How to Become a Truck Driver

How to Become a Truck Driver

Ordinary desk jobs often limit the independent spirit. Everyday office routines can become mundane after several years. Office clothes and business suits may not be so attractive. These are some of the reasons why a career spent navigating the open road and traversing the entire country as a truck driver holds strong appeal to some job seekers.

To best prepare for commencing a career as a truck driver, here are the steps you should go through:

A. Learn How to Drive a Truck
Driving a truck is different to driving a car, an SUV, a van or any small vehicle for that matter. Because certain skills are required to back up and manoeuvre a large vehicle down alleys, into docks, and into the truck stop, you need to be trained by a professional.  

Professional driving schools teach you the skills necessary to get your career started and prepare you for large vehicle driver's license application. The course depends on your skill level. Training could be as little as one hour for a refresher course or longer if you are a beginner.

B. Get the Right Truck License
There are 3 basic license codes you can get in order to drive a truck: Light Rigid, Medium Rigid, and Heavy Rigid.  

Light Rigid
Light Rigid or LR driver's license code entitles you to drive a bus, truck or prime mover weighing 8 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) or less, with or without a trailer weighing 9 tonnes GVM or less; or a specially constructed vehicle weighing 8 tonnes GVM or less, with or without a trailer weighing 9 tonnes GVM or less

Medium Rigid
Medium Rigid or MR driver's license code entitles you to drive an LR class vehicle, a class LR vehicle; a truck (including a prime mover) weighing more than 8 tonnes GVM, with no more than two axles, with or without a trailer weighing 9 tonnes GVM or less; a bus weighing more than 8 tonnes GVM, with no more than two axles, with or without a trailer weighing 9 tonnes GVM or less; and a specially constructed vehicle weighing more than 8 tonnes GVM with no more than 2 axles, with or without a trailer weighing 9 tonnes GVM or less.

Heavy Rigid
Heavy Rigid or HR driver's license code entitles you to drive a class MR vehicle; a bus, truck or prime mover weighing more than 8 tonnes GVM (no axle limits), with or without a trailer weighing 9 tonnes GVM or less; an articulated bus; and a specially constructed vehicle weighing more than 8 tonnes GVM with or without a trailer weighing 9 tonnes GVM or less.

To obtain a Light, Medium, or Heavy Rigid License you must:
•    Hold an open or provisional C Class license for at least 12 months continuously for LR and MR;    2 years continuously or have held a LR or

MR for 1 year continuously for HR
•    Pass a Heavy Vehicle written test with Queensland Transport
•    Pay a test booking fee to Queensland Transport
•    Pass a Queensland Transport practical driving test
•    You must have prior experience in driving a manual motor vehicle, as a prerequisite to commencing driver training in heavy vehicles (for HR only)

C. Gain Experience Driving Smaller Trucks and Establish Safe Driving History

Just like other careers, becoming a truck driver may require you to start from below and work your way up. In order to do that, you may commence driving smaller trucks. Gain some experience and keep your driving records clean. This way, when you are about to move a notch higher, employers easily trust you.