What’s the Biggest Truck You Can Drive with an HR Licence

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If you’re planning a career in truck driving or looking to upskill for better job opportunities, an HR (Heavy Rigid) licence is one of the most valuable licence classes you can obtain in Australia. But many learners still ask:

What’s the biggest truck I can legally drive with an HR licence?

This guide breaks down the full scope of the HR licence, the maximum vehicle sizes allowed, and the situations where you’ll need to upgrade to an HC or MC licence.
Looking to Get Your HR Licence in Brisbane?
If you’re ready to start your HR truck driving career, we offer professional HR licence training in Brisbane with experienced instructors and flexible course options. Book a HR Licence in Brisbane.

What an HR Licence Allows You to Drive

In Australia, an HR licence is for drivers of heavy rigid vehicles — trucks or buses with a rigid (single-unit) body.
Under an HR licence, you can drive:
Heavy rigid vehicles with:
  • Three or more axles
  • A Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) over 8 tonnes

Prime movers with a single semi-trailer—ONLY if the trailer does not pivot

(Example: certain specialised rigid vehicles with pig trailers)

Buses over 8 tonnes GVM

Common for public transport and charter operations.

Rigid vehicles towing small trailers up to 9 tonnes GVM

As long as the connection does not create an articulation point like a standard semi-trailer.

So, What’s the Biggest Truck You Can Drive on an HR Licence?

A good way to understand the maximum is to consider both the engineering limits and the legal definitions.

Maximum Rigid Truck You Can Drive

With an HR licence, you can legally operate:

Large rigid trucks, including:

  • 12–14-tonne rigid freight trucks
  • Concrete agitators
  • Heavy rigid tippers
  • Furniture removal trucks
  • Large waste collection trucks
  • Fire trucks
  • Full-size buses & coaches
Some of these vehicles can reach:
  • Length: Up to 12.5 metres (standard rigid limit)
  • Height: Up to 4.3 metres (higher for refrigerated or livestock bodies)
  • GVM: Well over 20–25 tonnes, depending on design
As long as it’s a rigid body and fits road regulations, an HR licence covers it.

The key point:

An HR licence does not limit the truck’s height, length, or weight beyond what road regulations dictate —
It only limits the type of body you can drive (rigid vs articulated).

What You Cannot Drive with an HR Licence

To avoid confusion, here’s what is not allowed on an HR licence:

Semi-trailers (articulated combinations)

If the vehicle bends between the truck and trailer, it’s not allowed.

B-Doubles and Road Trains

These configurations require higher licence classes.

Heavy combination units with pivoting articulation

Even a single semi-trailer makes the vehicle classified as HC.

When You Need to Upgrade to an HC Licence

You must upgrade to an HC (Heavy Combination) licence if:
  • You want to drive a prime mover towing a semi-trailer
  • You need to tow a trailer with a GVM of over 9 tonnes
  • You plan to work in long-haul transport
  • You need to drive a dog trailer or a full trailer with articulation

Examples of HC vehicles:

  • Standard semi-trailers
  • Prime mover + single trailer
  • Heavy rigid truck towing a large articulated trailer

When You Need to Upgrade to an MC Licence

 
An MC (Multi Combination) licence is for the largest vehicles on Australian roads.
Upgrade to MC if you need to drive:
  • B-Doubles -Two trailers, both articulating.
  • Road trains – Very common in regional and mining transport.
  • Multi-trailer combinations – Any heavy vehicle towing more than one articulated trailer.

Is the HR Licence Enough for Most Driver Jobs?

Yes — the HR licence is one of the most versatile licence classes, perfect for:
  • Construction & civil projects
  • Local freight and delivery
  • Waste industry
  • Public transport & bus companies
  • Emergency services
  • Utility and council operations
Will it cover long-haul, interstate freight?
Not usually — that’s where HC or MC becomes essential.

Final Thoughts

The biggest truck you can drive with an HR licence is essentially a large heavy rigid vehicle with a GVM over 8 tonnes and three or more axles, including full-size trucks, buses, and specialised equipment.
If your career goals include:
  • Driving semi-trailers
  • Towing heavy articulated trailers
  • Operating multi-trailer combinations
Then upgrading to HC or MC is the next step.

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