VIC Truckies: Prime or HR? Auto-Synchro or Non-Synchro?

topppbloke on 06/09/2021 - 20:00
Last edited 06/09/2021 - 20:00

A couple of questions for our good truck drivers out there.

First of all, keep up the good work! you're keeping Australia alive : )

To become a truck driver in VIC:

You'll have to attend a truck driver training school yes?
Do they provide with with a license as well? Or would you have to do the course and then get tested at VICROads?

Also, based on the job market out there:

Do you recommend going for Auto-Synchro or a Non-Synchro license?

Do you recommend going for a HR License? Or Prime.

The bloke is a young fella who's had his car license for over 5 years.

In advance, thank you very much.

Stay safe.

Automotive Truck

Comments

  • pegaxs on 06/09/2021 - 20:26
    +1

    HC and RoadRanger/non-synchro… That way, you’ll be able to drive anything that isn’t MC. (And laugh at all the morons that say that they only drive manual cars because “manuals take sKiLLz”)

    I would imagine it’s similar in Vic as it is in NSW. You will need to sit the written test. Once you pass that, you will then need to go and do driver training. Once you pass that, you will go back to vicroads and apply for your license and pay for your log book if you don’t have one already.

    For more info, consult the VicRoads heavy vehicle license how-to website…

    • topppbloke on 07/09/2021 - 12:38

      Thanks mate, truly appreciate your valuable input.

      "And laugh at all the morons that say that they only drive manual cars because “manuals take sKiLLz” : ) lol

  • El cheepo on 06/09/2021 - 21:21
    +1

    If you are going straight from a car license, HR is the highest you will be able to attain.

    Do your road ranger license in a HR, don’t get put off by it been difficult, it can take a fair few lessons to get use to but its worth doing it immediately.
    Why?
    1) makes getting work easier when you can drive with any gearbox.
    2) if/when you want to upgrade to HC/MC license later on you can do it in an automatic truck and still have an open license.

    Not sure of other states but in WA you get thrown straight in a truck and your out on the road first lesson.

    In WA truck licensing is privatised and training/licensing is done by RTO’s with department of transport accredited instructors. I’m fairly sure this is true of other states too.

    In all honesty though, the biggest challenge you will face isn’t getting a truck license, it will be finding a job that doesn’t require 2+ years experience.
    But don’t let that put you off, it is possible!

    • topppbloke on 07/09/2021 - 12:51

      Thanks for the insight mate.
      And I would agree, am sure sit would be a challenge to find the first job without any experience, gotta start somewhere though.
      Luckily the fella has some good interpersonal skills, am sure he'll end up landing something.

      • El cheepo on 07/09/2021 - 13:12

        Great to hear!

        Attitude will play a big part in landing a first gig.

        Been willing to do the lower jobs and starting in a company with everything from little rigids up to road trains is also a good gateway to upskilling and getting experience.

        A lot of companies are willing to train blokes with good attitudes after they prove themselves reliable in the yard or in smaller stuff.

  • topppbloke on 07/09/2021 - 14:52

    Wow!
    You're a road train dude??? you must be super skilled.
    These things scare me!
    I reckon you would have to consider everyone on the road as morons and to anticipate every move! I can imagine it would be very hard to break speed and slow it down to a stand still? something like 50-100 meters if you're driving at 100kph?

    • El cheepo on 07/09/2021 - 19:11
      +1

      Like anything, the more you do it the easier it is.
      Nothing scary about it except who’s in the drivers seat haha

      Breaking depends on a lot of factors like weight, incline,weather, freight type etc but generally I wouldn’t be pulling up in less then 100 meters woth a road train in any situation, probably be closer to 200 to bring it to a stop from 100kmph

      • topppbloke on 08/09/2021 - 10:37

        200 meters??? JC :)
        Man, that is scary!

  • the Unforgiven on 07/09/2021 - 23:40

    It has been a few decades since I got my semi licence in Vic, about 3 & a half or thereabouts.
    I bought a '64 Bedford bus off an old bloke & he told me that I didn't need a heavy licence to drive it. On the rego it did not say the weight of the bus, or I could not read it. So I did not worry about it, if I needed one, someone will tell me and I will just go & get one; it should be easy enough, my car licence only took 7 goes at it.

    Guess what? I needed a heavy licence or something. If you knew me, I don't do things by half, so I went to see what had to be done to get a semi licence. I found someone who had a semi with a 5 speed crunch box, which is the same box as in the Bedford; too easy. I took a couple of lessons to show the bloke that I could drive, but he and wanted me to drive some more, probably, so he could get more money from me. I did a few more then I went for my licence, and wouldn't you know it, the bloke who took me for my licence was this bloke that used to tell me off all the time for 'whacking' his powerline with my CB aerial from the bus as I came down his Court to see my mate; what bad luck eh.

    My teacher said we could go elsewhere, but the booking is a month or 2 off, so he wanted me to do more lessons, more money for him, but what could I do. When the day came, I flew through the test and I could drive anything except a road train. A decade later, I went to renew my licences in NSW, the lady took off up the back & she took awhile, and when she came back she said since you have had a good driving record, you can skip your bike P's & go to full bike licence & we will renew your semi licence to gold NSW even though I got my licence in Vic, but I was living in NSW then, so they transferred everything over for me. I don't know when, but somewhere it showed on my licence Australia not NSW or Vic but Australia because I had a semi & full bike licence.

    For 4 decades I never had a blemish, then last November I went to hospital with cellulitis after coming out of a 2-day coma at home. Then the next month I had a semi just nick rolling over the front of my car, it was his fault, but it was the 1st time I have ever made an insurance claim; and Shannons treated me like shit. 2 or 3 months ago I got caught speeding for the 1st time in over 4 decades, I just finished overtaking a semi & I came over this crest of a hill & he got me there! (142km/h). It was also the 1st time I have ever lost any demerit points since the system came in. I, am either still feeling the effects, I think I am or I am getting old, which I am; or both. You are young Luke, use the force. peace & long life

    • topppbloke on 08/09/2021 - 10:36

      Wow! Thanks for sharing mate.
      Bummer to hear about your last couple of hiccups though.
      Interesting that you can drive anything but a Road train? Is it because of your licensing limits? or perhaps not skilled/trained enough on them?

      • the Unforgiven on 08/09/2021 - 15:04

        No sweat
        That is what ozBargain is for sharing
        I had to get done some time, I have been lucky; even thou I moved to the bush where there are not many cops

        I lost my licence 4 times when I was young, all for speeding. My best one was coming off the freeway on 2 wheels in my panel van & there was this cop car in the other direction; but I didn't see him as it was dark. I went up Pound Road & then this car with high beam came screaming up behind me. If you know Pound Road, there are only 2 roads off it & couldn't see them with their high curbing in the dark, so I just floored it. I got up to the round-a-bout & turned left. From there, I could open it up & just go, but the blue light turned on behind me. So I stopped. I told the magistrate about nearly getting rammed, he just glared at the cop & I lost my licence for 3 months

        I could have lost my licence there & then doing 142, but the cop put it down to 137 so I could keep my licence; funny thing, I was on my way to court (not really funny). I just copped it as I have done 170 around there, or near there; there are a couple of really good straights with no turn-offs & either side there are really high brush, so no cars, no humans & no animals, so it was safe, but I just do 105 now. The cars have been made safer & the roads are better since the 100 speed-limit came out decades ago, some places it should be 120 - 130, no higher. I used to be a mechanic, so I know my car before I get jumped on

        I never made an enquiry about getting a road train licence. It must have been a much harder licence to get. As you read, getting a semi licence back then was pretty easy, drive a semi a few times & take the test, oh, I forgot, you had to learn extra questions like you did for your normal licence, but they were easy. Just like, how far from a rail line do you have to stop & listen for a train with your window down & with what load on board. You have to learn different hazard symbols, just incase. I only had a bus I was living in, so I really didn't need a road train licence. It was a good old '64 Bedford bus. 25ft long with an island bed up the back. It had a 5 speed crunch box & a 308 motor. I put LPG on it as it chewed petrol & it went thru 1 lt/mile in LPG even thou I put a Crow cam in it & Mr Yella Terra made me a special set of Silver Terra heads as my mate was in the parts trade back then. She used to do doughies. I had to go to the left, if I went to the right, the cupboards flew open; so in the end I preferred to do 6 wheel drifties on dirt roads; they were the good old days :)

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