Heavy Combination (HC) is the licence that opens up linehaul, interstate freight, tipper-and-dog, tankers and civil work — and it's the prerequisite for MC.
Heavy Combination (HC) is the licence that opens up linehaul, interstate freight, tipper-and-dog, tankers and civil work — and it’s the prerequisite for MC. Elite Truck and Car School trains and assesses HC drivers across South East Queensland and Nvrthern NSW, in automatic and non-synchromesh (Road Ranger) equipment.
Heavy Combination is the step up from a rigid truck to a combination vehicle — a prime mover pulling a semi-trailer, or a heavy rigid truck pulling a heavy trailer. It’s a different skill set from HR: reversing an articulated unit, coupling and uncoupling, load restraint across two units, and managing the swept path of a 19-metre vehicle in traffic.
Our HC course is built around the licence assessment, but it’s written for the job you’ll actually do afterwards. You’ll train in the same class of vehicle you’ll be assessed in, on the routes the assessment is conducted on, with a trainer who does this every day.
We train drivers at every level — from operators coming straight off 12 months of HR into their first semi, through to experienced drivers returning to heavy vehicles after time away. Tell us where you’re at and we’ll tell you honestly how many hours you’re likely to need.
This is the single most important decision you’ll make about your licence, so it’s worth two minutes.
The transmission you’re assessed in determines what you’re licensed to drive for the rest of your career. The condition is recorded on your licence, and the only way to remove it is to sit another practical driving test in a less-restricted vehicle — at full cost.
| Assessed in | Condition on your licence | You may drive |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic | A — automatic transmission only | Automatic HC only |
| Synchromesh | B — synchromesh gearbox only | Automatic and synchromesh |
| Non-synchromesh | No transmission condition | All HC vehicles |
A large share of Australia’s older linehaul and tipper fleet still runs 18-speed Road Rangers. A condition A licence rules those jobs out. If you’re building a driving career rather than servicing one specific employer’s automatic fleet, sit the non-synchromesh assessment.
If you already hold a condition A or B licence and want it lifted, we run upgrade sessions — call us.
Condition codes A and B are Queensland codes. NSW applies an equivalent transmission restriction; the practical effect is the same. Confirm the code shown on a NSW licence with Transport for NSW.
An HC licence covers everything below it in the licence hierarchy — C, LR, MR and HR — plus combination vehicles.
In Queensland, class HC authorises:
In New South Wales, class HC covers:
In practice that means:
It does not cover: B-doubles, road trains, or any multi-combination vehicle. Those require an MC licence — see Multi Combination (TLIC4006). An HC licence held for 12 months is one of the two entry pathways to MC.
Motorcycles are never included in any heavy vehicle class.
To sit an HC practical driving test in Queensland you must:
Coming from overseas? If you hold an equivalent overseas heavy vehicle licence, a TMR exemption pathway may apply. Bring your original TMR letter to your first lesson — we’re required to sight and retain it as evidence.
To upgrade to HC in New South Wales you must:
In Queensland, HC is assessed by a practical driving test.
Test centres we use:
| Northside | Southside |
|---|---|
| Zillmere | Wynnum |
| Redcliffe | Cleveland |
| Strathpine | Logan |
| Caboolture | Beenleigh |
| Ipswich |
We’ll recommend the centre that suits your training location and gets you the earliest date.
We supply the vehicle. You train and you’re assessed in the same unit — no surprises on test day.
If you intend to use your own or your employer’s vehicle, it must meet the standard below. Talk to us first; an unsuitable vehicle means a cancelled test and a forfeited fee.
The vehicle must be one of:
Every test vehicle must also be:
You must bring at least 3 portable warning triangles to a heavy vehicle test. These are a requirement, not a suggestion — turning up without them will cost you the test.
What’s not included:
Mandatory PPE — you cannot attend without it:
Gloves are strongly recommended for coupling work.
Also bring:
HC training involves work outside the cab. You should be able to manage:
If anything here is a concern, call us before you book. We’d rather have the conversation early.
Logan, Queensland — our main training base 3/40 Loganlea Road, Waterford West QLD 4133
Tweed Heads, New South Wales Serving Northern NSW and the Tweed–Byron region.
We also service drivers across Beenleigh, Brisbane, Burleigh Heads, Capalaba, Cleveland, Crestmead, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Jimboomba, Kingston, Logan Village, Loganholme, Marsden, Pimpama, Sunny Bank, Wynnum and Yatala.
Multi Combination (MC) — TLIC4006 Drive Multi Combination Vehicle Hold your HC for 12 months and you can move up to B-doubles and road trains. MC training and assessment runs from our Logan site.
TLI31222 Certificate III in Driving Operations The nationally recognised qualification employers look for.
TLIF0005 Apply a Fatigue Risk Management System Required knowledge for BFM and AFM operations.
Heavy Vehicle Driver Verification (VOC) For employers — 2 hours on-road verification of competence, supporting Chain of Responsibility and WHS obligations.
How long does it take to get an HC licence? Our standard package is 7 hours — 6 hours of training and a 1 hour practical driving test — and most drivers who meet the eligibility criteria complete it in two to three sessions. If you’ve been driving HR daily you may need less; if you’ve been off heavy vehicles for a while, more. We’ll assess you in the first session and tell you honestly.
Do I need to do HR before HC? Not necessarily. In Queensland you need a current MR or HR licence held for at least 1 year. In NSW you need an unrestricted MR or HR held for a year or more. MR is a valid pathway in both states.
Can I go straight from a car licence to HC? No. You must hold MR or HR first.
Does my P-plate time count? In Queensland, yes — P-plate tenure counts toward the 12 months. In NSW, P2 MR or HR tenure counts toward the 12 months, but you cannot start HC training or upgrade until you hold an unrestricted MR or HR licence.
Should I do automatic or non-synchromesh? If you’re assessed in an automatic, your licence carries a condition A — automatic HC vehicles only. Assessed in a non-synchromesh Road Ranger, there’s no transmission condition and you can drive any HC vehicle. Unless you’re locked into a specific automatic fleet, non-synchromesh is the better long-term investment.
I already have a condition A licence. Can I get it removed? Yes. You sit another practical driving test in a non-synchromesh vehicle. We run upgrade sessions for exactly this — call us.
Do you supply the truck? Yes, for both training and the assessment. You can use your own or your employer’s vehicle if you prefer, as long as it meets the requirements for the class — check with us first.
Is the TMR fee included in your price? No. Our package covers training and the assessment time. The TMR practical driving test fee, the road rules test fee if you need it, any medical certificate and the licence issue fee are all separate and paid to the department.
I hold an overseas heavy vehicle licence — what applies to me? There may be a TMR exemption pathway. Bring your original TMR letter to your first session; we’re required to sight and retain a copy as evidence. Call us and we’ll talk through your situation.
What if I fail the test? In Queensland you can re-sit the next day after a first attempt, after 8 days following a second, and after 29 days following a third or subsequent attempt. A fee applies each time. We’d rather put in an extra hour of training than book you into a test you’re not ready for.
Call Ricky on 0432 453 553 — Monday to Saturday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. Tell us your current licence class, how long you’ve held it, and which state you’re in, and we’ll tell you exactly what’s involved and what it costs.
Elite Truck and Car School Pty Ltd · RTO 45471 · Making Drivers Safe — For Life
