Skilling Heavy Vehicle Drivers and Licensing Update

Australia’s road transport industry is facing a critical shortage of heavy vehicle (HV) drivers, impacting freight, passenger services, and the broader economy. Truck driving ranks as the 9th most common occupation nationally, and with road freight volumes expected to grow by 11.5% over the next five years, the demand for skilled drivers will intensify.

To address this, strategies are being developed to attract, retain, and upskill HV drivers. The Transport and Logistics Industry 2025 Workforce Plan highlights that higher-level skills, are required by heavy vehicle drivers, which currently limits employers’ ability to recruit and train new drivers effectively.

Industry stakeholders have raised concerns about inconsistent training and licensing standards across jurisdictions. Although mutual recognition of licences exists between states, there is no unified national standard linking training, job-readiness, and licence progression. In response, Austroads is implementing reforms approved by Transport Ministers under the Review of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework. These reforms include:

• Enhanced learning and assessment tailored to each licence class
• Minimum course durations and behind-the-wheel training requirements
• Online training options to improve accessibility and reduce costs
• New licence progression pathways based on tenure, experience, or supervision programs

These changes aim to establish minimum standards for training and practical experience, ensuring drivers possess the necessary skills and knowledge for their licence level. This will help build employer confidence in the competency of newly licensed drivers.

To support these reforms, ISA has launched a project to review and update HV licensing competency standards within vocational training products. The goal is to align with Austroads’ training components and address key industry-identified skills gaps, particularly for new drivers and those operating multi-combination vehicles. The project will set a benchmark for a Minimum Standard and competency verification to enhance employer trust in HV driver capabilities.