Heavy Vehicle Test Info for COVID19 Restart

Hey everyone. Testing is on again (for trucks only)!! Yay!

Latest updates will be shown here in blue, so check back regularly.

First of all, please be patient with us. We will be doing all we can to get everyone through to your new licence as quickly as possible.

Please read/watch ALL this page before contacting us with questions as we will be quite busy. Especially watch the videos.

TMR has allocated test spots in this order (this is not in our control)

1. People who had previous tests booked before testing was cancelled will go first
   
   
2. People who can prove via employer letter (on business letterhead) that they need the licence ASAP go next - this is for TMR, not us. Please do not call us for priority booking if you cannot get this letter from your employer until further notice in blue above (approx. end of May)
   
   
3. So far, we have not been informed what comes next (we will update this page (at top in blue) if or when new TMR info comes to hand).
   
   *** To be fair to all, Cairns Truck School will give priority to the order in which people enquired.
     - If for some reason you need an earlier test, you will be required to provide a good reason & possibly written confirmation of that reason. DON'T STRESS - we think 3 to 5 weeks should get most people through anyway.

Payment.

You will be required to pay before your lesson/day course.

Payment plan - If you want to pay it off, Afterpay is available if needed. If you don't already have an account signup for Afterpay here. Then contact us to pay for the course.

Day Courses.

If you are doing a day course (4 hrs training, 1 hr test) please do the following:

1. Make sure you don't have a medical (M) condition on your licence. See picture (call us if you do - you may need a new medical)
   
   
2. Bring your licence!!
   
   
3. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes (No thongs, don't recommend big boots)
   
   
4. Lunch and water. We will stop for a break at a takeaway place if you want to buy. Otherwise, bring what you need.
   
   
5. Meet us at the department of transport. Please park in Owen close car park if doing test in Cairns. We will park the truck on the left side near Fantastic Furniture. (Please don't park here).
   
   
6. Approx $26 for the written test if your current licence is only CAR licence and you haven't already done the test.  Practice for written test here. Choose Heavy Vehicle practice test. Redo test until you get nothing wrong 3 - 5 times.
    - There are only 10 questions out of a total of around 20 questions. (it is not that hard)
    - You need to get at least 8 out of 10 to pass.

Practice in your CAR!

Here are a few things you can start to practice while driving your car to make it easier on the day. The vast majority of students who fail the test fail for basic road rules. Start practicing NOW!

1. SPEEDING - No. 1 reason for fails (you should know this - start doing it!)
   
   • 30 km zones at roundabouts - DO NOT Speed up after the round-about until after THE NEXT SPEED SIGN.
   • When turning into new street or section of road, look for speed sign.
     
     
2. ROUNDABOUTS - Not Giving Way at Round-abouts. Heavy vehicle are slower so be careful at roundabout. NIn your test, no-one should have to brake or change direction to avoid you.
   
   
3. DISTANCE TO VEHICLE IN FRONT - Start leaving a gap big enough to easily:
   • STOP if the vehicle in front brakes suddenly (4 second gap)
   • Emergency Gap when stopped. You should not have to reverse to get around the car in front. In a truck, the longer the truck the bigger the gap.
     
     
4. BOTH HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL - unless changing gears or completely stopped.
   
   
5. SCANNING EVERY INTERSECTION & RAILROAD - even if you have the green light.
   
   
6. Read the Q-safe Heavy Vehicle Guide (pdf file)