Types of heavy vehicles

Types of heavy vehicles

A heavy vehicle has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes.

There are five different types of heavy vehicle. Each heavy vehicle type requires a specific driver's licence.

Light rigid vehicle - LR

This vehicle has a gross vehicle mass of more than 4.5 tonnes and up to eight tonnes.

Medium rigid vehicle - MR

This vehicle has:

1. two axles
2. a gross vehicle mass of more than eight tonnes.

Heavy rigid vehicle - HR

This vehicle has:

1. three or more axles
2. a gross vehicle mass of more than eight tonnes.

Heavy combination vehicle - HC

This vehicle is either:

• a prime mover with a single semi-trailer that has:
  1. a GVM of more than nine tonnes
  2. plus any unladen converter dolly
• a rigid motor vehicle that is towing a trailer, including a low loader, that has:
  1. an ATM of more than nine tonnes
  2. plus any unladen converter dolly.

A multi combination vehicle - MC (road train)

This vehicle is any vehicle or combination of vehicles other than a motorcycle or trike.