MR vs HR vs HC vs MC: Which Truck Licence Do You Actually Need?

Licence codes look like alphabet soup until someone explains them. Here's what each class really means, using the official NSW definitions, and the kind of work each one gets you.

A quick note on GVM

GVM stands for Gross Vehicle Mass: the maximum a vehicle can weigh fully loaded, as set by the manufacturer. Anything over 4.5 tonnes GVM is a heavy vehicle, and that's where truck licences begin.

LR: Light Rigid

Rigid vehicles over 4.5 tonnes but not more than 8 tonnes GVM, plus small buses that carry more than 12 adults. Think small trucks and minibuses. Most people skip straight past LR.

MR: Medium Rigid

Rigid trucks with two axles and a GVM over 8 tonnes. This is the classic delivery truck: furniture removals, parcels, food distribution and many tippers. You need to have held your car licence for at least a year.

HR: Heavy Rigid

Rigid vehicles with three or more axles over 8 tonnes, including big buses. HR is the most popular licence we teach because it opens so many doors: garbage trucks, concrete agitators, big tippers and heavy freight. You need your car licence for at least 2 years, or MR for 1 year.

HC: Heavy Combination

Prime movers pulling a semi-trailer, and rigid trucks towing heavy trailers over 9 tonnes. This is the jump into semi-trailers and linehaul work. You need MR or HR for at least a year.

MC: Multi Combination

The top of the ladder: B-doubles and road trains. MC covers everything below it. You need HR or HC for at least a year, and yes, you can go straight from HR to MC.

Each licence includes the ones below it

This is the nice part of the system. An HR licence lets you drive MR and LR vehicles. An MC licence lets you drive everything. So you never lose anything by going higher.

Still not sure? Our 3-question licence quiz will tell you what you can get right now. Source: NSW Government licence classes.