Heavy or Medium Rigid drivers are the backbone of the Australian economy. They make sure goods get to their destination on time, and they ensure that our roads don't come to a standstill. What is a Heavy or Medium Rigid Vehicle and how can you become a driver of one? It's not as hard or expensive as you might think! There are several types of training programmes you can follow such as medium rigid truck training, heavy combination training or even heavy rigid training in Melbourne, before applying for a license to drive heavy vehicles.
Heavy Rigid vehicles are large trucks that transport goods across the country. They carry anything from construction equipment to building supplies, and they must be able to handle plenty of weight, both on their own back, as well as within their load itself. While it's not possible for someone who is just starting out in heavy haulage (as there is no such thing!) it can lead into a very interesting career path if you so choose. If you already have some qualifications under your belt or good experience behind the wheel of other commercial vehicles, becoming a Heavy Rigger might be something to consider down the track.
Benefits of becoming a heavy vehicle driver
So, what do these drivers get? Well firstly there are more jobs than ever before available right now for truck drivers and the opportunities are not just limited to driving a truck. You can also find work in specialised areas such as heavy haulage, mining and other industries where trucks are used on a regular basis.
There are many dangers to the job though. While being behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler or larger vehicle offers some protection from road hazards due to your size, when something goes wrong it's usually worse than with smaller vehicles because mistakes mean bigger consequences which can come at higher speeds too. That said however, all drivers will tell you how safe their coach feels once they get behind the wheel and learn how it handles on Australian roads.
Here's how you can obtain your heavy rigid driver in Australia.
Step 1 - Obtain an Australian driver's license.
Obtaining your Australian driver's license is the first step to becoming a heavy rigid driver. You can obtain your Australian driver's license by passing the road rules test and obtaining an unrestricted license. This may be done online or through completing written tests at your local registry office. To become eligible to take these exams you must first meet certain licensing criteria, such as being over the age of 18 years old with a full class C drivers’ licence for two years already which can be obtained from getting a learner’s permit via completing knowledge and practical testing tasks before taking the final exam for this qualification. You will also need to have completed any compulsory courses that might apply depending on what state you live in, e.g Alcohol awareness course if required under the law.
Step 2 - Complete a Heavy Vehicle Driver Course.
There are many heavy vehicle courses available for drivers wanting to become qualified in this role. These courses offer training programmes to teach a number of different skills including driving, handling and safety. These courses also teach you about road safety and the laws surrounding heavy vehicles. All you need to do is check with your local provider for course availability and pricing, as each state has different regulations.
Remember before beginning a Heavy Rigid Driver Course it is important firstly, to check that you are medically fit enough by having an appropriate driver’s license class (P or C) at least three years driving experience of which twelve months must be spent driving HIGHER GRADED VEHICLES i.e HC/MC + CPC certificate.
You will need to pass certain tests before you can be granted a license for heavy rigid vehicles in Australia, including:
Step 3 - Get your heavy rigid licence endorsed on your Australian driver's license.
Once you have completed a heavy rigid course, you should be ready to get the endorsement on your license. This will mean that you have met all of the qualifications required for heavy rigid driving in Australia, and are able to drive a heavy vehicle without supervision.
Step 4 - Finally, get out there and start driving.
The final step is to start driving. Many heavy vehicle drivers either join a company or go out on their own. Either way, the only thing that will stand in your way is a lack of experience and confidence behind the wheel. In order to overcome this obstacle, you should practice as much as possible to make yourself comfortable with driving heavy vehicles before going out onto public roads.
Remember to take care of yourself; don't drive when you're tired, hungry, or under any other conditions that might impair judgment or reaction time. It is extremely important to remember never to drive a truck when you are tired or distracted. You must remain 100% focused on the road and your surroundings at all times.
Many employers will also want to see a clean driving record in order for applicants to be considered, so keeping convictions and fines at bay is always the best way forward when applying for heavy vehicle licences.
The benefits of becoming a heavy rigid driver are that they earn good wages while being self-employed contractors rather than employees. Many companies offer flexible working conditions where drivers have much more control over how much work they take on each day which allows them great freedom towards balancing family life with work commitments. With well paid jobs comes financial security but it needs to be stressed here that these positions require high level concentration, dedication to safety procedures, physical fitness and mental strength.