Educational Opportunities: A Guide

What You Should Know About MC Courses

If you are interested in working in the transport and logistics industry, you might come across heavy trucks classified under multi-combination (MC) vehicles. These include trucks like road trains and B-doubles.

B-doubles are prime movers that can tow more than one semi-trailer with a GVM (gross vehicle mass) of more than nine tonnes. Road trains are all other vehicles apart from B-doubles that can tow more than one trailer. 

Truck Levels

You should know that you cannot just jump straight into driving a multi-combination vehicle. You have to start at the smallest truck level then upgrade. The requirements for an MC course also show you that you must have held an HR or HC licence for about a year to be allowed to take the course.

You should start with class C vehicles, which are the standard vehicles. Holding a class C licence allows you to move to other classes. Then you can move to one of the following:

  • LR (light rigid) — Small trucks and buses with a GVM of not more than eight tonnes 
  • MR (medium rigid) — Trucks and buses with a GVM of more than eight tonnes and with two axles, or trucks that can tow one trailer that does not exceed a GVM of nine tonnes
  • HR (heavy rigid) — Trucks and buses with a GVM of more than eight tonnes and with three or more axles, or trucks can tow one trailer that doesn't exceed a GVM of nine tonnes

Then having held the MR or HR licence for a year or more, you can qualify for an HC and MC licence. These allow you to drive trucks that are articulated, meaning having a semi-permanent or permanent joint that helps in sharp turning. These trucks can have more than three axles and can tow a trailer with a GVM of more than nine tonnes.

What Do You Learn in an MC Course?

You first have to meet the requirements for undertaking an MC course. You should be over 18 years old, have no disability that can impair your truck operation skills and have held an MR, HR or HC licence for one year or more.

You, of course, will learn about road laws, heavy vehicle height, weight and signage, how to safely operate the heavy vehicle, how to conduct pre- and post-vehicle inspections, driving skills, etc. Lessons are divided into theory and practical segments, and after completion, you are required to pass a theory and practical test before you are issued with an MC licence. You might also have to pass an eye test.


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