Driving a heavy vehicle in NZ
How do I know which class I need?
Driver licence classes 1 to 5 are based on the type of vehicle and the weight of the vehicle. Vehicles can be rigid (eg a truck) or combination (eg a truck and trailer). The weight of a vehicle is the gross laden weight (GLW) or gross combined weight (GCW) if it’s a combination vehicle.
Class 2 is the medium rigid vehicle licence:
- any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a Gross Laden Weight of more than 4,500kg but less than 15,001kg
- any combination vehicle with a Gross Combined Weight of 12,000kg or less
- any combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle with a Gross Laden Weight of 15,001kg or less towing a light trailer, or
- any rigid vehicle with a Gross Laden Weight of more than 15,000kg with no more than two axles, and
- any vehicles covered in class 1.
Class 3 is the medium combination licence:
- any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 12,000kg but less than 25,001kg, and
- vehicles covered in classes 1 and 2.
Class 4 is the heavy rigid licence:
- any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a Gross Laden Weight of more than 15,000kg, or
- any combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle of more than 15,000kg towing a light trailer, and
- vehicles covered in classes 1 and 2, but not class 3.
Class 5 is the heavy combination vehicle licence:
- any combination vehicle with a Gross combined Weight of more than 25,000kg, and
- vehicles covered by classes 1, 2, 3 and 4
So that covers licencing. To get fully licenced as a bus or truck driver with the correct endorsements, including relevant training, vetting and taxes, expect to part with the better part of 600 or so smackeroonies. (dollars 
Be aware that being copped for driving a vehicle of this nature on our roads while unlicenced will cost you four or five times that much, and make getting your licence in the future that much more difficult.
For full information and fact sheets on driver licensing, visit the LTSA
Recent Comments