Which Driver's License Is Required To Drive A Semi-truck?
It is unanimous throughout the world that being able to drive a semi-truck requires a separate driver's license from that of a car
. Due to their more stubborn manoeuvrability, and the potentiality of causing thousands of times more damage than the same crash in a car, it seems natural that further training is a prerequisite before stepping into the cabin.
One study conducted in 2005, concluded that if all trucks had a speed limit of 55 miles per hour, then the amount of fatalities in 2005 would have been reduced by 561. It is therefore apparent that the necessary training be mandatory, and is enforced throughout the world. When a much smaller vehicle collides with a truck, then the survival rate for the participants of the smaller veichle is greatly reduced.
So, what are the driver's license requirements for driving a semi-truck?
In Canada, the regulations for driving a semi-truck vary depending on the province. Universally, a license to operate a vehicle with air brakes is a requirement, with the exception of Ontario. In Ontario, any person with a standard driver's license, accompanied with a "Z" endorsement, can legally drive a semi-truck with air brakes. However, the vehicle itself must weigh below 11 metric tonnes.
In the United States, it is common for semi-truck drivers to hold a Class A commercial driver's license. This would allow them to operate any vehicle in excess of 11.8 metric tonnes. There are other exceptions to this general rule, depending on the cargo being carried on-board the semi-truck. This includes the following licensing endorsements:
H - Hazardous Materials (HazMat or HM) - necessary if materials require HM placards.
N - Tankers - the driver is acquainted with the unique handling characteristics of liquids tankers.
X - Signifies Hazardous Materials and Tanker endorsements, combined.
T - Doubles & Triples - the licensee may pull more than one trailer.
P - Buses - Any Vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver).
S - School Buses - Any school bus designed to transport 11 or more passengers (including the driver).
W - Tow Truck
In Taiwan, the requirements are much simpler than the aforementioned, in that all is required is a combination vehicle driver license. The assumption being that the vehicle will be a much lighter truck, towing a much heavier trailer. The trailer must weight in excess of 750 kilograms.
In Europe, which includes a vast number of countries, the requirements are also much simpler than that of the United States, and particularly Canada. A driving license of category C+E would suffice for driving what is called an articulated lorry in Europe.
In Australia, an endorsed license is necessary to drive a semi-truck. Endorsements tend to be obtained through training and the driver's experience. You must be at least 18 in order to operate such a vehicle, and have held a driver's license for a minimum period of 12 months. The endorsements are graded depending on the weight of the vehicle being operated:
LR - More than 4.5 tons, and less than 8 tons.
MR - 2 axles and more than 8 tons.
HR - 3 axles and more than 15 tons.
HC - Truck towing a trailer more than 9 tons.
MC - Multi-combination trucks, and vehicles such as road trains with more than 1 trailer.
In New Zealand, it is of a similar grading to Australia. These are graded as follows:
Class 2 - Rigid vehicle less than 18,0001 KG, combination vehicle less than 12,001 KG, any rigid vehicle of weight no more than 2 axles, or any Class 1 vehicle.
Class 3 - Any combination vehicle less than 25,0001 KG, or any Class 2 vehicle.
Class 4 - Heavy rigid vehicle of any weight, or any combination vehicle which consists of a heavy vehicle and a light trailer, or a vehicle Class of 1 or 2, but not 3.
Class 5 - Heavy combination vehicle which allows for the operation of any weighted vehicle, and covers all the previous classes.
by: John Dorr
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