for coupling and uncoupling heavy combination (HC) and pre-departure check (all classes).

Manoeuvres

The following table shows which manoeuvres are conducted and tested for the various licence classes and types.

Manoeuvre Heavy vehicle licence class or type
Long reverse LR truck, LR bus, MR truck, MR bus, HR truck, HR bus, HC
Bus stop skills LR bus, MR bus, HR bus
Reverse park LR truck, LR bus, MR truck, MR bus, HR truck, HR bus, HC
U-turn (3 point turn) LR truck, LR bus, MR truck
Kerbside stop LR truck, LR bus, MR truck, MR bus, HR truck, HR bus, HC
Pre-departure check LR truck, LR bus, MR truck, MR bus, HR truck, HR bus, HC
Coupling uncoupling HC

If you do anything during the test that is unsafe or against the law, you will fail.

Disclaimer: This information is current as of 17/03/09 as shown on the Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW website at http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/

This text is copyright (c) to Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW.